The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-08-13
A t the top of steep hill two
~ young men sat on a stone wall

~ young men sat on a stone wall
Il Aby the roadside. resting
1t was late on a Sunday afternoon in
October. Stretching away on every
side, with here and there the roofs of
farm houses visible, We're the bright
colors of ripening foliage. Four miles
away toward the west was the hazy
outline of the city.
There had been silence for some time
length Howard Crane spoke. He was
an athletic fellow. with healthy color
in his alert. smooth-shaven face.
II suppose this is our last walk to-
gether for this year." he said" Il shall
be lonesome enough without you all
winter. / wish you had not got to go
south"
And wish YOU could go south with
me-" said John Brant. smiling He was
tall and spare. with a pale, sensitive
face. But of course the law can't get
on without YOU
Crane laughed. 81 don't just see how
can leave now. Id like to be with
1
time. and was never particularly fond
of loafing around doing nothing"
II know I'm lazy" said Brant, good
humOredly. but where's the use in my
doing anything? 1t would only be tax
ing the bread out of some poor fellow 5
mouth"
AS the sun went down they left the
wall and set out at brisk pace toward
the city.
"Of course" said Crane. after a
pause. 81 don't want you to stay here
if your health can't stand it. Queer
freak of your lungs to go back on you
this way, when they've never given
YOU any trouble before. A winter in
the South viii fix you all right, but it's
going to be lonesome for me. You
know you are the only one am at al
chummy with" He sighed deeply
You are not going to be so lonely as
you think" said Brant, with a quiet
smile.
What do you mean
Brant hestated. and then said. lit
tie apologetically: II know you'll think
I'm silly old woman to believe 1t. but
] had dream about you little while
ago, and | can't get II out of my head
II was so real"
We'll, what was it?' prompted
Crane. as his friend paused.
THAT you would be married in less
than year.
There's nothing I'm less likely tC
do" said Crane, laughing.
But feel sure you WILL" said Brant
earnestly. The dream was so vivid
more like a vision. saw you. and
where you lived, and you were very
happy"
IT'S utterly absurd" said Crane
"Such a thing hasn't entered my head
They became silent. as they nearec
the city, each occupied with his OWL
thoughts. AT Cranes door they parted
IF I'm married when you come back
you must come and see us" he said
lightly. But l sha'n't be. l haven't
any faith in dreams"
Eyes. you WILL" said Brant. positive
~. land I'll be sure and visit you
Good-by."
Slowly and dejectedly Brant walked
along the brightly lighted streets tC
his home. Leaving his coat and hai
In the hail. he went TO his room. and
cropping his way across it, sat down il
the dark. With his head resting on his
hands. the same perplexing. harassina
thoughts which had troubled him fol
the month past chased through hi,
tired brain.
Was he fool. he asked himself. fol
the hundredth time. He had deceived
his friends, making them think h,
must leave home on account of hi.
health, when in reality il had never
been better. He was going away tC
exile. leaving his family all his &C
quaintances, Crane, and, worst of all
Mildred.
And for what? Because In tina
wretched dream he had seen Mildred
happily married to Crane.
He was tempted even now, at the
eleventh hour, to go to Mildred and ash
her to be his wife. But the spell of the
dream was upon him still. and he fell
that he could not betray his friend.
Even If he could what reason had he