The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-20
A BELIEVER In DREAMS.

At the top of a steep hill two young
men sat on stone wall by the road
side, 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, were the bright colors of
ripening foliage. Four miles away to-
ward the west was the hazy outline of
the city.
There had been silence for some time
between the two companions At length
Howard Crane spoke. He was an ath-
letic fellow, with a healthy color in his
alert, smooth shaver face.
Il suppose this is our last walk to-
gether for this year." he said. I shall
be lonesome enough without you all
winter. wish you had not got to go
south"
And I 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. Il don't just see how
] can leave now. I'd like to be with
you, only I'd hate to waste so much
time, and was never particularly fond
of loafing around doing nothing.
q 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 $
mouth
As the sun went down they left the
wall and set out at a brisk pace toward
the city.
"Of course said Crane. after a
pause. I don't want you to stay here II
your health can't stand it. Queer freak
of your lungs to so back on you TINS
way when they've never given you any
trouble before. \ winter in the soutn
Will fix you all right, but it's gong 70
be lonesome for me. You know you are
the only one l am at all chuhmy
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 hesitated, and then said, lit
tie apologetically: 4 know you'll think
I'm silly old woman to believe it, but
! had a dream about you wh1le ago,
and / can't get il out OF my heaa' It
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 to
do" said Crane, laughing.
But l feel sure you will. said Brant'
earnestly The dream was so VIVA,
more like vision. l saw you, ana
where you lived. and you We're very
happy
ITS utterly absurd" said Crane:
such . thing hasn' | entered my heau.
They became client as they neaFed
the city, each occupied with his own
Thoughts. At Cranes door they parted.
If I'm married when you come back
eou most come and see Us" he SAID.
lightly; but I shan't be; haven I
any faith in dreams"
YES. you will" said Brant, positive
~. and I'll be sure and visit you
Goodbye"
Slowly and dejectedly Brant walked
along the brightly lighted streets TO his
home.
Leaving his coat and hat in the hail,
be went to his room, and, cropping his
way across it, sat down in the dark.
With his head resting on has hands, the
same perplexiEg, harassing thoughts
which had troubled him for the month
past chased through his tired brain.
Was he a fool he asked himself for
the hundredtlc time. He had deceived
his friends, making them think he
must leave home on account of his
health. whe2 in reality it had never
been better. He was going away to
exile leaving his family, all his ac-
quaintances, Crane and, worst of all,
Mildred.
And for what? Because in that
dream, he had seen Mildred happily
married to Crane.
He was tempted even now, at the
eleventh hour, TO go &c Mildred and ask
Ter to be his wife: but the spell Of the
dream was upon him still. and he felt
that he could not betray his friend.
Even if he could, what reason had he
to think that Mildred returned his
love? And supposing she did, it would
be a wrong 20 her. FOR he told himself.
with self-depreciation. that Crane
would make. her the bette husband.
No; he would carry out his plan TO
the bitter end. The dream was so real
TO him that he did not for moment
doubt its coming true. He smiled lit
tie grimly as he thought how every
one believed him to have one foot in
the grave and how his naturally pale
fale had helped to deceive them.
Mildred would not expect 10 hear
from him. thinking him not able TO
write. Then Crane would begin TO
show her little attentions. and
But here he broke off mis- reflections,
and found himself feeling glad that he
would be away and would not have 10
see the affair going or. When he came
back he would be able TO meet her
with no outward shCV of emotion.
All winter Brant wandered from
place to place. Crane wrote twice. at
the first, but he was a poor correspon-
dem. and Brant's third letter remained
unanswered.
At hcEle the winters SHOWS melted:
the days grew longer: spring came, and
in May Brant returned.
As he walked along the street from
the station, he heard his name spoken,
and a moment later Crane was shaking
his hand and saying words of welcome.
Tn in d hurry now" said Crane,
''bCt come around TO the Office later,
and go home to tea with me.
You see" he went on, smiling, I've
been married month. It's all just as
You said il would be, and I believe in
dreams now-your dreams, at any rate
Wei, goodbye for the present. Be
sure and come out. Margaret will be
delighted TO see You"
Crane hurried off down the street.
Brant stood looking after him with
an expression Of overwhelming amaze
nent on his face.
Margaret" he exclaimed, under his
breath Good heavens. he's gone and
married the wrong onel'
SUSAN BROWN ROBBINS.
Thousands of Women