The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-26
''When Dreams Come True.

4 Il am rapidly drawing near Inc emu
! Of all things earthly, and have come
| TO the conclusion, that as you long ago
promised 70 stand my friend I would
claim the fulhllment OF that promise
| now.
eric, dear boy. will you act as guar
dian Of my little girl? I know you are
young at 50 to I'll such a position, but
also know that young as you are there
is no one better fitted for the arduous
task 1t is also true that Stella is no
| longer a young child, and that fact may
prove a stumbling block in your esti-
nation; but l feel that your kind mother
will help you in filling the position, and
| somehow / feel safe in leaving her IN
your care. My plantation is large, and
valuable; Stella will be rich some day.
| but hope you will not find the work OF
settling up my business affairs too great
| task and regret that you have under
| taken it. You see old fellow, l am
! taking it for granted that you will not
| fail me now. Come at once, if possible;
| 1 want to see you once more before 60
| Yours, affectionately,
| PHILIP AUSTIN"
| Eric Braddon folded the letter up, with
| a low whistle curling his mustached lip.
! He was handsome, dark-eyed, dark
| haired and athletic.
| TO think of Phil. Austin remembering
| our old-tirne compact-that the one who
| died first should take charge Of the
| affairs of the one that was left. / shall
| start for the South at once to attend to
| his last wishes and see dear old Phil.
| before he goes. And here, mother has
| invited Miss Lura Warner-that shipper
| ing, doH-faced fashion-plate-to pay US
! visit for an Indefinite stay. 1t Is moth
LOVE 4Eaf foil ", Iowa
| with her, but / know al the little
| mothers guileless plots-bless her dear
| heart!-and in this particular instance
| she will fail
Strange! that 1 cannot get that dream
! out Of my mind. have dreamed It more
| than once, too. I see before me in my
| sleep the saddest sweetest face imagin-
/ able, with great dark eyes, and hair Ike
! a. prisoned sunbeam, and such a tender
expression If only ( could meet in pro-
| pTia persona the original of these dreams
! 1T would go hard with me if l did not
win her. But ah. mel a dream is only
a fantasy Of sleeping brain, and never
| comes true,"
! And here the breakfast bell broke FIN
! upon mis- musing, and he FASTENED to
! obey its summons. His mother. a sweet
faced old lady. was already seated at the
coy round table, and at her side
arrayed in the latest agony in morning
robes, with a superficial smile on her
| painted lips.
The morning greetings exchanged Eric
| broke the news of his intended departure
| for the far South on his errand of
mercy and duty. Mrs. Braddsn looked
| the surprise she felt
why, SOM" she demonstrated, "and
Lura just arrived! I wish you did not
| feel 1t your duty to go"
But I must, mother" he made an
swer. Poor Phil is very near the last,
| and 1 could not turn deaf ear to his
beseeching. And as for the little girl"
he stopped short, awed by the look up
on his mothers face.
Erie, you surely do not contemplate
carrying out that part Of your old COM
pact, do you, son?'
Il see no way out of it, he returned,
firmly.
But, to be annoyed by a half-grown
holden of a girl" moaned poor Mrs.
Braddon. What have 1 done that 1
should be so punished%"
"She shall not annoy you, mother,
dear" he said. I'VE can send her away
to school, you know"
| That thought cheered Mrs. Braddon;
| so she began to rally and even helped
her son prepare for the long journey,
which must be undertaken a tonce The
good-bys were all said, and with an un-
comfortable recollection Of tears in
Lura's eyes, Eric took his departure It
was early twilight when he alight6A from
the train two days later at a small coun-
TRY station in the far South. Only few
idlers were about; the place looked lone
ly and deserted
1t was a crisp October evening; he
decided TO walk to the plantation, which
was but two miles distant. With his
travelling bag in hand Eric walked along
at brisk pace, feeling somehow unac-
countably sad and lonely. All at once
he found himself the hero of an adven-
ture
A runaway horse, with a girl upon its
back OF course Eric few to the rescue;
five minutes later he was standing face
to face with the facsimile Of his dreams
He felt faint and weak as ne recognized
every feature-the wavy, golden hair,
and the wonderful, deep, dark eyes.
'Oh! sir; ! can never thank you she
| faltered. II was going for the doctor for
papa. All the negroes are in the fields,
but some Of the women, and they were
afraid to ride Robin, yonder, so / start
ed. And he threw me-" she added with
confused blush. as his dark eyes still
dwelt upon her face with rapt express
! sion.
Cannot 1 go7" he asked anxiously.
81 am on my way to Mr.. Philip Aus
| tins plantation. and
| Why, that's papar' she cried. tear
! fully. Yes, sir; he IS still living. but
| he Is in one OF his sinking spells that
| DR.. Gray warned me of. I wish the
doctor could see him now. Yes: If you
do not mind. would Ike you 20 60"
| She gave him careful directions. and
/ Eric sprang upon the pony and was off
/ like a fash. He found the one Doctors
office and returned in his company
/ little later he stood once more beside MS
/ Old friend Philip. and saw that his hours
were nearly numbered He died that
night, and Stella Austin was alone in
/ the world save for her young guardian.
| He had found, likewise. that the girl was
| past 1S. and not the "half-grown holden
he had expected TO find.
| All this Eric wrote home to his mother
/ expressing his determination 70 remafa
! South until the business OF the plauta-
/ ton was settled u9. There was house
I keeper at the plantation. and all the
/ properties were carefully preserved So
Mrs. Braddon. though much against her
! viii, was forced to let wen enough alone
and he had MS own way.
But at last she wrote ard begged him
! SO earnestly to be allowed 70 make
visit 10 The plantation that Eric consent
/ ed. ard one beautiful wintry day Mrs
Braddcn arrived in full force and with
her-charming az ever-wss Lura War
ner This Eas the plot which the two
women had laid. with the expectation az
Eric falling 4 victim. st sight 81 him
I.urs rushed into his arms.
Dearest Eric"' she Eusned - could
not live any longer without you. 90
came With your dear Tsother-soon. 7