Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-09-16
THE DREAME


It was a bright spring afternoon,
and Wargrave was sitting before his
easel on the lonely shore at Penelth,
putting the finishing touches to small
picture He was man OF about
thirty-fye, his hair just tinged with
gray, yet not old in appearance.
He laid down his brush, and pulling
out his pipe, proceeded to fill it lels-
urely.
Presently he was aroused from his
reflections by the sound of a light
footstep, and looking around, saw a
young girl approaching him.
mot tea time yet, Joan" he said
She smilingly shook her head. She
was pretty girl of twenty-one, with
steady gray eyes, and complexion as
clear as the Cornish air itself. Sitting
down on the ledge of rock beside her,
she gravely criticized the canvas.
What say you, 0 child of the sea
and winds?" ne asked with a glance
at the bright young face.
She turned to him enthusiastically, a
flush on her cheeks.
81 think it's Splendid she cried.
1.-THE best you've done since you've
been with u.s.
"Only fair to medium, fancy I've
never got beyond that, you know he
added thoughtfully.
The girl glanced at him. and saw that
he was gazing seawards in vacant
fashion. Instintively she knew the
bend of his thoughts.
"a failure couldn't have done this!'
she said gently, her eyes on the picture.
He gave a slight start and laughed
softly.
Thank you, little GIRL he cried.
"But even your kindly comment doesn't
alter the one great undeniable fact! .
"What was the life you mapped out p
she asked quietly.
A momentary CLEAN kindled in his
eyes.
"My dreams? Oh, the usual ones of
the young man who does not know that
the things that has been given him is
not genius, but only tiny spark of it.
was to be big artist, paint wonderful
pictures that would bring me lasting
fame and position. I was to lead a
dazzling life, see the world, mix with
it's masters, explore it's treasures.
His voice came to stop. The girl
watched him with beating heart; he
was starig into space, far-away look
| in his eyes.
ct had another a little later!" he
went on in low tone. IT was still to
do all these things, but not for my own
sake alone-to win woman"
He paused and noticed his pipe had
gone out Mechanically his fingers felt
for another match
eyes, loved that woman, Joan!" he
continued ST assured her confidently
that would work like a slave to
achieve success, that in shortgtime
would accomplish this and be able to
marry her.
He gave a little low laugh.
fortunately for herself, she knew
better, and foresaW my future with adj
mirable clearness. She settled the
point by marrying an extremely
wealthy man.
The girl raised her head. She was a
trife white, but he did not notice it
"And you never dreamed again." she
asked slowly.
mo, as the years drifted on, a calm
philosophy fell on me, until now you
see me as I am, my very small private
income and the proceeds of selling my
pictures to the dealers just enabling
me to lead life in a quiet, out-of-the-
way place like Penelth.''
His eyes rested for moment on the
clean roofs of the tiny town, then he
turned around quickly to her with a
smile.
''You see am reconciled now" he
said. The months that | have spent
here, living in the house with you and
your aunt, have been the best things in
my life. We've had a jolly time to-
gether, haven't WEI"
Joan rose to her feet. She was smil-
ing now, and the color in her cheeks
had deepened slightly.
Eyes, we've. got on WE'LL" she said.
81 must run now to see about tea
mind that you are not more than a
quarter Of an hour!" she added in a
laughing tone of command as she hur-
ried away.
She walked swiftly along the road
to the town, her head bent in thought.
The daughter of a Cornish clergyman,
Joan Hesketh had on his death found
herself practically penniless.
She had gone to live at Penelth with
her aunt, who, owing to a stroke of i'll
fortune, was obliged to let portion OF
her little house. Thus it was that
Wargrave, the artist, had come to live
with them some eighteen months ago.
What his presence now meant to the
girl, she herself only knew.