The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-01
THE MAN WHO DREAMED.
From Mainly About Peopls

IETOEn NANNY ADOuE EGOD4G-l
1t was a bright spring afternoon, and
Wargrave was sitting before his easel
on the lonely shore at Penelth, putting
the finishing touches to a small picture
He was a man of about thirty-five, 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 leis-
urely.
Presently he was aroused from his re-
Elections by the sound of a light foot
step. and, looking around, saw a young
girl approaching him.
Not tea time yet. Joan he cried.
She smilingIy shook her head She
was a pretty girl of twenty-one, with
steady gray eyes, and a complexion as
clear as the Cornish air itself. Sitting
down on the ledge of rock beside him,
she gravely criticised the canvas
What say you, o child of the sea and
winds?'' he asked with a glance at the
bright young face.
She turned to him enthusiastically,
flush on her cheeks.
I think it's splendid" she cried
1.-THE best you've done since you've been
with U.S."
s.Only fair to medium. / fancy I've
never got beyond that, you know, ne
added thoughtfully.
The girl glanced at him. and saw
that he was gazing Stewards in a va
cant fashion. InStinctiVely she knew
the bend of his thoughts
"A failure couldn't have done this!"
she said gently, her eyes on the picture.
He gave slight start and laughed
softly.
sarThanEr 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?''
she asked quietly.
A momentary CLEAN kindled in his
ewes
my dreams? Oh, the usual ones of
the young man who does not know that
the thing that has been given him y
not genius but only a tiny spark OF IT,
I was to be big artist, paint wonder
full pictures that would bring me last
ing fame and position. / was to lead
a dazzling life, see the world, mix with
its masters, explore its treasures
His voice came to a stop The girl
watched him with beating heart; he
was staring into space. a far-aWay
look in his eyes.
7 had another a little later!'' he went
on in a low tone. II was still to do
all these things, but not for my own
sake alone-tO win a woman
He paused and noticed his pipe had
gone out. Mechanically his fingers felt
for another match
Yes, I loved that woman, joan! ne
| continued. I assured her confidently
that / would work like a slave to
| achieve success. that in a short time
would accomplish this and be able to
marry n0I
He gave a little low laugh
Fortunately for herself, she knew
| better. and foresaw my future with ad-
mirable clearness. She settled the point
| by marrying an extremely wealthy
The girl raised her head. She was a
trifie white, but he did not notice it.
And you never dreamed again?' she
NO. as the years drifted on. a calm
philosophy fell on me, until now you
see me as am, my very small private
| income and the proceeds of selling my
| pictures to the dealers just enabling
| me to lead a life in a quiet, out-of-the-
way place like Penelth-"
His eyes rested for a. moment on the
clean roofs of the tiny town, then he
turned around quickly to her with a
smile.
| You see I am reconciIed now" he
said THE months I have spent here.
living in the house with you and your
aunt, have been the best thing in my
| life. We've had a jolly time together,
haven't we2"
Joan rose to her feet She was smiling
| now, and the color in her cheeks had
deepened slightly.
Yes. We've got on WE'LL" she said
! ct must run on now to see about tea
mind that you are not more than a
quarter of an hOurl" she added in
/ laughing tone of CONF and as she hur-
ried away.
! She walked swiftly along the road to
! the town, her head bent in thought. The
1 daughter Of a Cornish clergyman, Joan
] Hesketh had on his death found herself
| practically penniless.
She had gone to live at Peneith with
| her aunt, who owing to a stroke of i'll
| fortune, was obliged to let q portion of
| her little house Thus it was that War
grave, the artist, had come to live with
4 them some eighteen months ago. What
| his presence now meant to the girl, she
| herself only knew.
She brushed a tear from her eye as
1 she entered the house
He only dreams Of the past she
murmured, a half sob in her voice. HE
will never know
"a few minutes later Wargrave was
| p1odding leisure1y along the road, his
| easel under his arm. Looking ahead,
| he noticed an open carriage sweep
1 around the curve, and as it came nearer
he saw there was only one occupant,
| lady. Catching sight of her face, he
/ gave a start of surprise and came to
| an abrupt halt.
] She had seen him, too, and had given
an order to the coachman- The next
| moment the carriage had drawn up in
front Of him, and, with white face, he
| was staring at the woman who so
/ smilingly held out hand to him. She
/ was about thirty, remarkably hand
! some. and dressed in the latest fashion.
mot due to Fate she said. laughing
| at his surprise. Il saw one of your
! pictures in a London shop, inquired the
/ address, and came down specially to
4 this remote spot to find you" She
| opened the carriage door. 1 nave 10
| return to London tonight. I want you,
! for the sake of old times, to come to the
\ hotel and have tea with me. Will you2'
| He got in beside her. and the carriage
/ turned. In a few minutes they We're
/ sitting alone in the long dining room of
| the hotel. He had not tasted the tea
she had handed to him, but was looking
| at her intently, his eyes taking in all the
4 details of her appearance. She had re-
! moved her hat and coat, and sat before
him, a smiling vision Of magnifcence-
/ And what has happened to your" she
/ asked quickly.
/ LIZ ave q little shrn1sr AZ lnfa should