Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-06-20
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THE Nan WHO DREAMED
BY GILBERT DAYLE.

"VVVVVVVVVVVV
BY GILBERT DAYLE.
II was q bright spring afternoon, and
Wargrave was sitting before bis ease
on the lonely shore at Penelth, putting
the finishing touches to . small picture
He was q man Of abaut thirty-nve, hi'
hair Just tinged with gray, yet not old
In appearance.
He laid down his brush. and pulling
out bis pipe, proceeded to all 1t leisure.
ly.
Presently be was reused from his re-
lections by the sound Of . light foot
step, and looking round, saw young
girl approaching him.
mot tea-tlme yet, Joan!" be cried.
She smilingly shook her head. She
wss Z pretty girl Of twenty-one, will
steady gray eyes, and . complexion u
| clear q the Cornish air Itself Sitting
down on the ledge Of the rock beside
him, she gravely criticised the canvas
what say you. o child Of the ssa
and winds| be asked with q glance 81
the bright young face.
She turned to him enthusiastically,
hush on her cheeks.
II think it's splendid" she cried
1.-THE best you've done since you've beer
with us"
"Only fair to medium, l fancy. I've
never got beyond that, you know" he
added thoughtfully.
The girl glanced at him, and saw that
he was gazing seward in vacant fash
ion. 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.
Thank you, little GIRL" he cried
"But even your kindly comment doesn't
a..er the one great undeniable FACT"
What was the life you mapped out?
Sne aSkeu quietly.
A momentary CLEAN kindled In bis
eyes.
"My dreams? Oh, the usual ones Of
the young man who does not know
that the thing that has been given him
| Is NOT genius, but only tiny spark Of
1t. was to be big artist, paint won.
derful pictures that would bring me
lasting fame and position. was ia
lead dazzling life, see the world, mix
with Its masters, explore Its treasures. v
His voice came to q stop. The girl
watched him with beating heart; he
was staring into space, a far-away look
In his eyes.
II had another little later' he went
on In low tone. 81 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.
Eyes, loved tAat woman, Joan!'' he
continued. II assured her confidently
that | would work like slave to
achieve success, that in short time
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 ad-
mirable clearness. She settled the point
by marrying an extremely wealthy
man"
The girl raised her head. She was q
trihe white but he did not notice 1t.
"And you never dreamed again?" she
asked slowly.
mo. as the years drlfted on, 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 round quickly to her with q
smile.
"You see am reconciled now," he
said. 1.-THE months have spent here,
living In the house with you and your
aunt have been the best thing in my
life. We've had jolly time together,
haven't we?"
Joan rose to her feet. She was smll.
ing now, and the color in her cheeks
had deepened slightly.
Eyes, we've got on WE'LL" she said.
II must run on now to see about tea
mind you are not more than a quarter
Of an hour!" she added in a laughing
tone Of command as she hurried away.
She walked swiftly along the road ia
the town, her head bent in thought.
The daughter Of Cornish clergyman.
Joan Hesekth had on his death found
herself practically pennlless.
She had gone to live In Penelth with
her aunt, who. owing to a stroke Of III
fortune, was obliged to let a portion Of
her little house. Thus It was that War.
grave, the artist, had come to live with
them some eighteen months ago. What
his presence now meant to the girl, she
herself only knew.
She brushed tear from her eye a.
she entered the house.
HE only dreams Of the past" she
murmured, half sob in her voice. HE
will never know"
A few minutes later Wargrave was
ploddlng lelsurely along the road, bis
easel under his arm. Looking ahead,
he noticed an open carriage sweep
round the curve, and Is 1t came nearer
he saw there was only one occupant, q
lady. Catching sight Of her face, he
gave q 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 was drawn up In