The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-08-01
DREAMSAND REALITY
BY ELLIOTT HfBBARD.

y
tTice, eagerly.
I could not, but I saw no reason why
/ should make the confession.
Certainly" l replied. Il never fail.
go, I'm so glad" she returned. Lately
I've been dreaming such lot, and-Well,
I'm sure there must be something IN IT..
81 haven't the least doubt about that,
1 replied, thinking of those charming, If
slightly indigestible, suppers which we had
been having.
Perhaps if you could tell me some of
the dreams?" l suggested.
-'Well, last night | narrowly escaped be-
ing burned to death in fire in the house
at which | was staying"
''No difficulty there l said, promptly
ct means marriage"
'.Not-not death?" she asked, somewhat
anNiously.
Death? No What put that into your
head?"
The night before l dreamed that saw
coffin, and"
congratulate, YOU"
80, if you wish,' she returned. ''But
why"
at is quite evident that you are to be
married soon"
"a second MARRIAGE"
'No-L mean it corsoborates the fire.
She looked at me with some distrust.
Il hope You know what you're talking
about, Hugh," she said, gravely "The
coffin couldn't we'll corroborate the fire, as
it came first, and"
"Ah, you don't understand Dreams" l
cut in, anxious to restore her faith in my
powers. In real life, of course, the cor
roboration couldn't come first, but it, quite
different in dream life
"O-O!" She waited for a moment
or two and then added: Il suppose dreams
always mean something exactly opposite?'
She seemed anxious that l should answer
the question in the affirmative, so, of course,
FASTENED to do so.
'''That is the case. I've never heard of
dream episode being enacted in real life"
She gave sigh of relief, l imagined.
''Three nights ago 1 dreamed that I
was being married, she said. What did
that mean? That am to be an old maid %
81 meant" L said, and then paused.
It was my earnest wish that she should be
married to me.
81 am sure have puzzled you now" she
said, with quiet satisfaction.
Anything but" | returned. 81 was
only wondering whether-was the man fair
or dark"
dreams always go = contraries, you
remarked" studying my golden locks in
tently. Eyes; he was fair, very fair"
Tall or short?"
She took in my six feet one.
''Tall"
"stout or thin?" ...
Medium"
'Iike?-"
''Like yourself" she interrupted. "But
of course that doesn't matter, so far as l
can see. All | want to know is, what does
dreaming about marriage mean? You say
that it cannot mean MARRIAGE"
81 didn't say anything of the sort, Bea.
H-er-does mean marriage. The only ques
ton Is as to the man you are going to
marry. That's why required particular
description of him."
She :4o0l. her heal.
3'You certainly said that a dream n.ust
mean the opposite" she insisted.
'But surely you don't mean to hold me
down to foolish settlement of that kind"
l objected, with some heat.
ga foolish statement Why, Hugh, l
thought-do you know anything about
dreams at all?" she asked, suspiciously.
l foresaw trouble if l attempted to keep
up the role OF interpreter.
'To be candid, l do not, Bea But"
''Then why did you profess to be able to
help me-"
Because wanted to help you. 1t is my
one desire"
''Your one desire? Not much ambi-
ton
Zone of my DESIRES" 1 corrected.
She prepared to move away
''We1l, I'm sorry that we have wasted
so much time," she said. "Im going now
to see Aunt Sarah. I'm sure she knows all
about dreams, and-and that coffin really
troubles me-"
Don't CO." I implored. 'I-the fact is,
Bea, can help you-if you'll let me-"
81 gave you the opportunity" she said
80, | know, but [ can't-I mean-I-"
She sat down and gazed at me.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
at drew in my breath and prepared to
make plunge.
IT mean that can interpret your coffin
dream, for"
But you admitted moment ago that
you couldn't" she said
You might allow me to fnish," said.
1.-The dream may mean marriage, or it may
mott don't know. But you can make it
mean marriage II you like.
She still looked mystifed.
Marry me- I said, "and then-and then
the dream can't mean anything else.'
1t was out at last, and | waited anxiously
for her next remark.
"And if [ don't?" she asked.
eff you DON'T" replied, firmly, though
my heart was in my mouth 81 refuse to an
swer for the consequences. The dream
might mean something awful In fact, I'm
sure it would"
She gave little SILVER.
20, anything rather than that Hugh,
am yours"
I sealed the bargain with kiss, but she
didn't respond to the caress. 1t was evil
dent that she had something on her mind.
''What is it?'' I asked, presently.
81 suppose" she replied, slowly. "that
whether [ had dreamed about coffin or