The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-05-16
DREAMSAND REALITY
ny ELLIOTT HIBBARD.

hicc, eagerly.
i could not, but saw no reason why
should make the confession.
Certainly" l replied. II never fan.
u, I'm 50 glad, she returned. Lately
I've been dreaming such lot, and-well,
I'm sure there must be something in it"
Il haven't the least doubt about that"
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.
"Weii, last night 1 narrowly escaped be-
ing burned to death in fire in the house
ct which Twas staying
mo difficulty there said, promptly.
ut means marriage"
"Not-not death!" she asked, somewhat
anxiously.
Death! No. What put that into your
head?"
The night before 1 dreamed that saw
. coffin, and"
My dear Bea! You must allow me to
congratulate you"
80, if you wish" she returned. "But
why"
at is quite evident that you are to be
married soon"
GA second marriage?"
"No-I mean it cortoborates 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 well corroborate the fire. as
1t came first, and"
"Ah, you don't understand Dreams" I
cut in, anxious to restore her faith in my
powers. "In real life, of course, the cor
Coboration couldn't come first, but it S quite
different in dream life"
"O-Ot" She waited for a moment
or two and then added: 81 suppose dreams
always mean something exactly opposite"
She seemed anxious that should answer
4he question in the affirmative, so, of course,
i FASTENED to do SO.
That is the case. I've never heard Of q
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?"
az meant" said, and then paused.
1t 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 by 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"
"Like?-"
'Liks yourself" she interrupted. "But
Of course that doesn't matter, SO far as I
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.
Gt-er-does mean marriage. The only ques-
tiop IS as to the man you are going to
marry. That's why required a particular
description OF him"
She shook her head.
'FYou certainly said that dream must
mean the opposite" she insisted.
''But surely you don't mean to hold me
down to foolish settlement of that kind"
Z objected, with some heat.
"a foolish statement! Why, Hugh, /
thought do you know anything about
dreams at all?" she asked, suspiciously.
L foresaw trouble If I attempted to keep
up the role of interpreter.
"To be candid, I do not, Bea. But"
s'Then why did you profess to be able to
help me-"
because I wanted to help you. 1t is my
one desire"
sYour one desire? Not much ambi-
tion-"
Gone Of my DESIRES" l corrected.
She prepared to move away.
swell, 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." implored., 'I-the fact is,
Bea, can help you-if you'll let me-"
81 gave you the opportunity" she said.
go, know, but can't-I mean-I-"
She sat down and gazed at me.
'What do you mean" she asked.
81 drew in my breath and prepared to
make a plunge.
''I 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.
''The dream may mean marriage, or it may
mott don't know. But you can make it
mean marriage if you like"
She still looked mystifed.
Marry me-" l said, "and then-and then
the dream can't mean anything else"
1t was out at last, and I 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, "I refuse to an
swer for the consequences. The dream
might mean something awful In fact, I'm
sure it would"
She gave little shiver.
go, anything rather than that. Hugh, I
am yours"
L sealed the bargain with kiss, but she
didn't respond to thecaress. 1t was evil
dent that she had something on her mind.
''What is it?" I asked, presently.
"I suppose" she replied, slowly. chat
whether 1 had dreamed about coffin or
not, you would have"
''Have asked you to marry mew cut
in, eagerly. Of course should"
Sand so-it doesn't really matter wheth-
er dreamed or not?"
"Bea! What do you meanw asked.
81 hate to have every one wondering
-uboyS ruo oroipO fo hoooc,oa orro,oJ Sba