The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-07-10
A Dream of Cold
AndWhat Came of It
By MARY II. COATES.

a s.
wv sooner the better-that's all
there is to it. November in sight;
no work, no pay dirt-no, not even
sign of color have l ever found on
that claim
Jim King looked across the gulch
to "Prize Bar" claim, which, in the
wake of the latest gold stampede he
had hastily staked; and to which, in
his haste and premature excitement,
be had brought his family.
Prize Bari We ought to have
named it Prize Humbug,'" he NUT
tered from his seat on a log doing
chair duty, and absently tossed bits
Of twigs and fir cones into the camp
fire as he summed up their situation.
"Don't fret, dear" said his wife,
observing his downcast looks as she
came from the tent where she had
been putting the children to sleep.
Things may not really be as bad as
they appear
Couldn't be worse; grub nearly
gone, money, too, and I've rustled
among the boys for a job, but none
Of them really need roustabout.
No, couldn't be worse"
70, yes, they could-but finish your
pipe, and come to bed. It's dark now,
but you know light comes in the
morning-who knows? sleep often
helps the brain to solve knotty
problems"
The flames of the campfire flared
up fitfully, giving weird, white high
lights to the trunks of the frs in the
shadow; and above, their plumed tops
were yelled, in haziness by the wan
ing moon.
Under the influence of the balsam-
laden fragrance that foated up from
the fir boughs spread deep over the
tent floor, the remembrance of their
harassing situation faded from Mrs.
Kings mind. The tired body found
! rest and the weary brain was soQp
iulled to sleep; but the dream-mind
fitted on, here and there, weaving
mountain, forest and campfire into a
uuSuoious Acb "OIh, "nlCu Sl duudl-
" narrowed. through the dream
alembic, to fixed distinctness; and the
moonlight on the stretching firtops,
the hollow blackness beneath and
the glowing Goals became a sunlit
valley, a dark cave and down in its
depths glittered crystals-globules-
what2 The brightness of them
pierced her eyes.
With start she awoke and saw the
morning sun shining straight into the
tent through tiny opening in the
folds of the fly. "Well! What a
dream of gold it was!-and woven OF
nothing but sunshine. 1t must GER
tainly portend good luck-but from
earth or sky-which, l wonder-that's
the point. o, for dream book! My
hngdom for dream book!" she said
under her breath, then louder: Jim
are you there?"
Yes, and breakfast is nearly
ready. You were all sleeping SC
soundly thought 1 wouldn't disturb
you; but it's late enough"
Z
Well be there in few minutes
Tome, children, breakfast is ready
DOESN'T the coffee smell good?" and
the quietness of the tent was at al
end-drowned in the children's laugh
ing chatter.
Breakfast!" called a CHEEKY voice
agaln, and they trooped out. After
al mad been served, Mrs. King went
70 the fire and began marking in the
VOL ashes with long stick.
9im' is there a valley anywhere
aeaf that runs along so? High noun
.slns On this side, and scattered fiji
1rees on this ridge, and over here a
great spur of rocks that dips into the
eaaparral below?" She illustrated
win the right hand and with the left
salelully held her blue calico skir!
oack from the fire.
0f course" he answered, care
essly.
Really? Truly?" She spoke
sagerly, yet doubtfully.
certainly. You have pictured Bea1
yon quite correctly. 1t is over be
s0nd that peak where you see .
oaen tree standing alone. Why
shat Of it?"
sust this: ] saw it in my dream
night; and I'm going to ask yor
80 over there and hunt for a cavs
kss ~ 80
= yes, ] know" anticipating hs,