The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-06-14
CHAS. CARING
TOMS DREAM.

means commensurate with his abil-
ities
He had married at the age of 80.
file was then making about $3.50
year by ephemeral literature. She
whom he wedded-who in the days
of their coultship had SO often as
sured him sweatly that she had
soul above dross, and would rather
be his wife in cottage than any
other mans in a castle; yea, had
prattled charmingly of the bliss she
should find in studying economy for
his sake, and laying out his little in
come to the very best advantage
she I say, when it came to the test
of practice, proved to be totally I'M
suited for poor mans wife. 1t
was sad, sordid, a hopeless
awakening.
Now, little as his wife deserved 1t
Of him, Darlington was nevertheless
the most loyal OF husbands. Never
word did he utter in her diSpara...e-
ment even 40 bis most Intimate
friends.
One night when all the rest Of the
household, his wife included, had
gone to bed, and there really was
the prospect Of few hours peace,
Charles Darlington went iuto his
bare little study, and sat down to
complete u story which he had begun
on the previous day. To be sure, he
was not much in the mood for work.
His financial worries were to pressing
In fact, unless Re could find at least
100 within the next few days. he
saw no prospect of saving his home
from being sold out.
The plot, Sc far as it went was
simple enough. The idea had been
suggested to him by bis own unhappy
position.
After drawing, with pathetic
realism, the picture Of a struggling
author situated exactly as he was.
he had introduced (what, alas!
there was no chance Of poor Charles
himself obtaining) dea ex machina
in the shape OF AL old sweetheart.
who Unexpectedly came down from
olympus and relieved him OF all his
embarrassments.
1t was just upon the point Of this
dcuouement that he had left OFT
overnight. Now he lighted his
pipe and began to muse over the
exact form that the closing scene Of
his story should take.
Aud while he unused, the person.
atty Of that sweetheart-the angel
messenger from heaven hitherto
vague and shadowy, assumed a
definite shape. lie could see her
as plainly as if she had stood be-
fore him. That tall, slender figure,
draped in spotIess muslin; thos e
dark, wavy tresses; that pale,
sweet face; those soft eyes that
beamed upon hun with such tender
pity! How we'll he knew them!
How wildly did they recall aclosed
chapter i'll the book of the past life.'
Yes. This was Beatrice Ashworth
or Bee, as he had always called
her the girl, whom, in his boyish
days, he had passiOnately loved, who
Che believeO had returned his de.
votion. But owing to his poverty,
and other circumstances which he
was unable tocontrol, she had drift
cd out of his life. She had gone tC
another part of England. He had
since. heard that she was married.
So he had tried to forget her
and forgotten her at last he had.
Not for years now had she ever
been thought i'll his thoughts. Yet
at this present moment, suddenly,
without rhyme or reason, she rose
before him, as clear as though she
had stoou there in the flesh.
A strange sensat Oh stole over hin
This reality-yes, a reality.
Her lips moved. She spoke.
| Charlie, you are in trouble.
have come to help you. You wan
money. You must accept it, from
me-
! II do need money, God knows, h'
answered. "Rut who has told YOU
! "ToId me? There was noneed. ]
knew it without telling. l have no
forgotten you. You are always il
my Thoughts. l understand you
troubles well, for your troubles ar
my own. 1t is my right, my pleasure
to help you. Here is the money 20,
need. | have brought it with me. NJ
you must not refuse. Take it. l
is yours
She opened her little hand, disclos
ing something white in the palm 0
it. She stepped forward, and laid il
on the table in front Of him. Then
before he had time to utter word Q
thanks, she bent over him, she brush
ed his forehead lightly with her warn
| lips, and she was gone!
| Charles Carrington's pipe fell from
his mouth to the floor with a lout
bang.
| A dream?
| He stared gloomily about him
With a groan, he seized his papers
and drew them tow ards him. As he
did SO. something slipped out on t.
his blotting. pad - something tina
made him Start, that caused hi
heart to beat lie rubbed his eyeI
again. Was this real or only delusor
like the other-a dream within {
dream?
Mol there was no doubt about /
this time. He held in his hand ;
Bank Of England note for 100 pounds
| And next morning an event oc
CURED which drove the dream ant
the note, Of the time being, out o
head. The event was letter from
| tha oditas nf , La alinr dnilu M nor