The Colfax chronicle., 1903-06-13

simply.
,, 1T has been ten years since we stoo,
here at the end of the path and yo'
gave me the dog. Do you remember
the woman asked.
1T does not seem so long ago a
that" the man replied, abstractedly
"And yet many things have occurred
since then. Father is dead; Bingo il
gone, and 1 have no one left me-"
mo one but your little sister," tn,
woman rejoined shyly.
mo one but my little sister," III,
man repeated. noticing the brilliancy
of her hair in the sunlight.
You may never know how proud
am of my big BROTHER" she said. "Hs
must have been lonely all these years
and at times discouraged. But he has
been brave and strong and has fought
his way onward and onward until-un-
til l am proud of him."
In the mans breast the song was
throbbing.
II have tried very hard" he replied
but have not succeeded as ] wished
l might. l am only poor man, with
my future all uncarved before me-
II know" she said, "but you will
succeed. for you are courageous"
| She plucked blossom out of the
grass and fastened it in her belt.
do you know" the man said sud
denly, glancing at her half shyly,
"that l used to have dreams-wber
l was boy?"
"Ycs?" she said.
Il used to dream about working
hard and some day gaining wealth
and power and building big house
like your fathers" he continued.
"And / used to dream that when {
had done these things. that would
come to you and that you"
All the ambition; all the smothered
hope of years were in his words, but
he hesitated. The girl had grown
strangely sober and her. face was
pale.
"But they were only Dreams" he
continued. softly. 81 used to tell
them to Bingo and he used to bark
and scamper around in delight. But
after all I knew it could never be-"
He glanced at her half inquiring-
Iy. Her face was tense with pain,
and her eyes were dim with tears
But she did not speak.
In the light of the moon the face
OF the man on the bridge looked
CHASTITY pale. His dark eyes gilt
tered like diamonds as he glanced
over the railing at the rushing tide
below. Anguish-deep, devourinc
anguish, was stamped upon his fea-
lures.
Another mana large man, with a
bushy, untlimmed beard and broad
shoulders, came out of the shadows
and touched his arm.
"You are in trouble?" the large
man said; "you have been thinking
of ending it all-there?"
"Well?" the other asked.
"Only this" the large man an
swered, Il know you are the cashier
in the bank back yonder in the town.
and 1 have followed you here, be-
cause"
Il am short in my accounts-short |
more than l can ever hope to earn
the cashier replied. "The examiner
arrived this evening. Tomorrow he
will go over the books, and"
"And you are coward enough TO
leave your wife to suffer the disgrace
alone?"
The other quailed before the in
dignation in his eyes and the two
stood in silence gazing at the misty
moonlight. Then the large man
spoke.
I'm my boyhood," he said, 81 was
known only as Bill Gordon's Jim,
My mother and my father lie wonder
in the churchyard. 1t was Is wears
ago-15 years ago to-day-that
mother died. The sunshine was drip-
ping through the trees along tho
road and the birds were singing in
the hedges. But l saw only the
shadows upon the highway and heard
nothing but the croaking of the frogs
llong the river, and, God! how lone.
y they sounded. But a little pirl
rave me some violets and told me She
vas sorry. Il
THAT was the beginning of my life.
could feel my heart beat after that
ind l knew 1 had a soul.
"As the years went by, I had
trange dreams. l used to plan
nut no matter. 1t couldn't be.
81 went away then-went away.
'urning with desire to conquer in
pite of all; to gain power and wealth
nd honor and come back-to her.
"Far up the frozen Yukon I found
hat for which sougbt-gold. Ma.
ure opened to me the storebouse
vhere she had been hiding wealth
or ages, and riches poured into nv
ap. And then-I came back here
nd found-but l should have known I
could never be-"
He paused to gaze dreamiIy at the
ipples dancing in The moonligbt I
n av, be fhrrrst hie bacd T.. ~: |