Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-05-06
THE DREAMER.
BY JOHN wIcKL1FFE GRAY.

NlOuoly, bCluuSS IL SOulN nv Sh'Si t''N
destroy the scene of comfort within.
She was a jewel of landlady who
would keep the fire burning for him so
long, Herbert mused. ITO keep the
chill out" Mrs. Williams had told him
once, and his words of thanks did not
fully convey his gratitude for her
mothering him. Il
He lighted his redolent briarwood
pipe, pulled the big leathern chair be-
fore the fender, leaned back in its
depths and the luxurious folds of his |
lounging robe. His feet perched on
the fender, for the fifth time since the
Office closed that afternoon, he pulled |
out a dainty little blue linen envelope. |
He read his own name and address
two or three times before he took out
the sheets within.
"Round and firm, and-just like Mil
dred," he mused.
He spread out the sheets on his knee
and read:
Dear Herbert-We are having a
glorious time trying to forget the snow
and ice up north. The weather is per-
feet, except for an occasional misty
rule with everybody.
II am glad to know that business
will soon permit you to take vaca-
ton. Are you thinking of coming
south? l know you must be, though,
for there's hardly anywhere else to go,
now that everything up there is ice
and snow-bound.
What do you think of joining our
party here at Palm Beach? We will
remain here another week, when we
have planned an altogether original
tour of either Jamaica or San Domingo
on bicycles. All of us brought our
wheels from home, and these suggested
the trip. We have discarded the auto
mobile idea because two or three ma
chimes would be required for the nine
of us, two in the crowd are Indifferent
chauffeurs, and because we are not
certain about the roads down there.
Bicycles will go anywhere and we have
determined to use them, see the coun-
try thoroughly and get healthy trop.
ical tan.
"Wire me il you can come, And if
you can, be sure to bring your bicycle.
1t will be indispensable to thorough
ly good time.
Mary begs to be remembered to
you. AS ever Mildred Halcomb."
Then:
"P. S.-Don't forget the bicycle"
The warm freight was having its
effect after coming in from the cold
outer air. He was 6rowsy. An invol-
untary yawn showed two fine rows of
teeth as he placed the letter on the
table.
He and Mildred had been chums
since childhood. They always cor
responded when one or the other was
away. And in the past few months
he had come to realize that he could
not live without her. There had been
no VOWS, but since as children they
had roamed the parks together on
their bright, new bicycles, they had
been conscious of a mutual eXhilara-
tion and joyousness in one another's
presence, Yes, bicycles, and the init
mate companonship they bring
seemed strangely interviewer in their
] lives.
"we'l go wheeling. wheeling. wheeling
Down the misunderstanding pike;
? Hearts affecting, feeling, feeling,
All the joy that's in a bike
He had heard the doggerel parody o.
a popular song somewhere, and tn:
; lines continued to repeat themselves il
, drowsy fashion:
"We'u go wheeling wheeling, wheel"
, His pipe fell from nerveless fingers
Y One foot slipped from the fender.
v He and Mildred were resting on tn
, sod beneath towering palm tree. No
: far off several people of their part.
r were laughing and talking together
a He saw the surf come rolling in not 2
e yards away, dwindling from might
, waves to a smooth, even flow as the
n reached the higher beach. Besid
them were their bicycles. Cries G
h strange birds were heard, and brigh
$ plumaged fellow flew over their head
p and fluttered away inland.
How beautiful Mildred was! She wa
n looking straight into his eyes. And i
!, the big gray orbs he saw her sol
, shining there. 1t was shining for hin
g all for him! He knew it, and that wa
h enough
You are mine,' he was saying. IA
these years | have loved you, an
waited for you. And now we mus
part no more. Your life shall be m
@ life, and mine shall be yours"
, Out of the distance he heard tn
, chime of bells. One-two-three-fou
g --five-siX-And - still it rang.
Il The sleeper awoke with start. Th
h clock claimed his attention first, for
4 was striking II. He rose quickly, an
q as he did so a telegraph blank on th
: table caught his eye.
d Better write 1t now and send tt
first thing in the morning" ne though
e Rapidly his pencil traced the words
ID Miss Mildred Halcomb, Hotel -
v Palm Beach, Fla.-Be there Thursda
"a with bicycle. Herbert"
Pigskin Grated on Woman.