The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-11-20
THE REALM
OF
UNREALiTY-R
sy Harry Preston.

Allen strode across the grounds in
the mellow warmth Of that early sum.
mer afternoon and sought his favorlts
retreat--a rustic seat in the shadow OF
the beeches near the northen wall. He
opened a magazine he had borrowed
from the superintendents Office ano
strove 10 interest himself In the pages
but the articles seemed to be composed
Of meaningless iumbles Of words. and
the Illustrations seemed distorted and
unreal. He dropped the magazine with
a sigh and closed his eyes. He was
very, very tired.
He was afraid. too. that Thompson
would come along and worry him about
the codicils Of that will Thompson had
been dead these five years, and, more.
over, those codicils had been fixed 10
his satisfaction long before his demise,
but Thompson seemed totally indiffer-
cnt to the trouble he was causing In
stead Of staying peacefully in his erave
he came poking along at any old hour
iof the day or night asking most a5.
s''rd questions and making all sorts Of
annoying Suggestions.
Allen had spoken to the superin-
tendent about Thompson that very az
ternoon. He had said pointedly that If
he we're to stay here they must keep
Thompson cut. The superintendent had
been very kind He had assured Anen
the matter would be attended TO; he
bade him worry over it no more. And
then the Superintendent had looked at
him pityingly. Allen was keen enough
to recognize the pity in that glance
It was strange that they should pity
him; everything was strange Nothing
had been real since that day in the
court house when he was conducting
the States case against the election re
peaters-when the walls had caved IN
50 suddenly and he had felt the strange
ungling sensation In his toes and fin
ger tips, and some one had put his
erms about him just as the blackness
bad come on.
They told him--the doctors and the
nurses-that this place. where ne had
awakened, was a private sanitarium;
that he was overworked and must
rest He strove vainly to grasp the
meaning of II all. He wouldn't mind
staying here il they only would con
tTtve to keep Thompson decenfly ir his
grave. II they did--if they only did
How tired be was
Allen nodded somnolently His chin
sank to his chest and he slept
When he opened his eyes he was
aware Of some one standing near him
He half suspected it was Thompson
on another of his obnoxious visits, but
second glance assured him IT was
not. 1t was woman, young woman
and a pretty woman. and she was smih
ing pleasantly. Allen jumped to his feet
and lifted his hat
Good afternoon" he said gravely.
Good afternoon" she returned
you've been enjoying nap. haven't
ycu?"
u may have been DOING" he adj
mitted. He locked at her for moment
in troubled abstraction You bavnt
any codiciles you want put In your
will?" he asked anxiously.
Dear no" she laughed. IRsIlf
Allen looked relieved
You see.' he explained, everything
OF late is very unreal. presume you
too. are unreal. but IL you haven't any
Wills to be fixed | shall be very glad OF
yaur company"
She laughed again and her laugh
was good to hear. Its infection set Al.
len smiling
Wont you sit DOWN." he asked,
motioning her to the seat
She caught up the magazine from the
ground. Cant read TO your" she
asked
IF you would be so good" said he.
= tried 10 read myself. but somehow
{ couldn't seem TO grasp the thread OF
things. hope Thompson won't come
ooking around" he added
Thompson has been forbidden the
grounds" she said reassuringly, and
anening the magazine she began %
read in a sweet. low voice that soothed
snen wonderfully She read until sun
SC, and Allcn, to his inhnite 10Y found
~ could grasp the meaning OF all she
-asd.
After thai they met at the bceches
-very pleasant afternoon She always
brought book of magazine. and Al
eD seated on the ground before her
found his interest in life returning
Moreover. Thompson had ceased To-
To~hle him He hesan to feel that
'9meume In lhs future matters would
adjust themselves properly As t. lac
present he was content to sit at her
set and listen 10 her sull. rich voice
One afternoon. when reading was
sndsd for the day aud the sun made
long shadows OF the trees. Allop rose
aud stood looking at ber though'fally
You see" he said y don't know