The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-11-08
The Success Of
Donald Dickinson
~ HARLEY HUNTINGDON.


Copyright. isOs. BY Daily Story Pub. Co,
He sat In his snug library anC
watched the flames leap from the lol
In the crate while he listened 10 IN,
bowling OF the fierce wind outside
for Dickinson could AFFORD now 4
burn logs. even though wood was be
coming priceless.
He arose and paced the somber
richly furnished room. His slipper
sank deep into the priceless carpe
and his eyes scanned the rare plcturei
and hangings on the walls.
u have won--yes won-won be
yond my dreams" he cried aloud
raising his arms over his head In 1
gesture OF triumph.
And so he had. Donald Dickinson
was the wealthlest man In all the
town. His safe was bursting with
valuable securities: his farms dotted
the county. his herds roamed the hills
scores OF Woodworking farmers wor
rled nightly over the mortgages hs
held; bankers salaamed as he mp
preached and boards OF directors liz
tened with bated breath when he
spoke.
He was the most envied man in the
community. Many n man trying "a
keep his head above water In the
fierce game OF life. as he passed Don
aid Dicklnson's house that fierce win
ter night sighed and said:
Happy. happy man. He indeed has
attained the reality OF Joy"
And so thought Donald Dickinson M
he paced his luxurious library and
smoked his expensive cigar and gazed
upon the evidences OF prosperity about
him. and reflected that he owed no
man anything at all but that on the
other hand many men owed him all Of
their possessions and more.
After the flush OF seltgratulation
had passed Dickinson seated himself
in his great arm chair and gazed Ions
and sIngle-heartediy into the nre.
What was this cold doubt which
crept up his spinal column and began
10 pervade his entire being' lie
reached forth and poked the Are Wig
orously and sighed In relief as he saw
the showers OF sparks.
what-despite the fash OF heat. the
chill sticks stu 10 his vitals. What Is
Il the frightens him. which his money
and power does not Danish.
He. arises and walks unsteadIly TO
the window In an effort TO throw
aside the terrible Authorization that
his will and that alone was not the
law. The driving snow which cut his
vision to a few feet, reclaimed his
fears and he felt all the helplessness
OF mankind before the elements.
or sudden through his brain
flashed the question. whitehead and
clear:
Was he happy? Had success and
the triumph OF winning IL. and power
and all the rest made him happy and
filled him with content?
bah. what nonsense" and he
laughed aloud as the memory OF the
bare.footed boy OF 20 years ago with.
out friends or equipment or help. stole
into his mind and his eyes took In the
evidences OF present luxury and power.
Happy. happy. OF course he was
happy. Why not? What had he to
wish for that he had desired and
striven TO attain? or course he was
happy-and contented."
Just then the snow-bound vista
parted and the dim light OF the shop
across the street met his vision. The
door OF the shop opened and woman
emerged. The woman's arms we're
filed with bundles, telling their story
OF good cheer TO come. The man car.
ried little baby snugly wrapped In
nannels and clasping tight stick OF
candy. As Dickinson idly watched
the baby laughed up into the fathers
face and the woman, watching. smiled
a happy smile as her eyes too sought
the mans face with a glance full OF
love and trustfulness. The man held
the baby tighter as his eyes glanced
downward at both the woman and the
child with an expression Of love and
pride and power.
With a groan. Donald Dickinson
sharply drew the blind and staggered
to his seat before the fire. The lifting
OF the snowy curtain for the brief mo-
ment had shown him in an instant the
failure OF his life. He had succeeded
in all the things he had determined to
do but for this success he had DELHI.
erately sacrificed-just what he had
seen.
To him came vision of the sweet
heart of his youth with her honest,
tender eyes-always lit for him with
the love-light: and to him came the
memory of the cold and brutal part
ing when he had told her that for him
was only the God OF Mammon, that