Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1906-10-19

He sat In his snug library anc
watched the flames leapffrom the loe
In the crate while he listened to the
bowling OF the fierce wind outside
TOR Dickinson could afford now to
burn logs. even though wood was be
coming priceless.
He arose and paced the somber,
| richly furnished room. His slippers
sank deep into the priceless carpet
and his eyes scanned the rare pictures
and hangings on the walls.
II have won--yes won-won be-
yond my dreams he cried aloud
raising his arms over his head In a
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-
ried nightly over the mortgages he
feld; bankers salaamed as he APP
preached and boards of directors lis,
tened with bated breath when he
spoke.
He was the most envied man in the
community. Many man trying to
keep his head above water In the
fierce game of life, as he passed Don
aid Dickinson's house that fierce win
ter night sighed and said:
Happy. happy man. He indeed has
attained the reality of Joy"
And 80 thought Donald Dickinson as
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 self-gratulation
had passed Dickinson seated himself
In his great arm chair and gazed long
and single-heartedly into the fire.
What was this cold doubt which
crept up his spinal column and began
to pervade his entire being? He
reached forth and poked the fire Wig
orously and sighed In relief as he saw
the showers OF sparks.
What-despite the fash OF heat, the
chill sticks still to his vitals What is
1t 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 hallucination that
his will and that alone was not the
law. The driving snow which cut his
vision to 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 it, 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
boy of 20 years ago with
put 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
lappy-and contented."
Just then the snow-bound vista
parted and the dim light of the shop
across the street met his vision. The
ioor of the shop opened and woman
emerged The woman's arms were
llled with bundles. telling their story
II good cheer to come. The man car
led little baby snugly wrapped in
lannels and clasping tight stick OF
andy. AS Dickinson idly watched
he baby laughed up into the fathers
ace and the woman. watching. smiled
happy smile as her eyes too sought
he mans face with a glance full OF
owe and trustfulness. The man held
he baby tighter as his eyes glanced
downward at both the woman and the
HID with an expression OF love and
ride and power
With a groan. Donald Dickinson
harply drew the blind and staggered
0 his seat before the fire. The lifting
( the snowy curtain for the brief mo-
,ent had shown him in an instant the
allure OF his life. He had succeeded
a all the things he had determined to
O but for this success he had DELHI
rately sacrlfced-just what he had
cen.
To him came a vision of the sweet
cart OF his youth with her honest.
ender eyes-always lit for him with
he love-light; and to him came the {
memory of the cold and brutal part {
az when he had told her that for him
Tas only the God of Mammon, that
uccess must be his at any cost and
nat wife and family would imperil I
Is chances to attain 1t. Tonight |