The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-30
The EVENING STORY
At the End of the Wait.
(By william III. Hamby.)


faction possessed David as he looked
south
Yes" he said within himself. "she
VIII like this when she comes
He bought the plateau on top of
the hill-scarcely more than forty
acres in alI-and hired men to clear
it,
into the timber, for although David
was dreamer, he could work with
his hands even while the visions were
upon him.
Before autumn came the ground
was cleared, and then fruit trees and
berries were set out. The house
which David built was planned care
fully that it might be a rest to the
body and pleasure to the taste. A
half dozen oaks had been left grow
ing in the yard and a hedge of roses
was planted all the way around it.
Walks were laid and flowers planted
beside them.
David had some money-not much,
but enough. Still he chose to work
every day among his trees or in the
garden. Every evening he sat on the
porch and dreamed and waited.
When the orchard was bearing, ana
the rough places had been made
smooth, David's lodge on the hill was
the admiration of the community
Visitors were brought to see it, ana
tourists, who sometimes came to the
Ozarks, went out of their way to see
the hill that blossomed as a garden.
David still worked and dreamed
and waited. Sometimes at evening as
he sat alone upon the porch and look
ed out over the silent places-the hills
and the valleys-a sense of loneliness
came over him.
Suppose she should never come?
Even the shadow of a doubt made
him grow sick at heart. But she
would, surely she would. Somewhere
was the girl of whom he dreamed, the
one that loved the things he loved,
and thought the thoughts that came
to him.
Sometime she would grow tired and
turn aside to the hills. Then sne
would find the fairest one OF them All,
and when she climbed to its top, the
home would be ready and he would
be there waiting.
One day when the apple trees were
in bloom and the oaks were Drown
David felt, as he worked IN the OF
chard. strangely torn between doubts
A vision would come of coy
hearth, with the dream-Woman slt-
ting where the light fell on face and
hair. Then it would fade and he
would see himself, old, lonely and dis
illusioned by time, the wreck or
foolish hope.
1t was after shutdown when he came
to the house. AS he entered the yard
he saw a girl sitting on the edge OF the
porch looking across the hills to the
south.
She did not turn. and as he stood
still watching her, his pulse grew
strong and rythmical until every nerve
in him sang.
This was the dream-woman.
s'Do YOU like it?" he asked directly.
She did not start at the sound of his
voice, but looked up and smiled. yes,
1t is perfect"
He sat down on the edge OF tne
porch near her. 81 am visiting my
aunt" she explained, land wanted to
climb this hill. When I got here 1t
was go beautiful and srestflH scouldnt
leave" rs
For a few minutes they sat in
silence. The south wind came from
over the valleys laden with the In
cense of the wild plum and the wild
grape. They breathed the clean, sweet
air in perfect content.
She arose to go. He went with her
to where the road turned down the
You will come again." he said.
YES" she said, ct would like to-"
SGT will show you the place." he
promised.
Two days later she came again.
They went through the orchard and
garden. and then to the edge of the
hill where it falls away almost per-
They sat on a fiat rock
isn't it restful," she sighed, $50
quiet, but full of thought"
They talked of trees and vines, the
hills and the seasons, of books and
people. Wherever his thoughts had |
been, there hers had gone also, and |
whatever she had felt or dreamed he |
lad, too, understood.
Often she turned her wide-open, !
frank eyes upon him in wonder at the !
<eenness and power of his thoughts. |
IAI In rxylA
st wonder" she said musingly,
why you are not out in the world"
81 am" he laughed. unless you
,all this paradise
But you are not ambftfous? she
mo Why should I be?"
There is so much to do in the
world" she said, land you have so
much ability
1T work every day. He smiled.
But there is so much to be done to
elp people. and they need it so much"
Whenever I see a fellow that needs
elp, I help him If I can" he replied
heerfully.
but think of the multitudes you can
ever see here" she argued
do you believe that everybody was
1ade to quit his work and go out and
unit for distress?" he asked.
NO, OF course not everybody"
"If there ever was one that was not,
hat one is L I was made for this"
nd his gesture took in the hills and
ky ct was made to live and dream.
did not make humanity suffer and
Tod has never laid on me the job of ,
uring their diseases and distresscs, ex-
ept such as I meet in my daily work"
'sIt Is a pleasant philosophy" she said
18th a slow smile, but fear 1t is sell
sh.'
She seemed TO be troubled as they
ent down the hill, and said little.
For two he did not her {
gain He waited, poised dizzily on 6
le narrow ledge that runs between I
arkness and light. a
II she was really the dream woman. I