Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-01-25
CHAPTER VII.

Mr.. Baumgarten came softly forth from
his house in the brightness of the early
summer morning, closing the door noise
lessly behind him, that he might not dis
turb his wife above. She was in delicate
health, and he had left her asleep. He
was on his way to a sick parishioner,
now lying in danger.
When Mrs. Baumgarten awoke, not
long afterward, she lay thinking of a
dream she had just had. SO real and
vivid did it seem that at first she Won
dered where she was, and looked round at
the familiar objects of the bed chamber
in doubt.
"Why, it was only a dream" she ex-
claimed. 81 am at home, and in my own
bed"
Presently she got up, and dressed her
self with trembling fingers. She was
weak, and languid, and hot; always in
fever now Looking about for the coolest
dress she had, she put it on; black and
white muslin. They were in mourning
for Mrs. Dane. She had died the previous
winter. Summer had come round again,
and it was nearly a year now since
Edths marriage.
When she had quite inished-dressing
and reading. and prayers-she sat down
in an easy chair before the open window,
letting the sweet morning air fan her hec-
| tic face. The sun shone in the blue sky ;
the scent Of newmown hay came from
| a near meadow, the hum of bees sounded
drowsily in the heat butterflies fluttered
across the green lawn from flower to
| flower.
As the clock struck Mr.. Baumgarten
returned he nodded to Edith from the
garden, came in, and ran upstairs. 1t
was their breakfast hour. Il hoped to
find you asleep still, Edith" he said. Il
wish you would breakfast in bed J"
"Oh, Ryle, | could not; l am glad to
be up bed tires me, think. Ryle," she
said, smiling, II have had such lovely
dream"
Indeed! 1t is not often you dream
What was it?"
when Charlotte and | were children
she used to tell her dreams of a morning
l felt quite jealous, because l never had
any to tell"
well, what was this one?"
81 thought l had long, long journey
to take, and as l set out from the door
here and walked down the path to the
gate, l looked round and saw you in the
parlor alone. l don't know where | went
or which way; it was all strange to me-
1t seemed as if l went miles and miles
and miles more than l can reckon; more
than there are miles in the world. But
oh ! the way was lovely. The air was SC
light and balmy that / seemed to float
along in an ecstasy. The most enchant-
ing flowers, sweeter and lovelier and more
brilliant than we can imagine out of a
dream, grew on each side the way. 1t
seemed that | had never known before
what happiness was, what enjoyment
meant and it was all so vivid that when
awoke l thought it was reality"
"a pleasant dream" remarked Mr.
Baumgarten. How did it end?"
1T had no ending. l was still gliding
along amidst the flowers when I awoke
1t took me ever so long to realize that
was in my own bed and had not gone on
that beautiful journey"
"I hope the journey has made you
hungry" he lightly said. Breakfast must
be waiting"
That dream occurred on Friday morn.
ing. 1t was the last Friday in June
On the Tuesday morning following, Edith
Baumgarten was lying in extreme peril
the doctors giving little hope of her life
Mr.. Baumgarten was sitting by her
bedside, holding her hand in his his tears
were kept back, his voice was low with
suppressed grief. DO not say we have
been happy my darling; say we are
cannot part with you; there is hope yet
"There is none," she wailed-"there is
none. Oh, Rye, my husband, it will bt
hard parting"
She feebly drew his face to hers, ant
his tears fell upon it. Edith, if lose
you, l shall lose all that is of value to mt
in life"
ITO be continued.)