The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19

that the stage offered her the career
for which she was best fitted.
During the happy days which they
had just left behind Wainwright had
refrained from showing the mans love
which had sprung into life for his little
shadow friend of old. He felt that she
knew. She must know. She who had
always possessed such a sympathy and
understanding must sense what was
now in his heart. He had treated her
as the same little playfellow. and she
had met his attitude with the quick
comprehension of the Shadow Girl of
old. But now, on the eve of his depart
ure, he had brought her to their en-
chanted island with the ed inten-
tion of telling her how necessary to his
life she had become. He woIs going
away, possibly never to return, and he
could not say goodby without voicing
the emotion that had been throbbing in
his veins all through their beautiful
August days.
He longed to take her in his arms
she whom he had carried as a child
over the hills and through the streams
of their kingdom-and tell her that
together they must wander in Already
forever; that it had been foreordained
when first she had come to him out of
the forest, and now on the eve of his
earth she must know that the tender
and protecting love that she had in
stilled in him as child she had famed
to an overwhelming emotion as
woman. But when he saw how fixed
was her purpose and how overpowering
her ambition he knew that any appeal
on personal grounds would be in vain
Unasked. she had given him his answer.
The sun had begun to dip behind the
ridUpS taiI ~ Tt
walls ruffied the surface of the cove in
quest of a belated fly. while from the
far shore the discordant note of a loon
broke the silence. Overhead the frs
stood motionless against the sky The
girl sat with chin in her hands gazing
far down the lake, but her eyes did
not see the beauty of the sun bathed
hills.
Finally Wainwright began to speak.
"Girlie, dear" he said. II brought you
here today-our last day-to tell YOU
how hungry l have been all these lone
ly years for the Shadow Girl. brought
her here today TO our Island of Dreams
to tell her that life without her is
going 10 be very. very hard for the
Dream Man; that she has never been
out of his life since she came into it
SO wonderfully as a child on that sum-
mer days years ago.
Il have hoped through this last day
that she might have cared for the
Dream Man as he cares for her. but he
has been dreaming again. and his
dream has not come true. He wanted
to wander out of Already into Paradise.
He wanted to marry a shadow girl. and
who ever heard of a shadow girl mar
rying?" he added with a whimsical
smile.
There were tears in the brown svss
as she lifted her head and turned to
him. Dear old Dream Man, / only
wish could care that way. You
have been the greatest and finest thing
In my life. and ] am so gratefuT'-
Gratitude" he interrupted softly.
mot gratitude from a shadow girl,
Please let me tinish." she continued.
Your friendship has been the dearest
thing / possessed. You have ALWAYS
understood. Dream Man, and. oh how
wish l could care in that way, some
day--weil, some day, / may. Who
knows?
h'Yes. who knows?" he echoed ..nd
when that some day comes the Drean,
Man may be in the Valley of the
Shadow She took his hand a. he
stopped, choked with emotion. and said
Dear old friend of mine, you would
not have me untrue TO myself-that
self that you have created-or to vo,,S
Some day. when have worked and
suffered and lived as you have suf
fered and worked. 1t may come to me:
and when 1t comes you will be there.
You have never failed me vet Dream
Man, for you always understood. and
you will be there. l pray God 1t NAV
come some day."
The western heavens were bathed in
the mountain sunset as Wainwright.