The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1910-01-29
ESMEE'S ROMANCE

Justin Hoste. the brilliant young art
Isl. was IN South Africa making
sketches of the Boer war for Ameri-
can newspapers. He was riding to-
ward a kopje one morning when the
sudden sound Of heavy firing sent the
blood dying TO his heart. as he realized
that beyond the brow were the Beers
and that an engagement was taking
place. Putting spurs TO his horse. he
rode forward at full speed. and the fe-
yer or battle swept over him when he
reached point where be could see
the hollow that surrounded the base
OF the kopje.
! Down In the dip was a thin red
4 line" Of men. who scrambled as fast
as the ones I'm front would let them up
! the hillside toward their hidden foes.
intrenched behind every rock and bush
and scrap OF cover that could shield
man.
Justin rode straight down into the
melee ana then he felt sudden blow
( and sharp pang. and then all was a
! blank
From the depth OF oblivion he emery
ed az last In hospital tent. where
/ quiet nurses moved 10 and fro and
| where the stiffness seemed almost OPP
pTessive after the clang aud clamor OF
the hollow His left arm was helpless
and bandaged aud all his limbs felt
singulary weak and his head swan
dizzily.
what Is the matter with meI" he
asked OF nurse.
mot much now. Mr. Hoste. A bull
let passed through an artery and they
only just found you IN time. But you
will soon get mp your strength with
rest and care"
To while away the tedlum OF his
stay I'm the hospital he began TO draw
and sketched the face OF "A girl he had
seen IN dream the night before the
I battle. She had a lovely. serious face.
| with great. earnest eyes and a tender
mouth. She seemed TO be standing ut
the gate OF n beautiful country house.
and she appeared In his dream 10 be
holding the gate open for him 10 pass
through lie called the sketch His
Dream Girl" II proved 10 be his best
work
When he was In London on the way
TO New York be responded 10 Bond
street gallery's suggestion by sending
his African sketches for exhibition.
and he included among them his mas
terpiece.
He had no lack OF friends now that
he had made II little place for himself
In the world OF people who do some
thing" and they took him up and
made him one OF the minor fashions
OF the hour. going IN parties TO see his
show" writing Il up IN all the pm
pers. inviting him TO dinners and Civ
ing him commissions to draw and
write for them.
He had never been 50 prosperous.
and ne found II pleasant enough.
though now and then the loneliness
seized him for moment. And
through II all he had the sense OF
something which was coming toward
him. approaching always day by day
until II was imminent. IL seemed
mere chance that took him one after
noon In late spring to Bond street 10
take n peep at his own pictures or at
the people criticislng them.
A group OF three women at the far
end or the second room attracted his
attention. They seemed eager and In
terested and were absorbed In some
debate concerning the sketch OF Tho
Dream Girl"
Justin. curious to know what they
discussed. drew near and heard one
say with decision:
There cannot be any one else in the
world so exactly like Esmee as that.
lie must have seen her at some time
or another.
"Esmee." she added. turning TO the
third. ARE you sure you have never
met himf"
Justin stepped closer involuntarily
and bent forward TO look at the girl
addressed: then he started forward.
exclaiming:
my dream girlr'
For he was gazing into a face that
was the facsimile OF bis vision. only
| loveier even than the dream had
] shown Il.
They were all speechless with the
strangeness OF the incident. And JUS
tin was just recovering himself and
was about 10 apologize when the girl
stretched out her hand to him. saying
softly:
"You are Justin
lie stood transhxed. while a murmur
OF establishment broke from the other
| two And then Esmee said:
II saw you once. years and years
ago. when you were a boy and lived
In the country. was a lonely little
girl. and you were a lonely little boy,
and the powers that were decreed
that we should meet and play together
ono suunp,or dav They honad xva