Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-09-15

thing that one could not miss In tnt
moonlight, unless one were blind. Bu
Zelda paused when they reached Pol.
locks horse which whinnied and puI
out Its nose to her in a friendly way
AS they reached the road, which lay
white In the moonlight, Ezra Dameror
came toward them. walking slowly, hal
in hand, and the two watched him
his queer shufling walk. his head bent
has gray hair touched with the silver
of the moonlight,
Wont you come with us, father?'
said Zelda, as they met in the road.
mo! no, l thank you, Zee. l have
had my little constitutional. Don't go
too far-there may be malaria abroad.
Leighton looked furtively at Zelda.
She had greeted her father kindly, hap
PLY; but there was something repel
liant in Ezra Dameron. Leighton never
felt 1t more than tonight. That such
a girl should have a father so wretched
seemed impossible; but the thought
quickened his love for her. There was
something fine in her conduct toward
her father; her unfailing gentleness
and patience with him had impressed
Leighton from the time of her home-
coming. She made point of speaking
of him often and always with respect
Leighton was well aware that no one
else. with the single exception of MI
chael Carr, ever spoke of Ezra Damec-
on in anything but derision Rodney
Merriam never mentioned him at ALL
which was doubtless the safer way.
Farther along the road Pollock and OIL
i've were tentatively singing a popular
song of the hour
Sing 1t all-dont pick at 1t that
way" called Zelda.
Sing it yourself. If you don't like
It," came back the answer from Olive.
There is only one song that l should
care to hear tonight" said Leighton.
after moment of silence IT'S the
only song that ever meant a great deal
to me-
"Oh, know! One of Herr Schmidt's
from his great operatic triumph of last
winter. Your taste is only fair then"
1T goes back a little farther than
that. It's Traume-Tristan and Isolde,
wasn't 1t? Do you remember"
Il have heard it sung, beautifully, In
Berlin" she said, evasively.
Il never did. But l heard you sing
it once, and it has haunted me-"
rs that the one?" she asked. Yes;
it is about dreams"
THAT is the one l meant 1t Is the
most wonderful thing in the world!
Yes, it's only about dreams-a dream:
but it's the sweetest dream in the
world, 1t means"
"A dreaml" and she laughed, but 1t
was a mirthless little laugh.
He paused and looked out over the
moonlit cornfeld his heart was beat
ing fast. She felt for moment that
she must turn and fly from him; but
he started forward again and she fol-
lowed
1T is more than a dream. am
building upon it as though 1t were
veritable rock"
"A dream-to build the real upon?
The architects of fate don't like that
plan, do they?"
But we must hold to our Dreams"
he said, soberly.
Il suppose we must, even though
they are things of air that only lead us
astray. l didn't think you were senti-
mental. I'm afraid can't sympathi2e
exactly, for sentiment was left out of
me utterly" and she hated herself for
the bravado with which she spoke.
81 can't believe that! Every ons
has It. I'm a thoroughly practical per
son, and yet have my dreams-my
dream"
olive and Pollock were singing
again They were far in advance and
their voices stole softly upon the. night.
Zelda stopped to listen. Her. heart was
in a tumult of happiness and wonder.
The splendor Of the moonlight upon
the fields ABOUT them, the gloomy shad-
ow Of the woodland beyond, the man
beside her hesitating, yet ready to tell
her Of his love- There stole across her
spirit the tremui3us awe of girl to
whom love has come for the first time
as it can never come again. Leighton \
drew close to her. e. -
zelda" he said, zelda"
mo. Oh, no! You must mott" she
cried.
Il love you, zelda!" he sale.
NO; you must not say it," And
there was sob that caught her throat
you are the dream. 1t is too sweet;
I can not lose it-I must not"
You have talked Of dreams AMI
love-" she said hurriedly, but with a !
lingering note of contempt on the last
word that stung him as though she /
had struck him in the face. 1 wonder
what love Isl" and hastened away to-
ward her cousin and Pollock. who |
waited. idly. and trying their voices,
and chatting each other over their fall
ure to carry a tune.
ITO be continued.)