Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-21
The Argus Daily Story
David's Dream Woman-By Clarissa Mackie
Copyrighted. Associated Literary sureau.

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afternoon. and lower Broadway was
.eem.ng with pedestrians and vehicles.
Above the corner where he waited tow
cred the eighteen stories Of the tall |
building where his offices were situa-
ted. He had just left them for the day. |
and he had gladly closed the door on
their subdued hum and hustle.
Life seemed very stale and dull to
David Wright today. Perhaps he was
tired from a long and busy summers
application to hard work, although he
had always thrived nightly on hard
work. Perhaps 1t was the rather lone
" life he led in his handsome bachelor
quarters, for he was without any near
relatives. Indeed. he had never known
the real meaning of home, for be had
been orphaned while he was mere
child and had spent most Of his youth
in boarding schools and other places Of
learning.
Now that his business was q success,
he had no need to make more money.
He could not spend his income by half,
and he thought wistfully Of travelling.
but somehow, back within his inner
consciousness, he had a hazy mental
picture Of himself travelling about the
world in leisurely fashion. but he
was never alone. Always beside him
there stood q woman's form. She was
always small and dainty, and she was
gowned in gray. But who she was he
never knew. She had no identity, but
he felt that she must be the woman
who was to be his wife-some day. So
he delayed a trip to Europe or the far
east. secretly, though half denying It
to his abashed self. waiting for his
travelling companion
"She will have to come along pretty
soon," he smiled whimsically to him.
self, ''or P!l be too old and infirm
to travel in anything except wheeled
chair"
Just then the policeman's whistle
sounded and there was a way clear to
Broadway David Wright took one
step forward to the street, then an
other, slipped and fell. the back of his
head striking the sharp edge of the
curbstone.
After that he could not recollect
what happened.
| Suddenly he awoke and tried to SIT
up in the white hospital bed, but his
| head reeled dizzily, and he sank back
on the pillow.
"Ah," breathed the nurses soft voice
close beside him, and he felt an arm
| n, =l,1 nj hA ho
supported to sitting posture. Then
somebody sat down on the edge Of his
bed. and his head was supported in ar
outstretched hand.
1t was all done skillfully and quickly
and by the time David opened his eye;
there was glass Of stimulant at hi:
lips. and as he swallowed it in little
sips his dizziness cleared away. leay
ing q sickening pain in its wake.
Leaning over the low railing at thu
foot of the bed was his own physician
watching him with relieved eyes.
What happened. doc?" asked David
with a wavering smile at the kind,
face of his friend
.Slip up on the pavement and ,
crack on the back of your head" re
turned DR.. Lawton. coming aroun'
and relieving Dayid's prop. "A goo'
rest up here won't do you any harm
Wright" His skillful fingers touches
the sore spot on the back of David
head. He made one or two sugges
lions to the nurse. who stood in tn
background. and, with a final laughin
injunction to his patient. the docto
left. promising to return in a fey
hours.
After that fever set in. and II wa
several days before David Wright wa
able to sit up once more. weaker. Blu
quite free from pain. His privat
room in the hospital was pleasant an
sunshiny and so high up that tn
noises from the street came up in
subdued, pleasant blur of sound.
At last he lifted his weary eyes an
looked at the nurse who had so p,
tiently attended him during his sicl
ness. He had always been consciou
his fever was at its height. and sh
had become confused in his mind wit
. the dream woman who was his ira
cling companion in those day dream
that had been his for several years
He watched her now as she busie
herself In the sunny window. quit
unconscious of his scrutiny. She We
small and fair and exquisitely colore
/ with dainty features crowned wit
soft masses of waving golden hair
pale gold shot with deeper tints. az
3 eyes were hazel. and the white liz
y were fringed with dark lashes. an
the line of her eyebrows was dar
and finely arched.
David had known very few wom-
and he watched this one with increa
ing delight. There was familiarii
about the poise Of her head. especial
when she bent It low. he someho
knew that her hair was parted. O
though the little white cap hid Il
parting from view. and the Lore
hands looked familiar too.
Had he ever seen her before? r
: could not recollect. He did not eve
know her name. The doctor calls
o her nurse" and so David address,
her.
"Nurse." he said in a voice singula
~ weak. "how much longer must
stay herer
She turned her lovely. startled ey'