The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-09-24
The and
the DREAM
(By FRANCIS RUSSELL GILBERT ,

IteHneHnDeT tnlS. When | am free
again | shall not rest till 1 have
found you. And when l have found
The threat had been uttered ten
Years ago, but Charlford remembered
every word. Fear-restIess. consum-
ing fear-had burned every syllable
into his brain and made the unfin-
lshed threat an epitOme of terror.
Never for a moment could he forget
Marston's face Kissing those words at
him as the warders hustled the con-
Wet from the dock.
Ten years ago he and Marston had
schemed a robbery. Their plans sue
ceeded but i'll. Charlford, ever a prey
to fear, had kept watch. while the
holder MarstOn broke his way into
the house. Some one heard the our
glar moving about and went down to
him. MarstOn had struck out blindly,
continued to strike out blindly long
after his victim was unconscious.
There was a hue and cry, but Mars
ton escaped and lay concealed in
Charlford's ho4&a. And Charlford be-
trayed him to the police.
Then came the trial and the threat.
Charlford's legal punishment had
been light. Before the year was out
he was once more a free man, and
he turned to the paths Of honesty.
But the threat was ever with him,
taking the JOY from the sunshine,
peopling the night with vague, stiff
ling terrOrs.
And that day he had seen Mars
ton-Marston, free, roaming the
streets. And he knew that Marston
had seen him.
Fear was upon Charlford, gripped
his heart with is icy fingers. His
brain foated in a dull mist, conscious
Of one thing alone-Marston was free.
And when ] have found yOu--
Charlford into his house,
banging the door after him, never dar-
ing to look round. He went straight
to his study and took a revolver from
the drawer. The thing was bright
and shining; he had never allowed it
to rust. And every chamber was
loaded. He slipped the pistol into
his pocket and strove to think that
he was feeling holder.
He began to pace the floor: once
he drew near the window, but feared
TO look out. Instead, he seated him
the glowing embers The clock, tick
ing heavily, was the only thing to
break the silence.
Night darkened the street. blu
Charlford did not move. His house
keeper, entering with tea, thought he
was asleep in his chair.
She lit the gas and drew down the
blinds. The room began to look more
cheerful. Mechanically Charlforc
stirred the fire and the leaping flames
somehow restored his spirits.
The housekeeper, chatting garrul-
ously, found in him a sympathetit
listener. He seemed anxious that she
should not quit the room and leave
him alone-with his thoughts.
But presently the door closed be-
hind her, and Charlford was agar
by himself. He took up a book; thu
print dazzled him and he returned
to his moody silence by the hreslde.
had seen him.
And when l have found YOU
The clock chimed IL. Well, HI
would go to bed. He rose from nj!
chair. then sat down again weakly
The stairs would be In darkness. IL
dared not face them.
Something moved in the passag'
outside and he leaped to his feet will
a cry. Then, revolver in hand, NJ
flung the door wide open. There wa
a dim light in the passage. and JACK
the mastiff, was settling himself OF
the ms
He called the dog to him and, grip
ping it's collar, kept 1T by MN Wnli'
he turned out the light and mountet
to his bedroom. With dog and revol
Yer he searched every Granny or IN
room. There was no cause fer alarm
He induced the dog to lie down
outside his ROOM, locked and bolte'
the door and disrobed.
He dared not plunge himself INT
darkness, and left the lights marin
all night. For some While ne la
tense. nerve-racked. The nous
creaked, as houses will at nlsht' IN
dog breathed heavily in its sleep. An
at every sound Charlford's han
sought the revolver unde his pillow.
AT last sleep came to him. He De
gan to dream. He was alone IN
pleasant wood, and he felt Lighter
happier than he had done tor year.
And then, at a turn In the PAIN IL
met Marston. Marston spranS az mn
gripped him bby the throat.
Th h~ousekeeper was knocking a
~ doc Ma harking in mis-