Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-03-01
Dayid'S
Dream Woman
She Materialized Into D
Reality
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciation. 1911.
py CLARISSA MACKIE

crowded thoroughfure. 1t was late
afternoon. and lower Broadway was
teem: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 long and busy summers
application to hard work. although he
had always thrived nightly on hard
work. Perhaps 1t was the rather lone
ly life he led in his handsome bachelor
quarters, for be was without any near
relatives Indeed. he had never known
the real meaning Of home, for he had
been orphaned while he was a mere
child and had spent most Of his youth
in boarding schools and other places OF
learning.
Now that his business was success.
be had no Feed TO make more money.
lie could not spend his income by Ealf.
and he thought wlstfully of travelling.
but somehow. back within his inner
consciousness he had Il haZy mental
picture of himself travelling about the
world in Il IeiSurely fashion. but he
was never alone. Always beside him
there stood Il woman's form. She was
always small and dainty. and she was
gowned il gray. But who she was he
never knew She had no identity. but
he felt that she must be the woman
who was to he his wife-some day. So
he delayed trip to Europe or the far
east, secretly. though half denying II
to his ahaShed self. waiting for his
travelling companion.
"She will have to come along pretty
SOON" he smiled whimsically to him.
self. "or I'll be too old and inhrm
to travel in anything except a wheeled
chair"
Just then the ro!icen!an's whistle
sounded ami there was u 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 recolect
what happened
Suddenly he awoke and tried to sit
up in the white hospital bed. but MS
head reeie:l dizziIy. and he sank back
on the pillow.
All" breathcd the nurses soft voice
close beside him., and he felt an arm
beneath his shoulders. and he was half
supported to a sitting posture. Then
somebody sat down on the edge Of his
bed. and his head was supported In an
outstretched hand.
1t was all done Skilfully and quickly,
and by the time David opened his eyes
there was glass Of stimulant at his
lips. and as he swallowed it in little
sips his dizziness cleared away. leaV'
ing sickening pain in its wake.
Leaning ever the low railing at the
foot of the bed was his own physician,
Watching him with relieved eyes.
What happened. doc?" asked David.
with wavering smile at the kindly
face of his friend.
"Sip up on the pavement and a
crack OH the back Of your head" re-
turned Or. Lawton. coming around
and relieving David's prop. "A good
rest up here won't do you any harm,
Wright" His skillful fingers touched
the sore spot on the back Of DaVlds
head. He made one or two sugges-
tons to the nurse. who stood in the
background. and. with final laughing
Injunction to his patient. the doctor
left. promising to return in a FEW
hours
After that fever set in. and it was
several days before David Wright was
able to sit mp once more. weaker, but
quite free from pain. His private
room in the hospital was pleasant and
sunShiny and sn high up that the
noises from the street came up in q
subdued. pleasant blur of sound.
At last he lifted his weary eyes and
looked at the nurse who had so pa
tiently attended him during his sick"
ueSS. He had always been conscious
Of her soothing presence. even when
his fever was ut its height. and she
had become confused in his mind with
the dream woman who was his trav-
cling companion in those day dreams
that had been his for several years.
He watched her now as she busted
herself in the sunny window. quite
unconscious of his scrutiny. She was
small and fair and eyquisitely colored.
with dainty features crowned with
soft masses of waving golden hair
pale god shot with deeper tints. Her
eyes were hazel. and the white lids
were fringcd with dark lashes. ana
the line of her eyebrows was dark
and finely ar"hnd.
Dcvid he'd known very few women.
ard he watched This one with tnrreas'
inc dp,irht There was n familiarity
about thn pnisp of her head. especially
when size lent IL low He somehow
knew that her hair was parted. al
thou~h tn" little white cap hid the
narting from view. and the lovely
hands looked familiar too.
Hod he over seen her before2 He
could not rpcolect. He did not even
know her name. The doctor called
her nurse" and so David addressed
her.
Nurse" he said in q voice singular
One of the most common ailments thai
L. oGl .r