Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-12-05
CHAPTER l.
Dreams.

He drifted into the delectable land
that lies between sleep and waking,
tasting the f1eeting SAVIOR of his dreams
the epic visions of full-blooded youth.
They had passed just beyond memory,
Heaving a confused yet glowing sense
of sharp combats waged, of victories
won. A golden haze enveloped him.
Through it filtered a dwindling reso-
nance, as of some noble professional
sung by departing far-distant choir.
a wave of delight rippled over him.
Then the thought that, not sharing his
glumber, had painted his colorful
dreams, worked to the surface.
My last day here!"
He awoke slowly Before him, seen
Through the unshuttered window, lay a
world somber enough to one tugging
against its restraints, lovely when it
twas to be left behind He saw the
September sun peep over the hills at
the head of the valley, rise majestic
ally and swing clear, a golden disk
Sung in the sky, symbol of the reward
of mems struggles; its radiance.
streaming into the little room, dis
PEELED shabbiness with mellow glow
he could almost feel The matin
sounds arose. according finely with the
lingering echoes of his dream music.
He reveled in a new perception.
He was twenty years old.
He was not one to loll. He sprang
From bed and stood naked; supple
Beautiful youth. too slender for great
strength but with the unconscious
grace of the wild animal
He dressed and stood by the window
"a the attitude of a listener Intently
he sought to define the faint other
world resonance that still seemed to
vibrate about him. But the theme
eIuded him.
His Illusion was effectuaIly shat
sered. Into the subdued melody of the
sabbath morning thrust a profane in
cruder, the jerky wheeling notes of a
cabinet organ in the days hymns,
played by some one who aspired be-
Sond endowment
He frowned, then threw back his
head and laughed silently trick he
mad sometimes-at the absurd anti
vclimax.
I'm still in Bethel. It's long way
from here to-there." He drew a long
deep breath
question halted him There
where?''
He shook his head vigorously, as
Enough to throw off the query, and
went down to the kitchen
The odor OF frying ham saluted his
postriis; he shifted it hungrily. A man,
apparently old, was placing heavy,
Clipped ironware dishes on the table.
Ae nodded briefly in response to the
youths bliths greeting.
IN be ready" he said in a dull fiat
voice, time ye're back from the
III
setting of the table.
In a few minutes the other returned
: the horses fed and his own hands and
face scrubbed in cold water from the
<cistern- They sat down without speak
fng- The youth ate eagerly, gulpingly.
When the first keenness of appetite
twas gone. burning to talk of the great
eiour at hand. he broke the silence
Well, father. this is my last day In
Bethel"
The old man merely nodded, keeping
his eyes on his plate
Boyishly the son began to set forth
Ais plans and hopes and expectations
They were not small. But the old man
amaintained his silence. The youth CON.
rceiyed him to be an unsympathetic au-
dience-
Guess you're not interested" he
said tribe sulkily-
Yes. I'm interested. Mark" the IA
kher answered. but there amt any.
thing to say" He raised his glance To
the window. Guess 1 couldn't say
anything that'd help much"
The sweep of the youths anticipa,
tion faltered bafore a quality in the
old mans words. Old. "old Simon; 81
so his neighbors called him. Yet he
was not really old, but in the MONDAY
of life wore the gray mantle of age
H,or he, too, had dreamed his big gold,
san dreams Below the village stood a
<dismant1ed rotting forge, monument
TO their futflity. After his failure he
6ad returned to his shop and trade
4hoeing his neighbors' horses, mend
kng their wagons and plows, a dull.
eyed. taciturn. spiritless plodder
simon Truitt rose and began TO
stIear the table The son moved toward
the door. There he paused, vaguely
sensible of a sorrow to which some
soothing word was to be said. But
the word would not come to lips un
fschooled In such tender Office He went
elowly out into the sunshine.