Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-08-28
SHADOW OF A MAN
Adventures Ancient Vigor, In.
cited by a Glimpse Of Heaven,
Seeks Its Lost Might.
BY r. J. PEARSALL.
vas a strange thing.

work, and the old, familiar trees cast
their familiar shadows far ahead OF
him, and the birds sang the same
songs, and the breeze famed his fore.
head in the same comforting way. and
there was the same little house at the
end of the path. and the same smiling
face to meet him.
Yet there was something altogether
different, and when he came to con-
slider earnestly what It was, he found
that, curiously, he was not himself;
that he was outside Of himself, and re-
garding himself from a distance. and
very great distance, too. This real
ization disturbed Jonas very much
and he strove to recover possession OF
himself, as 1t were, but could not
Ths effort caused him confusion and
indistinctness Of vision, so he desisted'
and contented himself with watching
this man who was. and yet who was
not, himself. Thus resting. he was en-
abled to come closer, and, II not to
regain his identity, at least to enter
into some Of the thoughts and feelings
Of his double.
Jonas was we'll set-up man. some
where around thirty. He had clean
cut features and a square jaw, and
was dressed In the garb Of the better
class Of American workmen.
As he approached the house pretty
face appeared in the window and al
quickly disappeared, and his wife, VINO
had been the sweetheart OF his school
days, stood in the door.
What do you Think" she began
and then her lips were checked BY
the wifely greeting that made Jonas
Flint's heart beat faster What az
you think? See here"
She led him through the house,
short enough passage Il was--and ou
through the back door; and there were
q dozen fluffy little chickens presided
over ry an important, tealoua-eyed oil
hen. They just Matched this after
noon. Aren't they cutef
They were cute, but far more at
tractive to Flint's eyes was the lith'
figure OF his young wife as she ben
over her charges. IS S.
But you must be hungry" she said
and tired. And supper's ready"
And supper was ready-the fines
supper spread on tea-table Just oil
enough for two in a pretty little din
ing.room Just big enough for the tea
table. Jonas, sitting with his wifi
across the board. felt that he was tn
happiest man in all tho world.
II was tired. But couldn't sta
tired here. Nelly, this is home"
"You like this place better tina
other places, them" she inquire
naively. knowing his answer before
| hand.
"Other places! Let me forget then
Here, in this house, with you. 1t
Heaven. have wandered for year.
Nelly, but never really knew happ
hour. No, nor a happy moment"
Supper over, they sat on the porci
she sewing, he blowing great rings {
smoke into the air.
He grew drowsy, his head fell TO
ward, his eyes closed, then opene'
then closed again.
He was asleep.
He woke.
The sun was shining fiercely
through the hole In the wall thu
served as window for the miserab]
little room in which he had slept.
His ears we're vexed by the jabbe
Ing of the native women. Through tn
half-open door he could see them PAL
and re-pass.
They were almost black, their fe
lures were those of negroes; the
we're dressed In horrible deshabille.
There was an indescribably dirt
odor In the air.
So vivid had been his dream thu
he could not for the moment reali2
that It had been a dream, and that th1
was reality. When he did, he ros
cursing volubly.
He took long draft from an evi
smelling vessel and made his shol
toilet. Dressed in white trousers an
the thinnest OF undershirts, he LETT tn
room, and, in company with half
dozen people, one negro, one Chino
woman, and the rest natives, he al
breakfast.
Dried fish and poi composed til
meal. It was served in half-clea
dishes; still, he ate heartily. Years {
usage accustom one to anything, an
4 dream is but a dream.
Still, Jonas could not get this o.
of his mind, though he tried hard.
Ieli noticed his depression.
What ails you?" she asked in tt
native tognue; but he only replied
q grunt.
So she concluded that he had To-
again in gambling, and, having
wholesome regard for his temper, he
her peace. ~ q
After breakfast, he went down-tow
as was his usual custom.
He had not had the feeling Il
years, but when he walked throul
the rows Of squalid shacks that formt
the quarter In which he lived, all dirt
dilapidated, and suggestive Of nam
less things, disgust filled him.
He strove to quiet his memories, b.
could not. His old home In the State
Indian summer, the walks with Mel
in the quiet, sweetsmelling lane, Il
kiss. A virgin kiss he had know
It to be. filled with tho matchle
splendor of young girls nrst love.
1 The next day he had left her. He hi
awakened . great love, and then Ele
1t to die. And 20, wrongins her,
had ruined himself. He saw It now
quite plainly. saG
He thought of the dream again
was it = dream? He had not lived I
years In the East for nothing.