Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-09-03
CHAPTER !.
Dreams.

Dreams.
He drifted into the delectable land
that lies between sleep and waking,
tasting the fieeting SAVIOR OF his dreams
the epic visions of full-blooded youth.
They had passed Just beyond memory,
leaving a confused yet glowing sense
OF sharp combats waged, of victories
won. A golden haze enveloped him.
Through II filtered 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
slumber, had painted his colorful
,reams, worked to the surface.
MY last day herel"
He awoke slowly. Before him, seen
through the unshuttered window, lay
world somber enough to one Juggling
against its restraints, lovely when 1t
was to be left behind. He saw the
yeptember sun peep over the hills at
NE head of the valley. rise majestic
llly and swing clear, q golden disk
hung In the sky. symbol Of the reward
d mems struggles: its radiance.
streaming into the little room, dis
PEELED shabbiness with mellow glow
be could almost feel. The matin
4oundz arose. according finely with the
tngering echoes of his dream music.
He reveled in new perception.
He was twenty years old.
He was not one to loll. He sprang
fSom 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
In the attitude of listener. Intently
be sought to define the faint other.
world resonance that still seemed to
vibrate about him. But the theme
eluded him.
His illusion was effectually shat
tered. Into the subdued melody of the
Sabbath morning thrust a profane In
lruder. the jerky wheeling notes of a
cabinet organ In the days hymns,
! played by. some one who aspired be-
Ntond endowment.
He frowned, then threw back his
head and laughed silently-a trick he
had sometimes-at the absurd anti
climax.
I'm still in Bethel. It's long way
from here to-there." He drew a long
deep breath.
A question halted him. There
where?~
He shook his head vigorously, as
though To throw on the query. and
went down to the kitchen.
Tho odor Of frying ham saluted his
Aostrils; he shifted It hungrily. A man,
apparently old. was placing heavy,
shipped ironware dishes on the table.
&c nodded briefly in response to the
youths blithe greeting.
TN be ready" he said in a dull fiat
voice, time we're back from the
stable" and continued his slow precise
setting Of the table.
In 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
ing. The youth ate eagerly. gulpingly.
When the first keenness OF appetite
was :. burning to talk Of the great
hour at hand, he broke the silence.
We'll, father. this Ii my last day In
Bethel"
The old man merely nodded, keeping
his eyes on his plate.
Boyishly the son began to set forth
hia plans and hopes and expectations;
they were not small But the old man
maintained his silence. The youth con-
oetved him to be an unsympathetic au-
dieuca.
Guess you're not interested" he
said a tribe sulkily.
Yes, I'm interested. Mark" the IA
Their answered. but there amt any
thing to say" He raised his glance to
the window. Guess couldn't say
anything that'd help much"
The sweep Of the youths anticipa-
ton faltered before Q quality In the
old mans words. Old, "old Simon"
90 his neighbors called him. Yet he
was not really old, but in the MONDAY
Of life wore the gray mantle Of age.
Ebr be. too. had dreamed his big gold
en- dreams. Below the village stood q
dismantled rotting forge. monument
70 their futiiity. After his failure he
he'd returned to his shop and trade,
6hoeing his neighbors' horses. mend
lng their wagons and plows, Q dull
sved. taciturn. spiritless plodder.
Simon Truitt rose and began to
clear the table. The son moved toward
The door. There be paused, vaguely
,eensih1e of sorrow to which some
soothing word was to BE- said Bot
The word would not come to lips an
.choolsd In such tender once. He went
lowly out into the sunshine.
IN the stable be curried the horses,
fqEering over the pretty brown marc
latest and Anest trophy of his horse
4Ading-untii her coat shone satiny.
This lahor oflovs ended. he lighted q
pipe and sat In the stable doorway.
He Sat there until from across the
town came q nat unmusicai clamor,
The cracked church bell calling the
t1dthful-that ts to say, all Bethel save
3ne-to worship. He rose reluctantly.
Soon he emerged from the little house,
Shaved 10 the blood and clad In the dis
sofnfoft q Sunday clothes.
Always on warm Sabbath mornings
Simon Truit was to be found sitting
on the stoon. and always facing the