Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1914-10-09
CHAPTER l.


He drifted into the delectable land
That lies between sleep and waking,
tasting the feetins SAVIOR of his dreams
the epic visions Of full-blooded youth.
They had passed Just beyond memory,
leaving 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
sinmber. had painted his colorful
dreams. worked to the surface.
my last day herel"
lie awoke slowly. Before him. seen
through the unshuttSred window, lay a
world somber enough to one tugging
against its restraints. lovely when Ii
was 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. golden disk
HING in the sky. symbol of the reward
~ mems struggles; It's radiance,
streaming into the little room, dis
PEELED shabbineas with a melloy glow
he could almost feel. The matin
sounds arose, according finely with the
lingering echoes Of his dream music.
He reveied in a new perception
he was twenty years old.
He was not one to loil. 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
An the attitude Of listener. Intently
he sought to define the faint other.
world resonance that still seemed to
yibrate about him But the theme
elnded him.
His Illusion was effectually shat
ksTed- Into the subdued melody OF the
Sabbath morning thrust a profane In
3Tuder. the jerky wheeling notes of a
cabinet organ In the days hymns,
played by some one who aspired be-
yond endowment
He frowned. then threw back his
bead and laughed silently--a trick he
mad sometimes-at the absurd anti
Glimax.
I'm stiil in Bethel. IT'S a long way
from here to-thers." He drew q long
Aeep breath.
A question halted him There
where7"
He shook his head vigorously. as
though to throw OF the query. and
went down to the kitchen
The odor Of frying ham saIuted his
1ostrils; he shifted it hungrily. A man,
apparently old. was placing heavy,
Clipped ironware dishes on the table.
He nodded briefly in response to the
youths blithe greeting.
~I'u be ready" be said In a dull fat
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
cdstern- They sat down without speak
ang. The youth ate eagerly. gulpingly.
When the first keenness Of appetite
was gone. burning 20 talk OF the great
hour at hand. he broke the silence.
We'll. father. this is my last day In
Bethel
The old man merely nodded. keeping
mis- eyes on his plate.
Boyishiy the son began 10 set forth
mis- plans and hopes and expectations;
they were not small. But the old man
maintained his silence. The youth con.
ceiFsd him to be an unsympathetic au
Gience.
/. Guess you're not interested" he
said q trifle sulkily.
Yes. I'm interested. Mark" the ia
tier answered, but there amt any
thing to say" He raised his glance tc
the window. Guess couldn't say
maything that'd help much"
The sweep OF the youths anticipa
zion faltersd before q quality in the
old mans words. Old, "old Simon;
90 hts neighbors called him. Yet h
was not really old, but in the MONDAY
OF life wore the gray mantle OF age
T'or he. too. had dreamed his big gold
en- dreams- Below the village stood
dismsntled rottinS forge, monumen
60 their futiiity. After his failure h,
AAd returned to his shop and trade
shoeing his netghbors' horses. mend
ing their wagons and plows, dull
eyed, taeiturn, spiritless plodder.
Simon Truitt rose and began b
clear the table. The son moved towar
the door. There he paused. vaguel
sensible Of sorrow to which som
soothing word was to be said. Blu
the word would not come to lips VI
sNhooled liz zach tender Office. He wer
SlD~l" "SS ~ TIVE sunshine.