The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-09-18
CHAPTER |.
Dreams.

He drifted into the delectable land
ahat 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 confused yet glowing sense
of sharp combats waged, of victories
won. A golden haze enveloped him.
Through 1t 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
slumber. had painted his colorful
dreams, worked to the surface.
My last day here!"
He awoke slowly. Before him, seen
through the unShuttered window, lay
world somber enough to one tugging
against its restraints, lovely when it
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
hung 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
IN the attitude of a listener. Intently
he sought to define the faint other
world resonance that still seemed to
Fibrate about him. But the theme
eiuded him.
His illusion was effectuaIly shat
tered. Into the subdued melody of the
Sabbath morning thrust a profane in
truder, the jerky wheeling notes of a
cabinet organ in the days hymns,
played by some one who aspired be-
Fond endowment.
He frowned, then threw back his
head and laughed silently-a trick he
aad sometimes-at the absurd anti
climax.
I'm still in Bethel. It's long way
From here to-there." He drew long
deep breath.
A question halted him. There
xhere?"
He shook his head vigorously, as
though to throw off the query, and
vent down to the kitchen.
The odor of frying ham saluted his
aostrils; 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.
III be ready" he said in a dull fiat
voice, time ye'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
lace scrubbed in cold water from the
:istern. They sat down without speak
ing. The youth ate eagerly, gulpingly.
When the first keenness of appetite
was gone, burning to talk of the great
aour at hand, he broke the silence.
Well, father, this is my last day in
Bethel"
The old man merely nodded, keeping
ais eyes on his plate.
Boyishly the son began to set forth
mis- plans and hopes and expectations !:
they we're not small. But the old man
maintained his silence. The youth con-
eeived him to be an unsympathetic au-
dience.
Guess you're not interested" he
said a trif1e sulkily.
Yes, I'm interested, Mark" the ia.
sher answered, but there amt any.
khing to say" He raised his glance to
the window. Guess / couldn't say
anything that'd help much
The sweep of the youths anticipa.
lion faltered before a quality in the
old mans words. Old, "old Simon"
so his neighbors called him. Yet he
was not really old, but in the MONDAY
of life wore the gray mantle of age
For he, too, had dreamed his big gold.
en- dreams. Below the village stood a
dismantled rotting forge, monument
10 their futility. After his failure he
had returned to his shop and trade
shoeing his neighbors' horses, mend.
INK their wagons and plows, dull.
syed, taciturn. spiritless piodder.
Simon Truitt rose and began to
clear the table. The son moved toward
che 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
schooled in such tender office. He went
slowly out into the sunshine.