The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-01-19
John Bas co.,lmb'sS
Dreams "
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iisJohn Bascomb leaned back III This
chair and stared in the flames.
Eight5years before Arthur Dare died
and left his motherless girl in Johns
care. The only will produced atrthe
time bequeathed Dare's fortune to
his daughter. to, be held in trust by
John until her 2lst birthday. The
dying man had given John a sealed
package, extorting from him a pro.
mise that II should not be opened
until Johns guardianship ended.
Now the time had come. Muriel
was 81 yesterday, and tonight John
had broken the seal and read the do.
cument 1t proved to be a will OF
later date than the one executed eight
years before. and It stipulated that
Arthur Dare's fortune was to. be
equally divided between John Bias.
comb and Muriel Dare upon one con.
dition-that they unite in marriage.
The refusal OF. either party to comply
meant the forfeit of the refractory
ones portion to the other.
John fell to dreaming as he gazed
into the FIRE. and his dreams were
sweet. They carried him forward to
night few years hence. Just
such a night as this 1t was, with
winter coming on. All, winter, After
all, 1t was the contest season Of the
year. And bark! there was the sound
Of children's laughter and the patter
of tiny feet And then a womar's
voice. wondrouslyj sweet, crooned i
lullaby. soft and low. soft and INV
All! it was good to be- alive; life, was
SO full, SO complete. SO satisfying.
John sighed. They would be very
happy, Muriel and he. lie felt sure
that he could make Muriel happy. or
course, there was the difference in
their ages-2O years. But love could
bridge such tritiing matter as 90
years. Muriel had no other attach.
ment; John felt sure of that. There
was young Gleason: he had felt some.
what uneasy about him. Bur that
didn't amount TO ANYTHING. inst boy
and a girl affair.
The portiere clicked and John
started from his reyerie and turned.
Murlel had entered the room-Murlel
dressed all in white, with the freight
tinging the bronze of her hair to cop.
per and deepening the color Of lin and
cheek. JOINTS heart gave a MIGHTY
throb and he caught his breath sharp.
y. He started to rise, but Muriel
hurried forward and pressed him
back.
don't get up. GUARDIAN she said;
softly: Il came to have A little chat
with YOU" She seated herself ON the
broad arm OF his chair and rested her.
arm lightly across his shoulders
John trembled and would have caught
her in his arms, but something in
her, eyes checked him. .oh ruar.
dian." she continued. AZ am very
happy. Frank-Mr Gleason--spoke
I to me last night, He is coming to see
you tonight. You will be kind to him.
gnardian?-
A red mist swan before Johns
eyes. His hands clutched the "last
will and testament- az Arthur nare
so Tight, that the stir parchment
crumpled with a sharp cracklinp
sound. His Inns moved az n re
speak. but no sound came from;
them. :. ~
Guardian whispered tho r1r,
startled by his silence. .sav tha, ..,,r
approve Of hir1.r,
The pleading of her voice restored
Johns selt.contro, ua tn,nad aa,i
looked into her ewes " :
.lou are sure OF yo,,rselr Nrurte,oy
he asked. .You love him verv mnch,,
Lob, guardian. ave exclaimed her
face deliciously rosy III cam IAN
youJ how much. SSy,S,g...I.ySS,S wai,idn't
understand.
John smiled rr,uefl1ly E'No p,eSr ,b ns
he would NOT understand \
Frank is a good fellow e .s.,d,
10. matter Of fact tones. ue mss,of
good family. Yes, i think. can .ay
that | approve. -
The girl,s arm t,pbtarad aho,t
Ills shoulders -.
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