Charlevoix county herald., 1914-10-03
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John Bascomb's
Dreams
MEN31yNS11@F $1,000

and left his motherless girl in Johns
care The only will produced at the
time bequeathed Dare's. fortune to
his daughter, to be held in trust by
John until her 21st birthday. The
dying man had given John a sealed
package, extorting from him a pro-
mise that 1t should not be opened
until Johns guardianship ended.
Now the time had come. Muriel
was II 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
i Arthur Dare's fortune was to be
equally divided between John BasS
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 't
John fell to dreaming as he gaZed
into the fire, and his dreams were
sweet. They carried him forward to
night a few years hence. Just
such night as this it was. with
winter coming on All, winter! After
all, it 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 woman's
voice, wondrously sweet, crooned a
lullaby, soft and low, soft and low.
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. He reIt sure
that he could make Muriel happy. OF
course, there was the difference in
their ages-20 years. But love could
bridge such a trifling matter as 20
years. Muriel had no other attach
ment; John felt sure of that There
was young Gleason; he had felt some
what uneasy about him. But mat
didn't amount to anything, just boy
and girl affair.
The poNiere clicked and John
started from his reverie. and turned.
Muriel had entered the room-Muriel
dressed all in white, with the freight
tinging the bronze of her hair to cop
per and deepening the color OF lip and
cheek. Johns 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 tremhled and would have caught
her in his arms, put something in
her eyes checked him. "Oh, guar
dian," she continued, Il am very
happy. Frank-Mr. Gleason-spoke
to me last night. He is coming to see
you tonight You will be kind to him,
GUARDIAN"
red mist swan before Johns
eyes. His hands clutched the last
will and testament" of Arthur Dare
so tightly that the stiff parchment
crumpled with a sharp, cracking
sound. His lips moved as if to
speak, but no sound came from
| them.
Guardian" whispered the grrf,
startled by his silence, SAY that you
approve of him.
The pleading of her voice restored
Johns self-control. He turned and
looked into her eyes.
"You are sure of yourself Muriel?"
he asked. "You love him very much7"
"Oh, guardian she exclaimed, her
face deliciously rosy. Il can't tell
you how much. You-you wouldn't
understand.
John smiled ruefully. No, perhaps,
he would not understand.
Frank is good fellow" he said,
in matter of fact tones. HE comes of
good family. Yes, l think l can say
that ! approve"
The, girls arm frightened about
his shoulders. -,
"And you will see him?" she asked.
al hear Thompkins admitting him
now"
mo, think not tonight. | shall be
busy. / have something important
Tomorrow, perhaps. Yes, tell him to
see me tomorrow
LAS you think best, dear. And
and will you give me your blessing,
guardian?"
John drew her face down to his and
kissed her, and there was none of the
lover in his kiss. Rather it was a
kiss such as he would give child
one of those children that had sweet
ened his dream.
God bless you, dear, he whispered
hoarsely. God bless you and guard
you always"
When she was gone John sat for a
long time dreaming a new dream, and
it was full of the hopelessness of the
long, interminable years to come
years of emptiness and desolation.
Then he became conscious of the fact
that he still held Arthur Dare's will
in his hand. Perhaps with that as a
lever-John banished the thought be-
fore 1t had fairly taken shape. He
tore the document into small pieces