The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-04-26

elusive and mysterious that no
body could read even a few OF
them. brought him pictures OF
mountains wrapped in shadows
like purple velvet, Of hillsides gay
III the royal splendor of October
green and gold, of lovers, bare
armed and with mouths that were
to each other like honey, of a
woman whose smile had shone
through many centuries, OF men
going in their gorgeous strength
to battle and death.
"These pictures" the man said,
were made by the great dream
ers of the world, so that all other
men, less fortunate, might be able
to see from afar how splendid it is
to dream. And, if you call me,
shall come again and show you
more of the great pictures men
have made"
And the young mans smile was
more radiant than ever because
he had been led into the company
of dreamers. Its beauty was not
disturbed, even the slightest bit,
when the bent old man suggested
that he still was far from the
House of Happiness.
The perfume of the flowers
about me- he said one day, SIS
exquisite, but surely there are
sweeter fragrances to be found.
Cannot my senses be wooed by
4 perfume surprising all thesee''
There anne up swiftly from one
of the fields a little woman who
was OF great age, and she carried
very carefully in her hand a tear
jar like those that Were fashioned
centuries ago for the women of
China. And she removed it's
stopper and held it close to the
young mans nostrils. The sweet
ness of it was inetfable, so over
powering that for a moment he
nearly swooned away.
This she said, is the breath
of a flower that bloomed a thous-
and thousand years ago. Few of
THE SONS of men ever knew of it.
1t was grown by the priests of a
forgotten religion, i'll a walled
garden, for the pleasure Of a
king daughter. But on the
Happy Highway it is possible to
find all these things
When she was gone, the young
man smiled again, and his joy was
So great that he sighed after lie
had smiled. But he did not sigh
when the bent old man pointed out
that the House of Happiness was
yet a long way off.
Women have been kind to
me, he said on another day, sand
their arms have been warm about
me, and they have sung to me by
day and by night all the songs
that stir the souls Of men. But
surely there must be in this per
fect world one perfect woman.
Why have [ not found herr
And 10 there came to him be-
side the fountain at which he sat
9 woman whose walk was like the
beginnings Of music. Her hair
was softer and blacker than the
soft, black reaches of the night.
and her breast, which stoc,rmed tu-
multuously because Of him, was
falrer than any ever uncurtained
by the reverent hand Of sculpture.
Her robe fell about her loosely,
and her long black lashes half hid
| her eyes, as if she awaited but d
word from him to lift them and let
him read all the sweet secrets Of
her surrendering soul.
He kissed her that day and for
many days and many nights there
after, and they made songs togeth-
sitting by the fountain. Great
visions came to them unbidden
land he was king and she wa
queen of the land where dreams
como true.
When she left him he was slIiil..
ing, and, still smiling, he hentovel
thefountaii to drink Of the delec.
table waters. And the untroublce
surface Of the waters was i mir