The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-06-26
THE DREAMERS
BY VINCENT C. PERRY.


The dreamerS sat side by side OF
Il log, looking away out over the wa
ters of the lake. The scene was
strangely peaceful-tiny, ripping
waves gently kissing the wet line OF
the beach, made the only sound. TheI
from out of the horizon rose a thin
black line, a line that widened as the
minutes passed, widened and swelled
into smoke clouds. Fascinated. the
pair watched until the great lake
freighter, with its belching smokeStack
was clearly outlined and gained mo-
nop0iy of the scene. Nearer and
nearer came the freighter-a steady
onward force that rode the mighty
waters with the air of conquerOr.
"Someday | am going to be like
| that" The girl broke the silence. 81
am going to spring up out of the back
ground and swiftly take a place of
prominence in the world. Like that
steamer, | will travel on and on,
nothing will stop me, nothing can, IN
til | have achieved greatness"
The boy smiled. He. too. had
dreams
II will be like these waves" he said.
Il will travel slowly, gently, surely.
| will go around the things in my way,
pass over or carry with me the small
things. | may he pushed back. like
the waves. but ike them | will come
back again. Always ] will be reaching
out, out, out"
1t was many years later. Jack Tenn
pie millionaire broker, left his Of
flee. his head heavy and aching. Big
business had meant always headache
for Jack. Despite his remarkable
achievements and his worldwide fame
as the clevereSt and coolest financier
on Wall street. he still faced every
battle nervously, still battled at a
tension; but none save Jack knew
that-to Wall street he was man
without nerves, man with an iron
constitution.
1t was for men like Jack "the tired
business man" form Of entertainment
was invented, but the "girlie-girl"
shows had no attraction for him that
night
Anything but musical show" he
told his chauffeur. after he had given
up the thought of eating. II don't
care where. Even melodrama would
be welcome tonight"
So it was that the car drew up at
small theater playing 1.-The Bubble
Breakers" The name could apply to
any show. but the glaring Autographs
displayed in front of the, theater pro-
claimed it melOdrama without q doubt.
Jack went in without f1inching. He
smiled when his chauffeur declined an
invitation 10 accompany him-that in
itself was sufficient guarantee that the
show was a poor one. but Jack was
there at his own bidding, and he never
went back on himself.
The house was well filed The
cheaper seats were all occupied, but
some of the more expensive ones were
vacant. Jacks seat was near the front.
The curtain went up on the first act
before the millionaire had a chance to
study the types around him.
The scene was beach The water
in the background was poor scenic
effect, but the log and the pair seated
upon 1t looked natural enough. Then
appeared at the head of the canvas
black line 1t was some time before
the audience could grasp that it was
intended for smoke. but when lights
appeared and the form of poorly
painted lake freighter attached itself
to the thin smoke line the riddle was
solved.
Then the pair began to speak. The
girl spoke first. Her voice was low
and sweet: there was nothing of the
forced melodrama in her tone. She
was just child, barely fourteen, Jack
thought His mind was more on the
little actress than on the words she
was saying. hut when the boy spoke he
realized that they were dreamers
dreaming of the future. Such fool
ish, useless pastime it was.
But Jack could not become bored by
the play. The plot was ragged. but
the bright little actress protraying the
child's part kept life enough in the
play to hold his interest.
It was between the third and fourth
acts that Jack came to his decision
His life had been such lonely. bar
rem sort of thing, why couldn't he
do something worth while now? he
asked himself. Here was his chance
TO spend some Of his millions on an
other. here was his chance to give
this child-dreamer the means of realiZ-
ing some of her dreams.
Lenore Roselby sank to the chair
before her dressing table and gave
sigh of relief. The play was over.
and she was glad of it. for her part
was a hard one and she had eXerted
her every effort to portray it. Her
maid entered with a card. The actress
gave the card but a fleeing glance.
Cards meant only one thing In her
life-stage johnnies. and experience
had sickened her of that type long
ago.
HE was prosperous, rich looking
her maid whispered. "And he was
persistent"