Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-01-07
Dreams
BY AGNES C. BRoGAN-
o. 1870. western Newspaper Union. J

h0meWard, he. was 0DSeSSed by
thoughts of the girl. When he might
naturally have anxiously considered
his fathers condition, it was the pleas
ing anticipation of seeing her again,
which drove anxiety away And Tom
Craigie was impatient with himself.
That he was. expected both by his
father and Eleanor Xane, to ask that
young woman to marry him during this
visit, he was well aware.
So. also. had, been his own satisfied
intention. But again the haunting
wisp of a girl made Of that intention
a perplexing thing. and the satisfac.
ton was gone. Yet Tom had only seen
her twice. Once in an artistic smock,
standing among other students before
the painting in the city art gallery,
which they were bent upon copying.
Again in the high skylight room of his
own home, which his father kept as
a studio, its walls Uttered with the In
different pictures which we're, in the
old mans estimation, masterpieces un-
recognized.
At each meeting with the girl, Toms
father had been there, praising her
skill as an art student in which ca
pacity had begun their unequal friend
ship. Toms visionary father had ever
been an eccentric, lovable creature,
and the dreams of his youth persisted
when all reason for them had fled.
Toms mother married the dreamer
and lived as she might, managing
meagerly until Tom, finishing through
her sacrifices his school days, had be-
come first helper, then malnstay Of
the family.
Tom had no time for fancied ca
reers, his. the matter of fact, must be
successful line Of business. Then his
mother had left forever the two alone,
and Tom. travelling where labors led.
was happy in the thought that his old
father might continue still his dreams,
In the home they had shared
Eleanor Vane, Toms childhood
friend, came to visit the old man oc-
casiOnally there, and 1t was tacitly
expected that sn engagement between
the two would result from Toms
question. when he should see Tit to
ask 1t.
When, during a fireside talk upon
hts second meeting, Tom thanked her
for her helpful kindness to his father,
little Gay Chalmers had answered
simply.
"He must not be disappointed of his
dream. 1t is more than a dream, this
passion to achieve" she added earn
estly, and all at once the gypsy eyes
had filled with pitiful tears for that
realization which might never come.
Tom remembered the tears, as his
train bore him homeward. remembered
all the sweet winsomeness of the girl,
and sympathy never before under.
stood filed his heart--that his father
was now to die without that for which
he had longed
For the telegram which had sent
Tom Craigie hurrying to the train.
bore a message of his fathers serious
breakdown. Old Craigie, patient, IA
miliar figure of the galleries, would
be seen there no more. Eleanor Vane
met the son In the doorway.
ut was to be expected OF course"
she calmly remarked, "Your father Is
quite old"
The chill about Tom Craigie's heart
deepened as the beautiful young wom-
an returned with a perfunctory smile
to her book. And then, at the top of
the polished stairs another girl wait
ed, little Gay. in her unchanged paint
ing smock. Her eyes sparkled at him
as with hidden Joy beneath their sor-
row. With all her old impulsiveness,
she caught Toms big hands and held
them close.
ats all right she told him softly.
"It is going TO have a beautiful end
ing-your fathers day like the glow
Of sunlight In his Days End picture.
Before you go to him you must learn
that his last long effort has been sue
cessful. The painting is to be ex.
Oh your father is happy man to-
night
"only you and I must know" she
said at length. ~ think perhaps you
ought TO know the truth; 1t cannot
hurt your father now. AS he labored
AT his ideal, so secretly painted its
replica with the only hope of bringing
to him-triumph. When he was tax
en- i'll, I secretly changed the finished
paintings And So"
$50, your name should be on the sue
cessful canvas Tom Craigie said
'and not-his."
"AIy joy" Gay whispered. "was 10
make his dream come true" Long the