Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-01-06
Dreams
BY AGNES C. BRoGAN
%. 1890. Western Newspaper Union.


hOmeWard, he was Obsessed 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 Vane, to ask that
young woman to marry him during this
visif, Iae was well aware.
So, also, had been his own satisfied
intention But again the haunting
wiP Of a girl made of that intention
a perpieXing 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
studio, its walls Uttered with the in
different pictures which were, in the
old mans estimation, masterpieces I'M
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 fed.
Tens mother married the dreamer
and lived as she might. managing
meageTly until Tom, finishing through
her sacrifices his school days, had be-
c0me first helper, then mainstay 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 l0bors 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 it was tacitly
expected that an engagement between
the two would result from Toms
question, when he should see fit to
ask it,
When, during a Preside talk upon
HIS second meeting, Tom thanked her
ASAr her helpful kindness to his father,
fittle Gay Chalmers had answered
sinaply.
''4Ie must not be disappointed of his
dream. 1t is more than a dream, this
passion to achieve" she added earn
esty, and all at once the gypsy eyes
had filled with pitifuI 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 flled 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 message of his fathers serious
breakdown. Old Craigie, patient IA
rniliaT figure of the galleries, would
be seen there no more. Eleanor Vane
met the son in the doorway.
at 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 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 sparllled at him
row. With all her Old impulsiveness,
she caught Toms big hands and held
tltEn close.
ITS all right" she told him softly.
'Ls is going to have a beautiful end
lasN'your fathers days like the glow
Gf sunlight in his lays 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-
hH,ited. he has his letters of merit
Oh! your father is a happy man to-
night!
Only you and l must know" she
said at length, II think perhaps you
ought to know the truth; it cannot
hurt your father now. AS he labored
at his ideal. so I secretly painted its
rePlica with the only hope of bringing
TO tim-triumph When he was TAX
en- i'll, secretly changed the finished
paintings And So"
$50, your name should he on the sue
cesSful canvas" Tom Craigie said.
land nOt-his."
my iOy." Gay whispered, was to
wake his dream come true" Long the
two sat silently regarding each other,
the man's face eloquent Of tenderness,
the girls wistful smile a promise
81, too, have my dream" Tom Craigie
whispered. Then hand in hand the two
went slowly down the stairs.