Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-12-28
Dream.
By AGNES c. BRocXN
"a. 1920. western. Newspaper umon.)

(@. 1920. Western, Newspaper Gnoh.)
As the train carried Tom .0raigie
homeward, he was lObsessed by
thoughts OF the girl. When he might
naturally have anxlously considered
his fathers condition, 1t was the pleas
ing anticipation of seeing her again.
which drove anxiery away. And Tom
Craigie was impatient with himself.
That he was expected both by Ills
father and Eleanor Yane, to ask that
young woman to marry him during TINS
visit, he was well aware.
So, also, had been his own satisfied
intention. hut again the tauutne
wisp of "a girl made Of that Intention
a perpleNing thing. and the satisfac-
ton was gone. Yet Tom had only seen
her twice. Once iii All artistic smeck,
standing among other students before
the painting in the city art gallery,
which they were hent upon copying
Again in the high skylight room OF Ms
own home, which his father kept 81
studio, its walls Uttered with the In
different pictures which were. 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, leyable creature,
and the dreams of his youth persisted
when all reason for them had fed.
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 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 labors led,
was happy in the thought that his old
father might continue still his dreams,
u TIE home they had shared.
Elesnor 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 fireside talk upon
his second meeting, Tom thanked her
for her helpful kindness to his father,
little Gay Chalmers had answered
simply.
'sHe must not be disappointed of his
dream It is more than dream, this
passion TO achieve" she added earn
estlv, ana all at once che gypsy eyes
had Ff3llef with pitifnl 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
stnod- f!led his he.=;:s :;e .set NJ: father
was now to die without that for wnIcn
he had lonsed.
For the telegram which had sent
Tom Craigie hurrying to the train,
bore 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.
1T was to be expected Of course,
she calmly remarked. "Your father Il
quite old"
The chill about Tom Craigie's hear
deepened as the beautiful young WON
an returned with a perfunctory smile
to her book. And then. at the top o.
the polished stairs another girl wait
ed, little Gay, in her unchanged paint
ing smock. Her eyes sparkled at hin
a. with hidden Joy beneath their sor
row. With all her old impulsiveness
she. caught Toms big hands and 'helt
them close.
.'It's all right" she told him softly
1T is going to have beautiful end
ing-your fathers day; like the glow
Of sunlight in his Days End picture
Before you 60 to him you must learr
that his last long effort has been sue
cessful. The painting Is to be eI
hibited, he has his letters Of merit
OIL your father 10 happy man to
night!
''Only you and I must know" she
said ut 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 him-triumph. When he was tax
en- Ill, secretly changed the finished
paintings. And So"
$50, your name should be on the sue
cessful canvas" Tom Craigie said,
land not-his."
'My Joy" Gay whispered, "was Il
make his dream come true" Long the
two sat silently regarding each other
the mans face eloquent Of tenderness
the girls wistful smile a promise
II, too, have my dream" Tom Craigie
r. No. A A>~.<