Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-12-06
John and Eleanor's
Dream
By ELLA SAUNDERS
Ia. 1872. western Newspaper union.)


&c, 1922. Western Newspaper Union.)
Their dream had come true at last.
John and Eleanor looked at each other
with startled eyes, as If unable, to be-
lieye it. After two years Of city life
an apartment, modest. but in quite a
nice district-they had their country
cottage.
The cottage they had always
dreamed of. It was John who had
found it. It was a little, old-fashioned
place with about half an acre Of gar
den, just within the committing region,
yet untouched by modernity. There
was not even a bathroom when they
rented it. John had had that put in.
The whole thing had been q surprise
to Eleanor.
She stood among the hollyhocks
with shining eyes. ut seems too good
to be true" she said. "1.he dearest
place! John, won't we be happy"
They were. Eleanor revelled in her
garden. John moved the lawn in the
evenings. They had no cares. no one
to bother them. In the evenings Flea
nor sewed or read, while John, when
he was not detained at the office, as
frequently happened, went through his
accounts and correspondence.
well save all the expenses of a
holiday now, dearest" said John. Il
shall simply knock off work for a
couple Of weeks and stay here with
you"
That event happened a few weeks
after they had moved in. 1t was the
latter part Of August, scorching hot;
John sat in his shirtsleeyes all day
under the big naples, going through
letters and wishing that he had his
stenographer with him.
"John, dearest" said Eleanor, bend
ing over him, "don't you think you
ought to get a little exercise now that
you're free?"
"Tve thought Of that" answered
John, smoothing down his waistcoat.
Trouble is, there are NJ golf links
anywhere for miles around. I wish
some one would start some"
"But, dearest, how about those nice
country walks we %pianned?"
Nothing against 'em," answered
john, except that we've worn out the
country"
"Worn 1t out?",' queried Eleanor.
"Yep, that's what I said," John an
swered briskly. "We know all the
roads round here. We know Farmer
Giles black COW and Farmer Hen
bricks blue one. We know the pretty
cottage with the Jasmine and honey
suckle at the bend of the road. We
know-Oh, everything that's know
able, including Mrs. Miller's blear-eyed
kid that makes faces at u.s."
"Oh, I know, I know" said Eleanor
miserably. John was getting tired Of
their dream, that was the trouble.
That was why he brought all his work
home. John was moping.
1.-THE clear, starry skies, the wonder
Of the dawn, the sound of singing
birds, the music in each rifl ofwater-
these were not for John. Eleanor
would be glad, for Johns sake, when
his holiday came to an end.
Something seemed to be coming be-
tween them that autumn. The old,
sweet confidence seemed gone. Some
times Eleanor would detect her hus-
band sitting in his chair, staring
moodily at her. At such times her
heart would beat faster, and she
would wonder:
"Can there be any one else?"
One night she could bear 1t no
longer. "John, won't you tell me
what has come between US Of Later"
she begged. us there's there some
one else?"
John kissed her sadly. "No, darling,
just business troubles" he answered.
Could she believe him? Eleanor
looked at him doubtfully. After that
the shadow that had fallen between
them grew blacker and blacker.
Dear, what'd you say to a little
jaunt to town this EVENING"" John
asked, "just to keep in touch with
things. We mustn'st become back
numbers, ever if we do live in the
country, must we?"
Eleanor agreed without enthusiasm.
The spell Of country life had taken
hold Of her. But for Johns sake
1t was strange being at the theater
again. They watched each other, each
afraid of seeming too appreciative.
They dined at a fashionable restau-
rant.
ut is nice in a way, isn't it, Flea
nor?" said John. "But it doesn't come
up to the glories of sunset and dawn,
and the hum Of the tree-toads, does
.it?"
"N-no," said Eleanor.
She was SO absorbed in her thoughts
that she did not realize where they
-