The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-20
The Builder of
Dreams
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB


Into my life-he Is the best man I
ever knew!" spoke Lesbia Austin
with force and sincerity.
HIN" commented her guardian
and distant relative, Ira Dunn. He
had his own ideas about Clement
Rowe, the artist friend to whom
Lesbia referred.
Her eyes sparkled, her breath
came quickly. her ambition and
anticipation showed In her bonny
face US he told her of studio life
IN the city. Her father had been
noted tragedian. Perhaps there
was born in her the careless. happy
bohemian instinct.
1t seemed as though the sun had
departed from the heavens the day
That Clement Rowe left Merton.
He had promised to return the
next month. There came chatty.
friendly letter from Clement.
Clement Rowe did not return az
ne had promised. Poor little spirit!
She grieved to think she was so
soon forgotten. Then a wonderful
happening took up her attention.
An aunt had died leaving her
twenty-five thousand dollars.
1t was all in money, Ira Dunn
told her, and he developed sud-
den new interest in his charge.
Now Ira Dunn conceived a great
Idea Of keeping that money In the
family. He had favorite nephew
IN q neighboring town. Behold,
within brief time, this Abner
Bowen guest at the Dunn home
stead. the chosen sutton for the
hand Of the pretty little helress!
Lesbia treated the awkward car
roty-haired youth with kindness,
as her gentle nature impelled her.
One day Abner Bowen blunder-
ingly proposed to Lesbia. So pal
pably had the speech he made been
put into his mouth by Ira Dunn
that Lesbia laughed outright ut
him. In later spirited interview
with Mr.. Dunn she fatty rejected
his candidate and the schemer set
about forming new plots.
Then gradually there came to
Lesbia's mind an intense desire to
make Of art her life endeavor. She
made Of her room regular studio.
But she missed the expert hand
that had taught her the rudiments
Of profession she was resolute to
adopt.
| And then one day came a re-
markable discovery, that abruptly
changed all the impulses Of her
young life and hurried the accom-
plishment of her souls ambitions.
She was looking for an old
scrapbook in the library when she
came across what appeared to be
the penciled draft Of letter writ.
ten by Mr.. Dunn. She could not
take her eyes from the sheet. as
She saw that 1t concerned Clement
Rowe.
1t had apparently been written
right after Lesbia had answered
the first and only missive she had
received from the artist. 1t told
Les.ia that Clement had written
a manly letter to Mr.. Dunn. con-
fessed his love for her and asking
his permission to renew the &C
Quaintance.
The reply had been that Lesbia
was already selected for another
that she would ultimately become
an heiress. and that IL Clement
persisted in his attentions he would
lie under the suspicion Of being q
mere fortune hunter.
Poor, proud soul! !" cries Lesbia.
her eyes scintillating with indig.
nation. mingled with reverence for
the man she had learned to es.
TEEN. "And he has loved me all
the time! Oh, the way Is easy
now! AS to the fortune"
Her busy little mind mapped out
and carried out speedy program.
Money should cease to be barrier
between Clement and herself, she
resolved.
The next morning Lesbia went
alone to the bank where her little
fortune was deposited. First she
drew out a few hundred dollars for
her own personal use. Next, she
sent half of the remainder to an
old aunt who had groaned under
the hard burden of heavy mort
gage on her home for many years.
The balance Lesbia donated to q
home for orphans In near city.
"He can be no fortune hunter
now" she whispered raptly to her.
self-"if he really wants me-"
A note apprised Ira Dunn OF
what his independent charge had
done the next day.
One day Clement Rowe received
a note from Mrs. Ernest Moore.
She was the widow of an artist,
and an artist herself. AS he en-
tered her studio he CHANGED to
glance past the draperies at an
aproned figure standing busy at
work before an easel.
..'lliss Austin" he fairly gasped.
"and here!"
eyes, for a month past she has
been my helper" replied Mrs.
Moore, with a happy smile. "She
is making good Roadway toward q
point where she can earn her liv.
ing"
"What! she, an heiress?" chal.
lenged Clement incredulously.
Let me tell you a story" said
the lady artist-and she did.
"Now, then. Mr.. Rowe" she re-
marked brightly, II am going to
leave you alone to renew your &C.
quaintance with the wildwood
nymph you mourned as lost"
Blessed fate! The sunlight was
bright in that quiet studio, two
dauntless spirits met on the
threshold of a blissful destiny. The
barrier of fortune was gone, and
they could work and love together
in the pure. simple glory Of perfect
harmony of-mind and soul. N,'-'.''
q. 1884. Western Newspapsr ualen.s
! Great Britain has nearly zoo, 900