The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-12-18

| artist, like Jean. Artistry was my
means to an end. There must be an
end. Which would be the be-
ginning.
Came tapping on my window.
sat up quickly.
Frank"
"YesY
"Asleep"
"Not within miles of It. Whewi
Ever see a night like thisT l had
thrust my head through the open win
dow and could see her form dimiy out
lined against the night.
used to be the usual thing, down
East" she answered. But we get out
of the way of them, here. Get up
and let's go for a SWIM"
A flash of lightning revealed her In
her bathing suit. I was soon out Of
bed and into mine.
Beat you to the other end Of the
/ pond" she said, as we threaded our
way down the well worn path.
You always beat me-" l confessed.
DoS IL Suluc Il Ii Try again.
We took the water together; Its COM
forting tide wrapped us about as we
swung through 1t with long, easy
strokes. Jean suited her pace to mine;
her body was a rhythmic machine,
1.-the, supple, almost serpentine in its
movements. Her hair was down.
When a glow Of distant lightning fell
about us her face was ivory white,
cameolike, against the black water.
At the far end was small beach of
sand, and we drew ourselves up upon
1t. Jean drew her feet up tailor-wise,
shook out her hair; traced idly with
her fingers in the sand.
II had a dream, Frank" she said
at length. II dreamed you were
wrecked on lonely island, where you
seemed doomed to spend all your days.
But one night when you were sleeping
nymph of the wilderness stole up
and whispered something in your ear.
And this is what she said: Go down
to the beach at midnight and light
fire on the sand, and a beautiful
maiden shall come up out of the sea-
Take her; she is yours
"And you turned in your sleep and
said, 'Mine-foreverY And the nymph
said, Forever, If you will obey the
law
"And you said, What lawT And the
nymph said, The law of romance,
which Is the law of life. If you are
true to that law she shall be yours not
only now, but forever, and this shall
no longer be a lonely island, but
place called Paradise And then /
woke up"
THAT was very wonderful dream,
JEAN" said. "a very wonderful
dream
"And have been wondering, Frank"
she continued, her liquid voice drop
ping very low and soft, 81 have been
wondering if you were to light a fire
on this beach-what would happen"
at would be an interesting expert
ment," / agreed, "but have no
| matches"
Il have provided against that. See,
on this stone are matches, and beside
it wood for fire."
"JeanI" 1 exclaimed, a great light
breaking about me. / extended my
arms toward her; / would have rushed
| to her, but she evaded me.
Suppose you try the experiment.
| Frank" she said Let us see if there
is anything in Dreams"
/ found the stone with the matches !;
| I struck one; its light glowed genially
| in my face. l found the little pile of
| dry wood which she had gathered to-
| gether; knelt and set my match to
| 1t. / think in that moment / felt some
what like a god before an altar;
Whit Of fragrant willow smoSe filed
my nostrils like incense. Then l stood
up and looked around for Jean. She
| was gone.
My little fire cracked and burned
up merrily, sending its shaft Of pale
| blue smoke heavenward in the night
The distant clouds still photographed
each other across the sky; their flash
lights blinked on the surface of our
| pond from time to time.
4
what Jean had said. "a beautiful
maiden shall come up. Take
/ her. She Is yours-forever-
if you obey the law"
81 WILL will obey!" / breathed
| Out on the dark water glowed a
phosphorescent point. 1t drew stead
lily, straight toward me. 1t was the
ripple of white water as silent
graceful figure cleft the tide in two.
Onward she came, steadily, stroke by
stroke. A flash Of distant lightning lit
her face cameo-like against the depths
behind. She had touched the sand !;
she drew up from the water; she stood
i before me. l took her in my arms.
Dreams do come true, if they're
properly staged" she said when she
Ccould speak.
THE ENID