Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 203, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1918 — THE VISION GIRL [ARTICLE]

THE VISION GIRL

By MILDRED WHITE.

The day had started gloomily for: Alan, but that was before the dream began. He had gone In his ranabovt, to make the usual pretense of medleal visits, for Alan’s well-equipped office, showed as yet no mark of usage. Upon this particular rtforning of the disastrous auto ride, he was wondering: “How-he was going to get his rent money together.” When, at the knottiest point of his problem, the car was held in a deep rut of the country road,, then without further warning, turned turtje, leaving Alan face upward on a mossy bank. - This was the last he remembered, the next development was his wonderful dream! With a' realizing consciousness of pain, he endeavored to turn his bandaged nead and discovered that he was lying in a great curtaindraped bed of a fashion of a century ago. Through the golden brocade of ' the draperies, Alan saw the room of princely appointment, chandeliers and wainscoting reminding him of stage scenery of an historic play. The young doctor wrinkled his brows in perplexity, then smiled. It was all an illusion of course. When he tried to stir the pain was intense, so he contented himself with reaching over the satin coverlet to touch something tangible. Inadvertently his finger pressed a button on the mahogany, and around the. canopy over bis head flashed a row of electric lights. It was not the blow of the accident, he decided which caused _ him to see these strange things, but some dope a doctor had probably administered. When the effect wore off he would find himself in the usual iron bed of a hospital. * But now as the dream continued, resting comfortably in his gold-draped bed, he saw before him'a panel of the wainscoting slide aside, while in its opening appeared a beautiful radiant creature —a girl who seemed to be from that same past period of the luxurious room. Alan caught his breath as the living picture moved toward him. Then as his eyes still gazed into the girl’s dark ones, she lifted a small heavily-ringed hand to smooth his hair. “Why,” softly murmured tne girl, “did you turn on the reading lights? Sunshine streams through the win'dow.” At her touch the electricity “was turned off. Alan did not answer. Of what use to talk to a vision? The girl sighed, as she turned from film, another moment and she had passed through the panel in the wall. Restlessly he endeavored to raise himself as an elderly woman entered the room. A man, evidently a physician with his bag, followed... “Well!” he ex claimed cheerfully, looking down at the injured one, “consciousness at last. You have kept us guessing. How do you feel?” “Tell me,” Alan asked painfully, “where I am.” “You are carefully housed in the old Judge Weller estate,” the doctor replied. , ■ ' “Then it was not all an illusion?’’ Alan eagerly questioned. He smiled. “I fancied that a lady in-trsHThg brocade came walking through , the wall.” The physician laughed. “You’ll have no more such fancies,” he said. “Your injury Js really slight. Judge Weller’s widow died recently,, and the only ones at present in charge are family servants. Theyhwyait the settling of the estate by the judge’s granddaughter who is abroad. The place and the Weller fortune are now hers.” When the doctor had gone, Alan gazed intently at the wall opposite. And as he watched, the panel swung again, and the girl was there. A smiling, rose-clad figure this time, as she advanced toward him. “How do you do?” she asked. “Doctor tells me you are yourself at last. He advises that We move you out to the balcony for a little fresh air.” From the doorway the elderly woman came forward. “Jake says,” she announced, "that he won’t carry nobody out to the balcony tonight.” The girlish rose-colored vision whirled about sharply. "Tell Jake,” she said positively, "that I am mistress here.” It was bewildering. Light came suddenly to Alan. This was the granddaughter, of course, re- ' turned unexpectedly from abroad. Alan’s mending was slower than the doctor had hoped, and Alan was glad. Days of enchantment like those spent upon the balcony came but once In a lifetime; his hostess wasklnd. The olden time frocks had 'given place to those of newer and simpler fashion. Back to Alan’s heart came the gloom of that first disastrous morning. Love had found him, and he must go away with It buried in his bosom. A penniless physician may not ask the hand and heart of an heiress. “Tell me,” he asked, "how you came to me dressed in brocades, through &> panel in the wall?” 1 merely a door,” she said.- “Old Mrs. Weller left her rings and gowns to. me. I happened to be trying them on at that time to see If they could, be made over. I was her companion, you know, and am keeping charge here until the heiress arrives.** Alan leaned toward the girl of his vision. His face was radiant, for the gloom of his morning had vanished again In a dream. (Copyright, 1918, Western Newspaper •• w Uatoß j . "Vwww