Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-11-28
}Oneof Fate sFanCieS
[Original.1

currences flesh is heir to it would seem
that there is real personal fate that
Is constantly amusing himself with our
destinies. For instance, at the end OF
the eighteenth century 1t showed lit
tie Corsican the crown OF France KICK
ed about by mob In Paris. He picked
1t up, put 1t on his head and then pro-
ceeded to make kings and queens OF
his family. Per contra, fate designated
the monarch who lost the crown the
Corsican appropriated to be the one OF
long line Of soyereigns to lose 1t and
his head at the same time. He was the
only one of the lot who in many years
deserved to wear 1t.
In the case recited in this story 1t
would seem that this memorable fate
took cunning and malicious pleasure.
A party of American sightseers
abroad were doing the gardens of
Versailles. A middle aged couple stroll
ed away from the others and sat them
selves down to rest.
AT twenty" said the man, Il laid
out definite plan for my life which
| have followed to the present moment.
Having tastes which | had no means
to crafty, | resolved to spend twenty
years in accommodating fortune where
with to spend another twenty years in
an ideal life. Before leaving America
q month ago l closed out my business,
having accumulated the requisite
amount. The first twenty years Of my
life have been passed as l intended.
The second period is before me.
"Of that period l have spent but a
month, and yet it Is long enough to
have taught me that to enjoy the world
l must have some one to enjoy 1t with
me. In you have met that person
the only woman | have ever wished to
make life companion. 1t rests with
you whether this second period shall
be a success or a failure. VIII you
spend it with me as my wife"
There was a long silence between
them at the end Of which the woman
said:
Unlike you, l laid no plan for my
life. At eighteen loved, married and
was for ten years supremely happy
with my husband and my children.
Then within a few months they were
all swept away by death. cannot be
happy without them, therefore 1t
would be impossible for me to enable
you as your companion to carry out the
second part of your plan"
(which means that this part has al
ready failed?"
IF dependent upon me; not on an
other"
Had not fallen in with you
might possibly have been happy with
another"
The woman was looking on the
ground, making marks on it with the
end of her parasol. Presently she
there bitter disappointment resting
on every feature.
'In that case l will do my best for
you. I consent" she said.
There was a wedding In the Amer
lean Partisan colony, after which Wal
ter Lanier and his bride spent Ito HIM
six delightful months in land where
there is every opportunity for Guilt
waited man to enjoy himself. The only
shadow falling upon him was that, de-
spite a brave struggle on the part Of
his wife, she occasionally showed that
her heart was with those who had
gone from her. The husband, seeing
that occupation would be better for
her, proposed that they return to Amer
lea, where she might have the care of
home. In reply to this proposition
she told him that whatever he wished
was her preference.
Lanier believed 1t would be better to
take his wife where she would enjoy
the companlonship OF those she had
always known. He planned a surprise
for her. He wrote friend to buy a
house for him In the nelghborhood In
which his wife had been born and
reared, where her father and mother
and a sister would be near her. 1t
happened that just such q place was
In the market, and 1t was purchased
for Lanler. 1t needed no improve
ments, and as soon as Lanier was ad
vlsed that the papers had passed he
and his bride sailed for America.
BY this time Mrs. Lanier had been
weaned from a constant dwelling upon
those she had lost. She had married
splendid man for her second hus-
band and every day chung to him more
and more. Indeed, she seemed to real
lie that living with the dead is an
abnormal condition and resolved to
live for her husband.
On the day of their arrival at the
place of their intended future resi-
dence the wife expected to be taken
temporarily to hotel They were
met at the station by a carriage and
driven away. She did not know where
and did not feel in a mood to ask.
But presently she noticed that she was
on familiar ground. She looked up at
her husband inquiringly. He put his
arm about her affectionately, but said
nothing. When they reached the 10,
cation of her old home Mrs. Lanier
put her hands on her eyes as If to
shut out memory. Then the carriage
stopped, and her husband alighted.
He had taken her hand to help her
out, and her foot was on the step
when she looked up at the house her
husband had provided for her. With
a cry, she drew back into the carriage,
exclaiming:
Take me away! 1t was my home"
For moment he stood appalled,,
then re-entered the carriage, closed the
door and ordered the coachman to