The daily Alaskan., 1909-01-14
50noOf Fate 'SFanCies.
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 destinles. For instance, at the end of the eighteenth century 1t showed a lit- tie Corsican the crown of France kick cd 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 Corslcan appropriated to be the one of a long line of sovcreIgns to lose it and his head at the same time. He was the only one Of the lot who in many years deserved to wear it
 In the case recited in this story 1t would seem that this iueXorable fate took a cunning and malicious pleasure.
 A party of American slghtseers 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, 'I laid out definite plan for my life which I have followed to the present moment. Having tastes which l had no means to gratfy. I resolved to spend twenty years In accommodating a fortune where with to spend another twenty years in an ideal life. Before leaving America a month ago I 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.
 "Ot that period I have spent but a month, and yet it is long enough to have taught me that to enjoy the world I must have some one to enjoy 1t with me In you l have met that person. the only woman have ever wished to make life companion, It rests with you whether this second period shall be success or a failure. Win you spend 1t with me as my wife"
 There was a long silence betyeen them. at the end of which the woman said:
 Unlike you, laid no plan for my life. At eighteen loved, married and was for ten years supremcly happy with my husband and my children Then within a few months they were all swept away by death, l cannot be happy without them, therefore it 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;"
 TT dependent upon me; not on au~ other"
 Had not fallen in with you l might possibly have been happy with another"
 The woman was looking on the ground. making marks on 1t with the end of her parasoI. Presently she looked up into the mans face to see there a bitter disappointment resting on every feature.
 "In that case will do my best for you consent" she said.
 There was a wedding In the Amer l lean Parisian colony, after which Wal ter Lanler and his bride spent (to him) six delightful months In land where there Is every opportunity for culti- vated man to enjoy himself, The only shadow failing upon him was that, de- spite brave struggle on the part of bis wife, she occasionally showed that her heart was with those wbo had gone from her. The husband, seeing that occupation would be better for her, proposed that they return to Amer lca, 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 it would be better to take his wife where she would enjoy the compmionshIp of those she had always kuo f He planned a surprise ! for her. US wrote a friend to buy house for him In the neighborhood 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 place was in the market, and 1t was purchased ! for Lanler It needed no improve ! ments. and as soon as Lanier was ad- ylsed that the papers had passed he | .lllN HIS hl iNE NtlAEA iNA -NAH'NtAN'N'
 By this time Mrs. Lanier had been weancd from a constant dwelling upon those she had lost She had married d splendid man for her second hus- band and every day chung to him more md more Indeed, she seemed to real. ize 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. I But presently she noticed that she was on familiar ground. She looked up at ! her husband InQuirlngly. He put his arm about her afrectonately, but said nothing. When they reached the To- cation of her old home Mrs. Lanier put her hands on her eyes as if to shut out memory. Then the carriage