The bee., 1914-11-20
ProgAsey
BY DONALD CHAMBERLIN


Margaret and | met In Florence We
were both OF an artistic makeup and
there is nothing more pleasing thar
the companlonship OF one with con
genial tastes, We sauntered through
the galleries of that artistic city and
admired the works OF art together.
Then. too. there is something unity
ing to kindred spirits In being thrown
together in foreign country. Amer
lea to Americans on the other side OF
the Atlantic ocean seems so far. The
customs of those countries are so diff,
ferent from ours. They seem so old,
we so new. II is this that draws
Americans abroad together who would
live for years next door to each other
and never form an acquaintance.
These meetings between fellow coun.
trymcn of opposite sex frequently end
In love affairs. and such was the case
with Margaret and me. But my suit
was not successful. Whether this was
due to Margaret or the influences
brought to bear upon her did not
know At any rate, returned to my
home, leaving my heart in Florence,
and I realized that I would never get
1t back again.
On my voyage home the stateroom
opposite me was occupied by a young
man who had gone abroad for. his
health and. having failed in his quest.
was coming back to die. There was
no one on board whose business It was
to minister to him. and the duty fell
to me. became very much attached
to him, and he seemed grateful for my
attentions. More than that, he seemed
to love me as brother
told him of my disappointment and
he seemed to be regretful for me. He
tried to comfort me by telling me that
he had feeling deep down in his
heart that Margaret and would meet
again and that all would be changed.
"She loves you" he said II know it.
When she refused you it was contrary
to her inclinations. She will return to
America much changed Her circum-
stances will be different Instead of
refusing to listen to your suit she will
be glad to lean upon you, happy and
relieved to be loved by you"
He seemcH SO earnest. so sure, In what
he said t!:.I was greatly surprised
Could II he that to one so near death
had been !;nparted something OF that
knowledge Of future events we. are
prone to attribute to those who have
passed the portal of eternity7, The
thought occurred. but ! did not really
believe Ii.
My friend fingered till we reached
the coast. Then he said that if,-he
could be spared through the brief jour.
ney that remained to him to his home
be would be content to die. accom-
panied him and spent with him the
tew days he lived after being again un-
Ter his own rooftree. The day he died
ne was. or seemed to me to be. deIiri-
1us.
II see men marching" he said,
hundreds. thousands. millions. They
ire like fields of wheat. A moving
is passing through them. and
hey are falling just as I have seen the
rain fall in the fields of a summer
lay. People are fleeing before them.
some are peasants: some are gentle |
olks; some are without a roof to cover |
hem: some are starving; some are |
trangers In that land and, being cut |
'ff from home and friends. have no
me to care for them"
At this point his voice sank to mur. |
and understood no more,
i had left Italy early In the spring.
nd when my friend died the leaves
ad not yet put forth their buds.
fas busily engaged, but not so much SO
: to recover from my disappointment
ly mind during the day constantly re-
erted to she who felt was my nat
raj mate. and the nights were dreary
rithOut her.
Late in July there came like thunder
laps out of Il clear sky declarations of |
inr all over Europe. Hundreds OF
lousands of Americans were stranded
here. All. or nearly all. were cut off |
oi only from their homes. but from
be- wherewithal to meet their necessi
'ss Naturally thought OF Margaret.
Dr | had seen no announcement OF
er return. | would have filled my
ockets. with gold and gone to seek her
rat might supply her necessities. but
realized that | would be unable a.
nj her and would not likely be able
, reach her II | knew where she was,
n knew Of her Whereabouts was
nat she had left Italy. for II was not
ltended when parted with her to
.nlain there after the spring opened
Since l could not go to her waited
Jr her to come TO me. Something told
he that my lost friends words would
ome true. When steamer bringing
merlcans from Europe came IN 1 WIS
n the dock and watched eagerly those
'ho came down the gangplank. One
ny ] was at my post as a steamer
ocked. and as she swung around 10
nck into the pier | caught sight OF
pale. haggard girl standing on the