The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1914-10-09
A Prophecy
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN


there is nothing more pleasing than
the companionship 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 a 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. 1t 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-
trymen 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 / would never get
it back again.
On my voyage home the stateroom
opposite me was occupied by 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. I became very much attached
to him. and he seemed grateful for my
attentions. More than that. he seemed
to love me as brother.
I told him of my disappointment and
he seemed to be regretful for me. He
tried to comfort me by telling me that
he had a feeling deep down in his
heart that Margaret and | would meet
again and that all would be changed
"She loves YOU" he said. Il 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 seemed so earnest. so sure, in what
he said that was greatly surprised.
t'.>,,. ~ shot 70 one so near death
+ IL Is j :n,artpd something of that
l..tt>s., -" # FIXTURE events we are
}ruIe 10 attribute to those who have
passed the portal of eternity? The
thought occurred. but I did not really
believe it.
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
he would be content to die. | accom-
panied him and spent with him the
few days he lived after being again I'M
der his own rooftree. The day he died
he was. or seemed to me to be. deliri-
ous
II see men marching" he said,
hundreds, thousands, millions. They
are like fields of wheat. A moving
machine is passing through them, and
they are falling just as | have seen the
grain fall in the fields of a summer
day People are fleeing before them
Some are peasants; some are gentle
folks; some are without a roof to cover
them; some are starving; some are
strangers in that land and. being cut
off from home and friends, have no
one to care for them"
At this point his voice sank to muir
murings. and / understood no more.
I had left Italy early in the spring,
and when my friend died the leaves
had not yet put forth their buds.
was busily engaged, but not SO much so
as to recover from my disappointment.
My mind during the day constantly re-
verified to she who | felt was my nat
ural mate, and the nights were dreary
without her.
Late in July there came like thunder
claps out of a clear sky declarations Of
war all over Europe. Hundreds of
thousands of Americans were stranded
there All. or nearly all, were cut off
not only from their homes, but from
the wherewithal to meet their neceSsi
for | had seen no announcement of
her return | would have filed my
.,ockets with gold and gone to seek her
that | might supply her necessities, but
| realized that I would be unable to
find her and would not likely be able
to reach her if | knew where she was.
All / knew of her whereabouts was
that she had left Italy. for it was not
intended when | parted with her to
remain there after. the spring opened.
Since l could not go to her | waited
for her to come to me. Something told
me that my lost friends words would
come true. When a steamer bringing
Americans from Europe came in was
on the dock and watched eagerly those
who came down the gangplank. One
day I was at my post as a steamer
locked, and as she swung around to
back into the pier caught sight of
q Dale. haggard girl standing on the