The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1914-11-24
Prophecy
By DONALD cHAMBERLlN

Margaret and met in Florence. We
were both OF an artistic makeup, and
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 o. art together
Then. too. there f. something unIfy.
ing to kindred spirits in being thrown
together In a foreign country. Amer
lea to Americans on the other side OF
enc Atlantic ocean seems so FAR. The
customs Of those countries are so dlf-
ferent from ours. They seem 20 old;
we 90 new. Il Il 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 realized that would never set
e back again. 1888 1
On my voyage home the stateroom
opposite me was occupied by q 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 e was
b minister to him. and the duty feli
% me. I became very much attached
to him ana he seemed grateful for my
attentions More than that. he seemed
to love me as a brother.
1 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 l would meet
again and that all would be changed
"She loves you" he said 81 know t.
When she refused you II was contrary
to her incllnations. She will return TO
America much changed. Her circum-
stances win 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, I'm what
he said that was greatly surprised.
Could It be t!,at to one so near death
had been I ,aFted something Of that
knowledge vi future events we are
prone to attribute to those who have
passed the portal OF eternity The
thought occurred. but did not really
believe It. "a
My friend fingered till we reached
the coast. Then he said that II he
could be spared through the brief Jour-
0ey that remained to him to his home.
he would be content to die. I 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. o. seemed to me to be. dellFi-
Gus.
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 1 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 q roof to cover
them: some are starving; some are
strangers In that land and, being cut
or from home and friends. have no
one to care for Them"
At this point his voice sank to MUIR
muriqgs. and understood no more.
lad left Italy early in the spring
and when my friend died the leaves
had not yet put forth their buds. !
was buslly engaged, but not 80 much 80
as to recover from my disappointment
My mind during the day constantly re.
verted to she who | felt was my nat.
ural mate, and the nights were dreary
without her.
Late In July there came like thunder
ciaps out OF clear sky declarations of
war all over Europe. Hundreds Of
thousands OF Americans were stranded
there All. or nearly all, were cut or
not only from. their homes, but from
the wherewithal to meet their neeessi
ties. Naturally ! thought OF Margaret
for | had seen no announcement Of
her return. would have alled my
porkets with gold and gone to seek her
that might supply her necessities, but
I realized that would be unable Ia
lind her and would not likely be able
60 reach her II ! knew where she was
All { knew OF her whereabouts was
that she had left Italy. for II was mol
Intended when parted with her e.
remain there after the spring opened
/, Since | could not 90 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
nm the dock and watched eagerly those
who came down the gangplank. One
LAY was at my post as a steamer
lOrked. and as she swung around 10
bnck into the pier caught sight OF
4 Daie, haggard girl standing on the
leck
rushed TO the gangplank. but was
a