Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-04-08
A Prophecy
By DONALD CHAMBERLAIN

JUL u al dlIlSllS bltlACuP, III
there is nothing more pleasing than
the companioDship of II 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
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-
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 l would never get
it 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 1t was
to minister to him. aud 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 a brother.
| told him of my disappointment. and
he seemed to be regretful for me. lie
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. II know it
When she refused you it was contrary
to her inclinations. She Will return tt
America much changed. Her circum
stances will be different. Instead o,
refusing to listen to your suit she vii
be glad to lean upon you. happy ant
relieved to be loved by YOU"
He seemed so earnest. so sure. in wha
he said that | WAS greatly surprised
Coul6 it be that to one SO near deaf!
had been impaired something of tina
knowledge Of future events we ar
prone to attribute to those who hav
passed the portal of eternity? Til
thought occurred. but I did not reall,
believe it.
My friend fingered till we reaches
the coast. Then he said that if b
coUld be spared through the brief jour
ney that remained to- him to his HON
he would be content to die. [ accom-
panied him and spent with him th
few days he lived after being again i'll
der his own rooftree. The day he die
te was. or seemed to me to be. deiir
GUS.
II see men marching" he sale
hundreds, thousands. millions. The
are like fields of wheat. y mowin
machine is passing through them, an
they are falling just as I have seen th
grain fall in the fields OF a summe
day. People are fleeing before then
Some are peasants; some are gentle
folks; some are without Il roof to cove
them: some are starving: some ar
strangers in that land and. being CT
off from home and friends, have n
one 80 care for them"
At this point his voice sank to mul
nlurings, and 1 understood no more.
L had left Italy early in the sprin:
and when my friend died the leave
had not yet put forth their buds.
was busily engaged, but not so much S
as to from my disappointment
Ny mind during the day constantly r,
verified to she who l felt was my ma
ural mate. and the nights were drear
without her.
Late in July there came like thunder
Chaps out Of IL clear sky declarations {
war all yer Europe. Hundreds {
thousands of Americans were strande
there. All, or nearly all, were cut o
not only from their homes, but frol
the W~herewithal to meet their necess
ties. Naturally I thought Of Margare
for I a seen nc announcement {
her return. I would have filed m
pockets with gold and gone to seek he
that I might supply her necessities, bu
l realized that I would be unable t
find her and would not likely be abl
to reach her if / knew where she wa
ALI / knew Of her Whereabouts wa
that she had left Italy, for it was nc
intended when 1 parted with her t
remain there after the spring opened.
Since 1 could not go f her I waite
for her to come to me. Something toll
me that my lost friends words woul
come true. When a steamer bringin
Americans from Europe came in 1 wa
on the dock and watched eagerly thos
who came down the gangplank. On
day / was at my post as a steame
locked. and as she swung around t
back into the pier I caught sight Q
a pale. haggard girl standing on tn
deck.
rushed to the gangplank. but wa