The Washington herald., 1915-10-12
ate.

i. Fate.
ny JOHN D.. BARRY.
A child was born into the world, of parents rich
and gifted. AS he developed he showed that he
tiles of mind. 1t was predicted that he would have
a wonderful life. But one observer. shrewder than
the Others said: at all depends on how he uses
what he has"
At school the child was wilful His personal
graces and his interesting mind he made barrier
! to discipline Those who most disapproved could
not help feeling for him certain admiration Tasks
that Others accomplished with difficulty were easy
to him. Exactions imposed others he was al
lowed to ignore. 1t was generally felt that in his
case the everyday rules did not apply; they might
even do him harm Was he not always doing bril-
liant things, almost unknown among boys of his
age?
When. the boy became he stepped conf
IDENTIFY into the world He looked about He had
faith in his star. Life was beautiful What oppor-
tunitics to enjoy! With his resources he felt that
, he could not fail to have a happy life Soon he
was active in plcasurc-seeking. Those who had
expected the great things were little disappointed.
But they were willing to give him time. He was
still young. He would learn
Along the lines of his desires the youth became
expert. In using all his resources for indulgence
he displayed his CHARACTERISTIC genius. Meanwhile,
he looked within and thought OF the things he
| them later. Just now he was too busy. Youth
was too good not 10 be enjoyed to the full. Be-
sides, he had been born lucky.
At las, the friends grew impatient. "Why don't
you do something" they'said, the youth passed
eaily along in the procession He only laughed in
reply. But he had a feeling of discomfort. To
shake it off he would hurry on to more indulgence
portance and of qualification with himself.
The time came when people began to shake
their heads over the young man. They said that he
wasn't amounting to anything. Besides, he wasn't
looks and his charm. Some OF them added that
he would never amount to anything and, resentful
against him for their former estimate. they inti-
mated that there was very little in him anyway
Against him they used some of those cruel phrases
applied to the unsuccessful When they met him
they conveyed to him. either openly or subtly, that
he had dropped in their esteem. He noticed. At
first he was angry. Then he began to grow
cynical
One day the surprised his friends by mar
rying. They curious to know who his wife
was and how the two had met They discovered
that he had made what they called blunder. But
they said it might be the means of his redemption.
Some OF them, however, were frankly contcmptu-
Gus of him now: And in the attitude there was
curious suggestion OF pleasure which they man
pincss it gave him the uneasy feeling that his
luck was changing.
1t was this feeling that gave the new
energy. He would fool them all. He would show
them that he could fulfil the promise OF his youth.
So he made an effort. Then he found all the years
of his indulgence arrayed against him. Besides, his
wife starting to make exactions. He told HIM
self that she was expecting altogether too much.
He not used to being bound down. She must
let him work out his salvation in his own way:
When he expressed these views to her he noticed
that she seemed reSentful. He assured himself that
if he had known that she could be SO unreasonable
he would not have married her He had been right
in feeling that his luck had changed. He felt if
he were pursued by fate However, those past ad-
ventures suggested the way out. When fate did its
worst he could always find relief
The time came when the man, with no vestige
of youth left, told himself that his life not
worth living His wife had left him. The Others
even the nearest and dearest, proving false
And those who still proesscd loyalty always
tormentng him. They would not let him alone
the master OF his fate. Whatever happened. he
would bear without whmper. Often he would
comfort himself by quotation from his favorte
poem:
"Out OF the night that covers me-
Black the pit from pole to pole,
| thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable SOuli
The thought OF his unconquerable soul was a
dissipation, when he close to despair, it would
come to him like fresh stimulant. He would rise ,
and straightcn out his shoulders and feel that he
was looking fate square in the face and assure ,
himself that he was a man. AT such times he T!
was often known to laugh at fate. "Ha you old
jade" he heard to exclaim, 81 wish |
could get at you. Why don't you show yourself
Do you think I'm afraid:'
The thought OF meeting fate became obses
sion with the man. There moments when he !
believed he could catch glimpses of hostile eyes
crcng round him, watching for chance to do !
him an i'll turn. He would growl like animal
and nutter words OF defiance.
"Why don't you show your iace:' he once said, !
as he lay with his head table.
He astonishcd to hear voice reply: What
good would showing my face do YOU"
He sat up 81 should like to what you look !
like, that's all. ! should like to what kind OF
a hc-cat you arc. |
He stared into the smoke that hung over the !
place like fog. Vaguely he knew that people !,
were looking at him and smiling; but he didn't |