The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-03-18
I6e Gift of
Fate
~0
BY ALvAH JORDAN GARTH
Copyright. 1919. by the Western News.
paper Union.)

'>S ANNP IN u hSNt 81
Wont they be just the thing for
the dancing features of our house.
warming" questioned Norman Dawes.
you see, I've got a good deal of
PRIDE" added Lena. "and l want to
appear as cozy and comfy as possible,
with so many Of my old school chums
coming"
"Now, don't you get worrying" con-
soled Norman. "If any remarks are
made, just bluntly inform the critics
that the high cost Of living wouldn't
permit new furniture and rugs at the
same time"
"Well, we two are happy and con-
tented, anyway, so what does 1t mat
ter if some ill-natured critic like Mrs.
Parmly inspects III belongings with
a magntfying glass, and says mean
things about our being %threadbare and
shoddy, and all that? She called me
that once, Norman-but I'm not shod-
dy, am I, dear?"
"YOu? Why, you're solid pure gold,
my pet" cried Norman fervently, and
Lena tried philosophically to subdue
her vain longings. Their little new
home was her idol, and she wanted to
have 1t as perfect as possible during
the coming house-warming function.
Fate seemed to enforce a reminder
Of that coveted parlor rug. 1t was
about moor when footsteps sounded in
the hall, and there stood a thin, black
eyed man, dark-skinned and wearing a
fez and a gaudy sash. He carried a
thick, folded fabric over his arm, and
suggested the foreigner and travelling
peddler.
"Omar Kluva 1t is, lady," he said
in melodiously appealing accents.
"They tell you at the Persian consulate
that what Omar says is always true.
Rugs immaculate, lady-only the best.
Perhaps high in price, but they last.
for generations. and for good, honest
people like you, payments as you
please. Your parlor? Wonderful lady,
but my sample exactly fits"
mo, mol" demurred Lena, lifting a
OBTAINING hand as her visitor made
a movement as If to unroll and display
the rug he carried, but with a deft, ma.
g%icianlike movement, he gave his bur-
den a twirling fling, and it settled down
over the parlor floor without a wrinkle.
"Oh, the beauty!" irrepresslbly en-.
Unused Lena, and her sparkling eyes
rested with delight upon the marvel Of
beauty.
The exquisite colors. the unique pat
tern blendings, the perfect harmony of
the costly rug with draperles and wall
decoration seemed suddenly to trans
form the room into a kingly apartment.
Omar Kluva was about to dilate upon
its excellencies when, CHANGING to
glance out into the garden, through
the open window, he gave a vivid start
and his eyes dilated. Lena suspected
some play-acting, but with an earnest
ness that was positively agitated, Omar
Kluva gasped out:
LADY, the flower! The sacred sun
rose Of Lathay! Here, so far from
home, in an alien soil! Oh. lady. can
I see nearer? Can I purchase one of
the blooms at any price? 1t is not for
myself, though I am overjoyed. but
for my sick brother who, wearied and i'll
in an u%nfriendly land, is pining for
something of his native country"
The %quivering finger indicated a
high-f1owering stalk, a rarity, indeed,
which had grown from some seeds Civ
en- to Norman by a foreign travelling
salesman, who had told him that it
was an Asiatic novelty. The blossoms
were large as a sunflower and, grow
ing in towerlike %profusion, resembled
a cluster of rich red roses.
The impetuous visitor hurried from
the room into the garden. Somewhat
puzzled, Lena followed him. He
reached the plant and regarded it with
eyes Of ecstasy.
"Oh. lady!" he said, TREMENDOUSLY
fondling one Of the blooms, ut will
bring home to poor Azif, and it's seeds
will cure his distemper."
II will get scissors, and you shall
have all the flowers you like" said
f%ree-hearted Lena. But when she re-
turned, Omar Kluva and one of the
blooms had vanished. Norman came
home, to hear the strange story. He
was lost in admiration Of the rug.
Then on a card attached to it's under.
side he traced the words. "Omar Kluva
and Brother. % River Street."
"We must hunt up this strange WIS.,
itor Of ours, Lena" he said, and after
supper they sought the living place Of
Omar Kluva. He occupied two rooms
in a large tenement building, and he
salaamed to the ground as Lena ap-
peared.
"See," he said. pointing to a couch
on which a man, his prototype, lay,
holding In his hand the sun rose
bloom. "He sleeps peacefully and
with a smile on his face. A sight Of
the flower alone made him better"
"You forgot to take away your
rug" began Lena. when Omar Kluva
made a gesture of e%xtravagant dis.
sent.
"Ah, lady! Like in a fairy story,
foA1 --A A.. tn p ---