The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-09-16
Kind Fate
By AUGUSTUS G. sHERWIN
"a. 1870. western Newspaper Union.)

4
90. 1890. Western Newspaper Unibn.)
a man with a. cane, a dog leading
him at the end of a rope, slowly, cav
tiOusly crossed the road feeling his
way, his ear bent at painful tension to
catch the merest echo that might In
dictate danger in his uncertain course.
Albion Drake, one-armed only, has
tened to guide him safely over the
street. The helpless one smiled his
gratitude and went his way crop
ingly
A.bird withra broken wing futtered
down from tree bough, clumsily
dropping rather than flying, secured
stray piece of bread in It's bill, and la
boriously assembled to its nest by climb
ing. It's infant brood hungrily well
coined it and the mother bird, proud
and triumphant at accomplishing Its
purpose, crippled as it was, burst forth
into a full food Of glorious, Triumph
ant song
"A double lesson. I'll take 1t to
heart" Albion Drake told himself.
| There were scars on his face besides
the empty sleeve that commemorated
the Argonne He had left the service on
the shelf so far as active warfare was
concerned, and it was a gloomy out
look ahead. He had given up his posi-
>tion to offer his services for his cOun-
try, and there was no nook or corner
in the old place Of employment. For
time the home coming seemed a
fowery path. There were arches and
wreaths and music for the returned
heroes, receptions, newspaper men,
ton, the warm plaudits of friends.
Then, as If the public had done it's
duty, many like himself were allowed
! to drift. The unfit were relegated to
forgetfulness.
The brightest spot in the situation
was Myrtle Farr. She and Albion had
been nothing more than very dear
friends when he went overseas, hut
she had been faithful correspondent
and the cheering, encouraging words
she had written him had meant long
ing and love: He had come back to
find her orphaned, cast on the world
homeless, and his spirits gloomed as
he realized that he could offer her no
glowing promise Of fortune in the
present, no assurance Of care and sup
port in the future
Like broken reed he must seek sup.
port from others instead Of hoping to
be able to take his place in the world
as a helper. He felt that he stood in
the way Of Myrtle by remaining In his
home town, for she loyalty favored 20
companionship among the group Of
young men except his own. She loved
him, this he knew, and although he
knew that she would smilingly meet
obscurity and poverty with him IL he
asked her, he was too much of a man
to risk becoming possible burden to
her.
II have a chance to superintend a
small business in Dover" he told
Myrtle that evening with prospect
Of finally securing share in it,
"You are going away?" voiced
Myrtle in a desOlate tone.
II must. There is nothing here for
me. People are kind enough, but they
do not know where to fit me In for
work Don't look forlorn, Myrtle.
You shall hear from me regularly.
And I've brought you some mementoes
that want you to keep" and Albion
placed a parcel on the table. 'sThey
are queer remembrances of the last
dash we made at Verdun. A poor Eel"
low, think he was Persian, had
taken great fancy to me for some
little kindness showed him, and after
he was dead from a terrible wound his
| captain brought me his kit as right
| full inheritance. There Is an oriental
prayer rug and an idol of some kind.
learned that he was young man
! of some Importance in his own coun-
| try, and suppose his relatives cherish
additionally such objects as the rug
land the idol, but 1 did not know who
or where they We're"
Albion went away and the first let
ter Myrtle received from him was
quite encouraging. Albion regretted
that he had not certain comparative
" small amount of capital that would
purchase an interest in an enterprise
in which he could be useful, and where
the assurance Of a permanent eompe-
! tence was certain. .tg
1t was at the end of two months
that Albion Drake was greeted with
the surprise of his life. Going home
he found young lady awaiting him
! In the parlor. She was Myrtle Farr.
Her eyes aglow with the fervor Of
some event that had led to her trav-
cling over 200 miles to tell Of It to
Albion.
.The prayer rug, the idol-Oh, Al
bion !" she fluttered. '"The lonely for
eigner you was SO good to was a
member Of noted family in Teheran.
1 When his relatives learned Of his death
they sent an envoy to secure his body
and the rug and the idol that were
4 sacred, treasured relics to them. You
had left for home, but they traced you.
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