The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-12-30
Fair Destiny
,, oTlLLIA F. PFEIFFER
"a 1870. western Newspaper Union

IT'S a dismal prospect. indeed.
Lawrence" spoke Edna Royce. but she
smiled. for 1t was her nature to resist
depression and unfortultous circum-
stances.
"Yes. ten miles from nowhere. the
hind wheel Of the old wagon gone for
good. and We won't get the train In
time. What's best to do nowf'
They had started from Winston,
their home town, two hours previ-
Gus, intent on reaching the first rail-
road point. twenty miles away. At
bad spot In the road they had run
into rut, and one Of the rear wheels
Of the light wagon Lawrence Newton
was driving had come off and lay In
the road, heap of wreckage.
II was an inauspicious ending to Q
day full of hope at the start. Law
renee had been brought up by broth
er-in-law poor as himself. and at
twenty-five was no further ahead than
he had been at sixteen. Edna had
lost her parents In childhood. and had
made her home with relative who
operated a store in Winston. She had
given him faithful service for the
wretched salary he had paid her as Q
clerk. bookkeeper and helping his wife
In her housekeeping duties when not
busy at the store. For over a year
Edna had been studying stenography,
she had bought herself a typewriter
and had attained a certain expertness
In its use. and despite an offer of In
crease In salary on the part of her
parsimonious relatives, had saved up
some money and was bent on winning
her way in the city.
II was Q good deal Of a blow to the
happiness and well-be'ng Of Lawrence
when Edna impaired her plans to him
They had never spoken OF love. but
both were Inspired with II. Their com
panionship for two years had been 4
sweet peaceful Idyi, and the jarring
element Of a parting wrecked the
hearts Of both.
Some day RI Join you. Edna"
spoke Lawrence. patiently. hopefully.
Il shall feel worried and uneasy.
though.
He had been allowed TO use tho
horse and wagon belonging to his
brother-in-law so grudgingly that now
that disaster had ovsrtaken IL he re-
allied that his captious relative would
Insist upon all kinds OF hard eI-
tra work 10 make up for the expense
Of repairing Il.
Il will walk with you to the town,
and you Will have TO wait at the depot
until the next train comes along.- ad-
vised Lawrence. "and ! viii have to
fx up the old wagon" And he. car.
rying her satchel and her boxed type
writer. they started away after hav-
ing tethered the horse.
II was at the end Of 1--WE miles that
the hot sun and the trump over the
rutty road brought a weariness that
enforced rest What seemed to be .
closed-up summer home enticed them
TO Its shaded porch. They ascended
II and iuxuriated In some swinging
chairs. Edna insisted on refreshing
themselves with the light lunch she
had brought
TT is quite a picnic" declared Law
renee. and somehow they dallied, and
somehow. too. their beautiful environ
ment Influenced him to speak out what
had been on his mind for two yeare
He went all over the circumstances Of
their long friendship. told Of the love
that was surging at his heart. Like
innocent little children they discussed
this great climax Of their lives, en-
gagine themselves trustingly one to
the other. and there was one calm.
sweet kiss In token Of the mutual
pledge Of fidelity until the future hnd
placed them In position to Join their
lives together.
In room Just OF the porch all the
time that they had conversed. although
they never dreamed OF II. sat an old
man and woman-Albert Trude and
his wife. owners OF the pleasant sum-
from view beyond an open window.
Al the life history Of the two artless
lovers was borne TO their ears they
fingered. drinking In memories Of their
own early lives and. too. thinking Of
the two children who died, leaving
them lonely with a lifetime sorrow.
The woman arose finally. her eyes
brimming with tears. and led her hus-
band out Of possible hearing OF the
trespBssers.
ALBERT" she spoke tremulously. do
you not feel that this Is a heaven, sent
visitation. sent to influence us to
strengthen and bless our own solitary
lives and to bring happiness to two
children OF the heart. who may wan
der far apart and never reach the
pure. true ionglngs Of their innocent
souls3 Oh. LEI MS make sure OF these
precious lives for the future and pur.
ture those who will be as son and
daughter In the years to come"