The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-07-29
136e Gift of
.. Fate
60
,AlvAA JORDAN CART


(ceIyttghA. 1919. - the Wssssra NeWs.
paper UaisA)
TITS too badt" said Lena Dawes to
her husband. Everything looks 80
nice except the bare 6oors."
won't they be Just the thing for
the dancing features Of our house.
warming7" questioned Norman Dawes.
you see. I've got q good deal Of
PRIDE" added Lena, "and I want to
appear as coxy and comfy az possible,
with so many Of my old school chums
coming"
snow. don't you get worrying" con-
soled Norman. III 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 T happy and con.
tented, anyway, 90 what does it mat
ter IL some ill.natured critic like Mrs.
Parmly inspscts our belongings with
a magnifyins glass. and says mean
things about u being threadbare and
shoddy, and all that7 She called me
that once, Norman-but I'm not shod-
dy, am I. dearr"
"You7 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 it as perfect as possible during
the coming house-warming function.
Fate seemed to enforce a reminder
Of that coveted parlor rug. It was
about noon when footsteps sounded in
the hall, and there stood q thin, black
eyed man, d~ark-skinned and wearing .
fez and a gaudy sash. He carried a
thick, folded fabric over his arm. and
suggested the foreigner and travelling
peddlsr.
"Omar Kluva 1t L.. lady" he said
in m%elodiously appealing accents.
"Thsy tell you at the Persian consulate
that what Omar says IL 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 a. you
please. Your parlorf Wonderful lady,
but my sample exactly fts."
mo, mol" demurred Lena. lifting q
OBTAINING hand a. her visitor made
a movement a. II to unroll and display
the rug he carried, but with q deft, ma
gicianlike movement. he gave his bur
den a twirling fling. and It settled down
over the parlor floor without q wrinkle.
"0h, the beautyl" i%rrepressibly 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 draperiss and wall
decoration seemed suddenly to trans.
form the room into q kingly apartment
Omar Kluva was about to dilate upon
its e1cellencies when. ehaneing "a
glance out into the garden. through
the open window. he gave Q vivid start
and his eyes dilated. Lena suspected
some play-acting. but with an earnest.
8 that was positively aEitated, Omar
Kluva gasped out:
LADY, the f1owerl The sacred sun
rose of Lathayl Here, 90 far from
home. In an alien soill Oh, lady, can
I . nearer? Can I purchase M Of
the blooms at any pricef It IL not fol
myself. though I am overjoyed, but
for my sick brother who. weartsd and III
in an unfriendly land. 10 pinins. FOL
something Of his native country"
The quivering finger indicated 4
high.dowering stalk. q rarity, indeed
which had grown from ZONE seeds Civ
On to Norman BY a foreign travelling
salesman, who had told him that II
was an Asiatic novelty. The blossoms
were large AZ a snn1ower and, grow
ing In towerlike profusion, resembled
a cluster Of rich red roses.
The impetrous visitor hurried from
the roc into the garden. Somewhat
puzzled, Lena followed him. HI
reached the plant and regarded It with
eyes Of ecstasy.
"oh, lady" he said. tremulously
fondling one Of the blooms. 1t Will
bring home to poor Ait, and its seeds
will cure his distemper."
Il will get scissors. and you shall
have all the flowers you like" said
free.hearted Lena. But when she re-
turned, Omar Kuva and one Of thu
blooms had vanished. Norman came
home, to hear the strange story. Hs
was lost in admiration Of the rug
Then on 4 card attached to it, u1der'
side he traced the words, "0mar Kluva
and Brother, ~ River Street"
I'VE 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 hi
salaamed to the ground a Lena ap-
peared.
"See." he said, pointing to q couch
on which n man. his prototype. Law,