The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-04-04
THE FORTUNE
BY AGNES C. sRooAN

gone into the tent Of gypsy fortune
teller, and the gypsy told him that his
future success would depend upon the
woman that influenced it.
The woman you love shall rule your
destiny said Roma. Beware, then,
whom you choose"
Duncan, later, it seemed, had little
to do with that choice. Love de-
scended upon him suddenly, and he ac-
cepted 1t Lola laughed up at him
out Of her care-free eyes.
81 must go to this dance" she said,
land to that play, and we must ride
here in a taxi, and there | must carry
rare flowers; and always you shall
pay the piper" Not in so many words
did Lola make her demands, but as
time passed, as lmperatively. Dun
can, striving and striving to make his
bookkeeper's salary stretch to the di.
mensl0ns of his sweethenrt's desires,
was at last, in desperation, driven TO
give il up. Then he lost his position
in the big manufacturing concern
he was behind in his accounts. When
at last the books were properly bal
anced Duncan was in his boarding
place-jobless.
You Will nevei make any kind Of
2 man." Lola said contenTtuously "You
will always be poor. and going down.
It's your lack Of purposeH Lola had
a new and prosperous admlrer; but
her words were prophetic
Duncan, still joblesS, grew poorer
in his Encouragement. fighting against
fare seemed futile. He grew purpose.
less indeed, and so poor that he packed
his small belongings. and with a no.
mad instinct made for the woods The
particular wooded country toward
which he Travelled was one rich in
lumber manufacture, where great logs
iloated down stream and where mum.
hers Of worSmen camped on The banks.
Duncan did not join the workmen, he
was convinced now Of his own va
grancy. And so in log hut with
a fireplace, and his books against tLt
crude walls. he made his home pass
Ing the days hunting, fishing or evea
doing petty Jobs for the settlers.
one day when he waited at the boat
lending for 10 to come back with the
Mail. Duncan felt an unaccountable
sense of excitement, surely not &C.
casluned by the expected magazine for
which he subscribed AND when ia
placed n white envelope in his hand
Duncan was scarcely surprised by thl,
unusual happening
"Some old sweetheart hunting You
up" 10 remarked, while Duncan stared
as he read II was not exactly an old
sweetheart, bat an old schoolmate who
after all the separated years sought
him out in writing,
: 'N'ou will remember Lily, j am sure,
said the letter, though / was only
fifteen-ycar-o school girl when W.
said our farewells at Hampton. Bu
know you have succeeded to al m,
heights of our class prophecy. and mrs
nov a rich and growing richer lumber
man. Al least Pve been told tina
they all end that way-the men VIII,
go cut tor the great forests to stud
their work from its beginning Lol
Sanderson happened to tell NE, whei
We met recently, that you We're out Il
the very wiIds that Brother JACK anD
| intend TO visit on cur motor trlr
taking a circuitous route. He is pre-
fesSlonally interested In forestry an
. ! nm writing with the request tina
{ you will be kind enough to meet al
old Schoolmute, and give us the bene
NJ Of your escort through that So,
ton. shall know you, undoubtedly
even though you have grown TO man
estate With besi wishes for still fur
Tier success and hoping promptly {
follow this note, am.
LILY ORALNND DALE.
Across Duncans face flashed an M
Z accustomed smile OF course he r,
.. mcmbered Lily Dale. Little LILY
b grown up and coming to see him wit
her mm.of-thcworld brother
I Success" he laughed harshly. The
n Duncan turned to Langdon, the owe
/. seer Confusedly he made confession
You meet her, Langdon," he begget
Hold her off, any way
The shrcwd man smiled his ale,
ton.
"See here, Duncan" he said, "wh
!. can't you act the part for one day
/ Get shave, get dressed, and-l1l pl
o katherine wise; she will let YOU u,
G our bungalow to entertain your guess
i in. Probably she would lilie to sery
tea TO them; you can let on you boar
d there. Katherine will be glad OF II
= excitement she's mighty lonely ;
!. times. poor woman, though she won
admit II to her husband Go TO
.e Duncan. Act the part the girl thlnl
10 you are living"
4. And Duncan did. And when he ha
n. hidden Lily Dale goodby that ev
10 ming Duncan went, his heart an
d, mind filled with dreams to LangdC
" the overseer.
W "G want a chance In your Office J
'' said earnestly "a chance to nal
" good want to be what--that ii
thinks | am
IF. And because Duncan was not aoi
IN 10 his dreaming, he did make good,
Lily, back in the shelter Of h
ne own white bedroom, lifted n fran,