(viết lại từ truyện ngắn Road of Destiny của O' Henry.)

David had a wonderful life. He had a big farm and many sheep from his father. His village, Vernoy, had a lovely landcape, and he had a beautiful girlfriend, Yvonne. But one night, he went out into the street; he and Yvonne had quarreled and he had resolved to leave his home to seek fame and honour in the great world outside.

The left branch

After three hours, the road divided into three branches. David stood, uncertainly for a while, then took the left road.

Four hours later, at one side of the road, David met a huge, black-clothed man and a slender lady in a long cloak. They stood beside a horse carriage. Suddenly, the man waved a hand "You will enter the carriage" And entered David. He sat next to shrunk, silent lady. And they came to a church at midnight. The man knocked the door, shouting: "Open for monseigneur the marquis de Beaupertuys"

David got out of the carriage. "Assist the lady" the marquis ordered. He obeyed. In the church, David stood, considering how best he might take his leave and continue his way.

Then suddenly, the marquis said: " What is your name and your job?"

"David Mignot. I am a farmer"

"Then listen, master farmer. Today is your lucky day. This is my niece, Mademoiselle Lucie de Varennes. She is of noble descent and is possessed of ten thousand francs a year in her own right. As to her beauty, you can see for yourself. Tonight, I took her to chateau of the count of Villemaur, the man she had been promised. And she dared to refuse and ran away. So I swore that she should marry the first man we met after leaving the chateau. And you are the first. Now you have ten minute to make your decision. "

So David turn to the lady:"Mademmoiselle, can I serve you in any way?"

"Monsieur" she said "you look to be true and kind. He is my uncle and my only relative. He loved my mother, and he he hates me because I am like her. He has make my life ond long terror. I scare him and never before dared to disobey him. But tonight he would marry me to a man four times my age. Forgive me for put you in this situation, But let me thank you for your generous word. No one spoke to me for so long."

"Mademoiselle" said David "I will not say I pity you, it wouldn't true – I love you. Let me rescue you from this cruel man. I think i have a future, I will not always a famer. For now I will cherish you with all my heart and make your life less sad. Will you trust your fate to me?"

"You will regret it and despise me"

" I will live only to make you happy, and my self worthy of you."

She put her small hand into his. "I will trust you" she breathed "And – and love may not so far off as you think. Tell him. Once away from him I may forget him"

Then the marriage went on. But in the banquet after, the marquis kept on mocking David and saying bad thing about Lucie. At the end, David did the most surprised thing: he challenged the marquis a gun duel. Before the duel, he had the happiest moment of his life. Lucie, his wife, gave him a long, sweet kiss. This is his first and last kiss ever...

At the end, there was the body of David Mignot with a bullet hole through in his head in the light of flickering candles.

The Right branch

After three hours, the road divided into three branches. David stood, uncertainly for a while, then took the right road. He walked and walked for a long time on the wide road. At least, he crossed a great brigde and came to the most beautiful city of the world – Paris. He stayed at Rue Conti (some kind of hotel), sightseeing and making poem.

One afternoon, he was returning from a trip, he met a beautiful child-like woman at his door step. She seemed to be waiting for him.

" Does monsieur, perhap, live in the house?" she said, smiling.

" Yes, madam. I – I think so"

"Pardon. Certainly i am not discreet in asking." She fluttered her finger " I shouldn't ask a good monseiur where he lives"

"Madame, do not say so. I live in the – "

" No, no, no, do not tell me. Now I see that I am wrong. But I can't stop asking. Once it was my house. Often I came here to dream of happy days again. Will you accept it as a excuse?"

"Let me tell you, then, you need no excuse. I live in the top floor and it is wonderful"

" I will stop you no longer, monseiur" she said" Goodbye and accept my thanks for your courtesy"

She was gone, leaving a smile and a trace of sweet perfume. David climbed the stairs as a dreamer. Yvonne was forgotten, this fine, new loveliness held him with its grace.

Then, one night, while David was writing his love poem. He heard a knock at the door, and opened it. It was her, panting, with eyes wide open, full of tears.

"Monseiur"she breathed " I come to you in distress. I believe you to be good and true, and I know of no other help. Please, my mother is dying. My uncle is a captain of guard in the palace of the king.Someone must bring this letter for him. I hope ..."

" Mademoiselle" interrupted David "your hope is my command. Tell me what to do "

She thrust a sealed paper into his hand.

" Go to the south gate – the south gate – and say to the guard "The falcon has left his nest" he will take you to another man who say " Let him fly as he want " This is my uncle.There is only way to cone into the palace after nightfall. And if you quick enough, my mother may see him before she closes her eyes"

"Give it to me" said David eagerly " " But shall I let you return home through street alone so late? I – "

" No, go, go " Each moment is precious. Sometime" said the lady, with eyes long and cozening, like a cat's " I will thank you for your goodness."

David ran as fast as he can. At the south gate of the king's palace, a guard pointed a hallberd at his breast and he said " The falcon has left his nest"

"Pass, brother" said the guard " and be quick"

David entered the palace. When one old man stepped forward and began "Let him .. " suddenly one man of keen look appeared and seized the letter from David. He read it, and talked to one man uniformed as a musketeer "Captain, arrest all the men at the south gate and south entrance.Place who is loyal in theirs places" Then he said to David :

" Come with me"

New word:

Musketeer : ngự lâm quân

Mademoiselle = lady

Monsieur = gentleman

Cherish = love

Depise = khinh thường

Gun duel: cuộc đấu súng

Palace: cung điện

Slender: mảnh khảnh

Carriage: xe ngựa

Falcon: chim ­ưng