Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 228, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1916 — Merely Fate [ARTICLE]

Merely Fate

“Excuse me,” said the young man, making a profound bow, as he met the extremely pretty girl in a deserted part of the avenue. The pretty girl flushed and regarded him coldly. “What for?’’ she demanded flatly. The young man gazed at her apologetically. “Why,” he told her, “when I departed from your jjouse last even-ing-somewhat hastily, I own, due to my emotion —you ordered me never to come near you again. 1 merely wished to point out that the present occasion is due to no fault of mine. Thought 1 beg pardon for approaching you, the fact is it was entirely unintentional!” “Well,” said the pretty girl, chin in the air, “I don’t see why meeting me should cause you suificient agony to draw forth all this explanation! I’m sorry the sight of me affects you so disagreeably!’’ “It does,” agreed tht young man, instantly. "Always when I see you the most unaccountable thrill pervades me —and anything unaccountable is disagreeable in a way,* I suppose, isn’t it? I want to make sure, though, before we part, that it is quite clear to you that fate alone led to this meeting. 1 wouldn’t for the world have you think—” “Oh don’t worry,” interrupted the young woman, frigidly. "Nothing would make me fancy you would go out of your way one foot for the pleasure of meeting me—after the things you said last’night! I am sure no wish to detain you.” "My time is yours,” insisted the young man, politely. “Misunderstandings are such miserable affairs and when people will have no future chance to clear them up, as in our case, it is well to do so Instantly. I am glad that you understand about my simply chancing to pass along this way, not dreaming you had chosen the same street.” —“I understand[ perfectly,” Insisted the pretty girl.- “It would be quite beyond you to put yourself out in lire least to me!” The young man regarded her mournfully. He sighed. “I hope I’m a gentleman,” he said. “After being told by a lady never to look at her again, wouldn’t it be positively rude to do otherwise, no matter what my feelings were? Of course, I might be dying to see her—and again I might not. That would make no difference in the face of her orders. Naturally, I couldn't go against them!” The pretty girl bit her lip and frowned. "Of course, it’s nothing to me,” she said, “but just as a matter of personal furiosity I’d like to know whether you don’t think that if a man cared enough for a girl he—he’d pay ho attention to orders or anything else?” The young man looked shocked. “Why, Marie —pardon—Miss Jellicks —you don’t grasp the first principle of | devotion and —er all that!” His not tc question why, his but to do or die—in other words, he wouldn’t stop to think w hat he wanted at all —he would just do as the girl told him. Of course, I mean in a situation like this one, ■where everything is over between us.” “Well!’’ she flashed, “I must say I don’t think much of such a regular jellyfish affection!” "Do you mean?” began the young man, in great surprise, “that you didn’t mean what you said last night—’’ “Certainly not!” tht young woman. “Of course I meant it! How dare you assume I ever wanted to see you again? I am in a terrible hurry. Goodby!" "Goodby,” echoed the young man, conversationally. “Well, that’s just what I thought. No, I said to myself, I couldn’t dream of doing such a thing. Marie distinctly said she hated men, and I wasn’t to approach her again, "Then you did think of walking in this direction on the chance of meeting me!” triumphantly cried the pretty girl. “I knew it.’’ “Why shouldn’t I have dared?” protested the young man, earnestly. “Well, didn’t you?” she asked a bit doubtfully. The young man coughed and turned around facing the direction in which she was going. "This question really must be cleared up,’* he murmured. "It may take some time, so I’d better walk along with you. “Oh, my goodness,”,,said the pretty girl, “come along! I knew that’s what you’d come for when I met you.”

Optimistic. Among the passengers on a train on r one-track road in the middle West was a talkative jewelry drummer. .. Presently the train stopped to take on water and the conductor neglected to send back a flagman. An express came along, and, before it could be stopped, bumped the rear end of the first train. The drummer was lifted from his seat and pitched head first into the seat ahead. His silk hat was Jammed clear down over his ears. He picked himself up and settled back in his seat. No bones had been broken. He drew a long breath, straightened up, and said: “Well, they didn’t get by us, anyway.”

Fixing the Responsibility. "My husband tells me that he was out late last night with your busband. ’ ' "That isn’t so. I want you to understand that my husband was out with your husband.**