Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-06-14
JUST MY LUCK
BY T. s. ARTHUR.


and manner that attracted you irresisti-
bly,.
Just my luck = He spoke with fret.
fulness Of tone that showed him to be seri-
ousiy annoyed. Somebody must trip, and
ofcnurse, il falls to my Iot.'
"A few brief inquiries let me into the ser
cfet Of bis trouble Edward Parsons was
afcoIlege and bad failed on examination
dag. He must be kept back another year
frem honorable graduation.
How was thisf ! felt interested enough
tolmake Few more inquiries. Why had
be not passed with the thirty students
Who were receiving diplomas. Was il
Only his 'illluck p Was the fates against
hint
Edward was handsome, intelligent and
social ; foOd Of billiards. fpnd OF driving,
fond of company. He was not dissipated
wac guilty Of no excuses, or immorali-
ties. Life flooded his veins, and be en-
joyed the passing hours. Study and lleas-
ure are very apt to jostle each other. If
pleasure is simply for re.invigoration, it
serves high purpOs but when it is PERI
mitted to interfere with study or work it
Injuries. In the case Of Edward Parsons,
the billiards, the driving, and the pleasant
company, had drawn him away from books
aud classes. He saw his deficiencies when
near the closing term, and worked hard
to make up for Lost time; cut be had
sprung to his tasks too late. This was
bis bad luck : nothing more, nothing
less.
L am sorry for him. 1t is really unfor-
tnnste,' said friend. He would have
got place 10 an engineer corps but for
this. His application was in and favora.
bly, considered. Had be passed his ex-
animation, the appointment would have
been made. His failure to graduate had
shut the door against him.
What pityp said.
Yes. But he has only himself to
blame. Perhaps the lesson will do him
good
Just my luck = 1t Yves year after
wards. The sentence fell from the lips Of
Edward Parsons. He was annoyed, excit-
ed, chafed. Had be failed again; Not 10
the examination; he bad his dipl)ma ir
his pocket. But he Sad failed to get an
appointment in a corps of engineers about
starting to make a survey for a projected
railroad in California. His application was
hacked by Influential friends, and strong
efforts we're made to secure the position,
which was regarded as most desirable
particularly so, as be had studied with
view to civil engineering as profess
sion.
just my luckP So be interpreted his
failure to get the place, which was given
to a classmate, who had not been consid-
cred over brilliant by his fellow students.
But this luck is no myth. Cause and eff
feet are always in just relation to each
other. A few days previously some of the
principal men in the Engineer Corps had
called on a professor in the College to ask
abont Edward, and also abou. another
graduate, who had likewise put in an ap-
plication for the vacant place.
Which shall we take? If have any
personal preference, it is for young Par
some, said the Engineer but, as our field
Of operations is far distant, we must select
our men with care, for we shall have co
keep what We take even if any should prove
Indifferent
i have no interests in either Of them,
replied the professor, beyond what is felt
for students generally. Parsons lie a very
clever young man not quite as studious as
be might be. We had to put him back
last year. His own fault, for he has abili-
ty enough
"A little too fond Of pleasure, perhaps
said the Engineer.
We'll, yes be enjoys the world as he
goes along. I've often said to him that he
was hardly enough in earnest that we
were living 10 an earnest age, and that
only to earnest people was success posi-
ble'
What Of the other young man p asked
the Engineer. ~.
Scarcely SO bright as Parsons, but pa
tent and perseveriug.'
One OF the earnest ones to whom you
have referred
yes. sir and bound to succeed in any
thing be undertakes
Good at mathematics ?
% yes.'
How 10 regard to health 2
Sound, SIR
The Engineer unused for q little while,
then remarked:
young Parsons has strong friends-we
are pressed to give him the appointment;
but the best man for our purpose must
have the place
And 90 it was that Edward Parsons lost
this opportunity,
'Just nv luck = 1t was three yeare af
forwards. Failing to get into an Engineer
| Corps. Edward Parsons had taken q clerk
a small salary. There we're other clerks
in the Office, ADD as the business of the
company was large. requiring many en-
ployees to fill variety Of POSITIONS more
| or less responsible. changes and promo
tious we're things of frequent occurrence.
Knowing this, Edward had accepted the
clerksbip as q stepping. stone to some
| higher place. But his peculiar 'ill-luck'
still attended him. For three years be
| had waited, but no advancement came
Others were put fOrws1e some quite rap
| idly-but, be remained 10 his first posi-
| ton.
just my luck ? he said, fretfully and
despondingly. to himself one day, after
these three years of waiting and hoping
| for advancement The work Of the Office
was particularly pressing and 10 the
midst of it Edward had taken three days
holiday to himself, for his annual indul-
gence ir rail shooting along the banks Of
the Delaware. A fellow clerk said to him.
! 10 view Of the pressure of work Oh the Of,
fee:
lis hardly right for you to be away
just now. for your absence will make it
harder for us.'
I can't help it If it does' I'm not GO
ing to kill myself If q fellow can't have
day or two now and then, what is life
good fort LIT the Company get addition
al clerks in the Office. We NEED them bad.
ly enough
So be dropped his oar when the tide
was pressing, and went away to enjoy
himself. While absent, the President of
the Company came to the city. He had
often. noticed Parsons, on bis Visits to the
Office. The bright young man attracted
him. Several times natural desire to
advance him to better position had been
obstructed through some untimely absence
from bis desk on the part of Edward, or
from some other reason for the existence