The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-11
WHEN TOMS LUCK CHANGED.

captain or a colonel. and then they'll
know your luck has changed.
He Joined the army, and the netshbors
searched the newspapers, 20 see IL MS
luck had changed. but not once did they
hnd his name. He was gone nearly two
years. and then he came. without having
been promoted. and there Was a hem and
haw among the neighbors. Tom was
sunbTowned. but his health was good and
his hope had not decayed. for ne was
heard 10 say that everything would come
right when his luck changed. and he was
looking for II every day. He had saved
up small sum OF money and he bought
an interest in a grist mill. but the mill
blew up shortly afterward. and when the
news was spread people actually laughed.
and satirical chap named Josh Barnes
was delivering a haranRue on the subject
when Tom came along. Josh was co1rte-
Gus enough to leave of. but he turned to
Tom and asked about his luck.
We'll. it's not as good just now as
could wish. but think have good rea-
sons to believe that II viii change before
long"
Why. you haven't seen the new moon
over your right shoulder. have your
mo it's not that CT any superstitiols
sign-it's Just the way I feel"
Understand your mill blew up last
night"
'Yes-and We had expected to make
some money out of It. but don't suppose
u vas time. We have to wait fo- our
luck you know"
One day Jim told Tom that Violet and
her mother were in the nelehborhood
'I'on't YOU think you'd better 20 away?-
said Jim.
Yes; | belive will and stay away till
my luck changes-in a certain way. YOU
know. The fact is. I haven't learned to
forget her"
Tom turned Off into the woods nearer
way home. and had not proceeded far
along the path when his heart seemed 20
tip-toe high and to sink low and To pant
for suddenly he saw Violet coming toward
him. She came laughing and held out her
hand. and he touched IL and drew back
his hand and stammered, and she laughed
looking him straight In the eve
WHY. how long have you been gomez"
| che said. "And I do hope you didn't kill
any one''
Il did what I thought was my duty" he
replied. looking down and growing red
"A fellow shot at me three times before
| could tell where the shot came from. and
at last ! saw him up in a tree, and took
| aim and-did YOU ever see a squirrel shot
out OF treeT'
"Oh, and you killed him. didn't youg'
Wei. he didn't kill me But I didn't
hurt him, Miss Violet-shot him straight
| through the head. and was glad. too. for
! would hate to hurt, a fellow and a
stranger at that"
"You are such a funny man. Come and
walk over with me-"
Well. j don't know. The woman who
F, keeps your Farm Home always laughs at
me- and don't care to see her again-tilI
my luck changes"
''Oh. and hasn't your luck changed yetY'
No; but I've got a strong hope of It
changing in every way except one"
Whats that one?'
Il wanted to forget something and
| thought luck might favor me in that yay.
| but 1t hasn't. and I'm afraid it won't"
Forget something! Does remembering
1t give you so much trouble?"
Yes, so much so that if it were to do
| over again / would let that fellow in the
/ tree take few more shots at me-"
"You must have done something awful
ly bad"
Yes. I did. fell in love-"
''Is that so bad?"
Yes, in my case. She does not love
me-"
Have you asked her?'
| mo, | was waiting for my luck To
! change, and besides that her mother
looked at me with frost in her eyes. be-
cause she has money, and, of course,
| hates me-"
But il would not be good luck If YOU
Leould forget the girl
ou don't know what you say. Miss
| Violet. You don't know how love her -
But l know she loves-you."
|
! We'll. It beats ALL" said Josh Barnes.
! They tell me that they kept her away
! from fashionable resorts afraid she
would fall In love with some one, and
! here she comes"
And changes a good fellows luck. "
said Jim. in whose soul a candle was
still burning.
! Copyright, 1900, Daily Story Publishing COMPANY