The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-03-07
A Lucky Mistake

liz R0Htg
rendered the guests of u hotel. We
a sung, danced and enjoyed the
beautiful mountain scenery together.
but now he had departed and 1 had
remained In the quiet little village un-
I'll the first cool breezes of autumn
had swept from the snow-capped
peaks, and the trees were changing
their verdure coats for ones of gold.
AS I turned the key in the lock of
my saratoga. "fnis' escaped by lips.
l heard the rumble of wheels just
outside n knew that it was the end
of this happy d cam.
In another instant, / found myself
seated in the numbering coach, and
before 1 had time for reflection, the
crack of a whip and a plunge forward
announced our departure. The old
coach rolled over the rocky road and
my thoughts made a brave effort to
keep tune; but after what seemed
miles and miles of this mo%notonous
rumble, we came suddenly to a halt
and I anxiously peered out, my first
thought being that we had met with
an accident. This idea was soon dis
PEELED by the sound of voices outside
and by the door of the coach being OPP
ened. I looked up frightened and
trembling; for something kept saying
"highwaymen," robbers" thieves"
What was my surprise when / be-
the past summer, Mr.. Lewis, an anus
ed smile playing over his face as he
saw my trembling hands clutching at
the coach.
Miss Thompson, this Is certainly an
unexpected pleasure. With your per-
mission, 1 will occupy the vacant seat
of your chariot" He was preparing to
do so when a sudden lurch Of our We
hicle sent him Keeling forward and the
next instant he was sitting in any
thing but a graceful pose on the floor
of the moving coach. Looking up in
an appealing way, he said 1T is over?"
With a suppressed laugh, l made n
swer that / thought we were fairly
started for a ride of twenty miles. We
recalled the happy days of the past
summer. At last, we arrived at the
station just in time to procure u
tickets. when the painting engine
stopped before the little station.
We were burrying toward the i'm
patient train when a shower of rice
fell on us. We paused; my companion
turned In time to feel the soft side of
a sole on his shoulder and then We
hurried on amid another deluge Of
rice. AS / felt my feet firmly resting
on the platform, l asked my COM
panion: What does this mean"
You will have to explain he said;
and then came a voice from the crowd,
caying, 1T means luck. May you have
a long and prosperous welded life"
I fled into the coach, but not before
I hear some one say, We've made a
mistake and saw a happy couple
emerge from the station.
Making use Of the first vacant chair
l sank into 1t. my head dropping for
ward to hide a blush: but, as l did so,
a handful of rice which had lodged on
my pancake hat came tumbling into
my lap. My companion broke the sill
ence by saying, There is one thing
Certain. we can have rice when we ar
rive at our destination" Then he drew
a handful from his coat pocket.
Having a mania for gathering SOU
venirs, 1 took the proffered rice and
declared my intention of converting 1t
into a photo-holder. After a moments
pause he said, Have we not enough
20, +uo of fhoca artiaIaS2 T ShOul6
prize one very highly, but its value
would be increased ten-fold had / a
photo to place in it. 1t would then
be the most precious of my posses
sions. surpassed by nothing except
something which l do not possess"
THAT Is certainly a conundrum. Are
you sure that it would be more valu-
able thai your set of Shakespeare
which you once told me was dearer
to your heart than anything else?"
Eyes, dearer than Shakespeare. Can
you not guess the conundrum?"
1 do not remember what my guess
was; but I do remember that when
the June roses were blooming the next
summer another shower of rice fell
on us as we entered the cab and my
husband said: What does this mean?'
NY answer was, 'Luck!" as 1 held the
tiny ~photo-frame before his view.
He drew forth it's mate which / had
given him almost a year ago, n aid
I'VE will have the W o bound togeth-
err"
They now occupy a prominent place
In our new home.