Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1908-05-14
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FULLY queer, isn't it?'' she murmured.
"What?" inquired the tall young
man, roustng himself with an effort
from contemplation of the distracting
waves OF her hair. What is queer"
Why" said the pretty girl. ri was
Just thinking If you hadn't missed
your train that night and had to stay
over at your cousin's-and If hadn't
Just Glanced to take that evening to
return your cousins book had kept
30 long-why. we'd never have met
or anything!"
That's So" agreed the young man
IN the dreamy tone Of one who is per-
fectly conteated with things as they
are.
The pretty girl frowned a trife.
You don't seem bit impressed by
the possibility" she said. "Or to real
lie how dreadful"
Whats the use?" asked the young
man. I'VE did meet, Sc it's all right
What's the use of worrying over what
might have been?'
The pretty girl twisted the lace on
her handkerchief. 81 don't like to
think about IT," she said. do you
suppose. Jimmy, that Just such little
thing as missing your train was all
that stood between our never meet
ing? lit seems so casual! Don't
you suppose we'd have met anyhow
| that it was intended"
Why, of course!" said the young
man firmly. 1T was intended that we
should fall in love with each other, so
we'd have had to meet somehow. OF
| course we'd have met"
The pretty girl frightened a bit and
| then frowned again. II don't see
how she persisted. you happened
to be in Chicago for the first time in
years and weren't coming again for
centuries, because you live in Maine.
never go to Maine. We couldn't pos
sibly have met. You don't know how
dreadful 1t makes me feel! 1t would
have wrecked your life, Jimmy?"
She leaned forward anxiously and
the young man looked as solemn as
he could as he reached for her hand.
Don't speak of it," he said with
feeling.
1T gets worse the more I think of
| it" she went on. Wed have been
unhappy all our lives just because we
hadn't found each other and we
wouldn't have known what was max
ing us so unhappy! I-oh, Jimmy!"
She paused with horror in her gaze.
| The young man in alarm asked what
was the trouble.
Oh" she said in an anguished tone,
"or do you suppose you'd have thought
| you were in love with some other girl
| and-and married herr"
The young man looked trifle dazed,
! shake his head.
"Of course mott" he assured her
How can you imagine such thing?
Impossible!"
you might have done So" she per-
| sisted, tragically. I'm sure you
would, too. Men always marry some
one!"
so do girls!" broke in the young
man triumphantly. You no doubt
would have married some one else
yourself"
The pretty girl put her handkerchief
| to her eyes. IF that's all you think
| of the depth of my af-affection!" she
| said. 1T just shows how lit-little you
care! l never in the world would
have liked any one else and l had no
idea you could be SO cruel as to
calmly admit that you could! 1 sup
suppose you'd have been just as hap
by, tool"
81 never said I'd have married any
one else!" denied the young man,
looking worried.
But If you'd never met me
you wouldn'thave realized how little
you cared for any one else" she went
on. You'd have thought you LOVED
her I'm sure you'd have married her.
It's just as If got you through mere
chance instead of fate. l never was
so mis-miserable in my life! 1t spoils
everything!"
You liked Sam Phillips pretty we'll
before l came on the scene," said the
young man in self-defense. IF you
hadn't met me wouldn't you"
And l don't suppose you'd have
cared a bit!" she said, coldly. You
wouldn't have minded at ALL"
But l wouldn't have known about
it," argued the young man. Neither
would you have known about my af-
fairs!"
That doesn't make particle of diff
ference!" said the pretty girl. ut
doesn't alter the situation bit! l
can't understand you. James! l don't
believe you really care about met"
Now, Mile" said the young man,
coming over to her, what is the use
of talking so when it was so arranged
a million years or so ago that we
should meet and marry each other
and nobody else? Why, 1t simply had
to come about somehow. The train
missed had nothing to do with it,"
"Do-do you truly think so?" she
inquired. rolling her damp handker.
chief up in ball.