The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-10-08
FATE INTERVIEWED.
BY WILLARD X. F,FEN.

lSopyriSnt, lN9, py American Press ASSo-
ciation.l
well. well, Cuthbert. Who'd ever
have expected to see you here: Ism:
1t funny what meetings there are in
this world? Last time we met was at
San Francisco. You were going to sail
the next morning for Manila Every
thing In this world is arranged by fate
But the most singular feature Of all Is
that I've got message for you. Are
you married?
mo"
"How's that?"
"Fate."
How has fate kept you from marry.
ing"
"Chucked in n contemplate incident
the evening Of the day parted from
you at San Francisco"
"What incident?"
"Come in to tho club and I'll tell
you"
"When parted from you that day
went to my quarters. donned evening
dress-I never wear uniform on duty
put on pair Of new patent leather
shoes-stiffest things in the world;
they might as we'll be made Of cast
iron-and went to dine at the quarters
Of my commanding officer, then Colo
mel. now General. Chatterton.
"The situation was this: had been
proposed as husband to Margery
Chatterton, the generals daughter, by
q skillful matchmaker and had been
accepted. When the matter was pro-
posed to me the proposer didn't know
that the first moment I saw Miss Chat
terton remarked to myself. That's
the woman of all others I want for my
wife! You can understand, then, how
easy 1t was for me to be steered into
that particular matrimonial hive. The
arrangement having been perfected.
our mutual friend warned me not to
make botch Of it by hurrying. but
preface my proposal by a proper
amount Of counting. Instead of being
stayed should have been hurried, for,
while had found no difficulty when
Mt West Point in making any number
of sham proposals. when it came to the
real thing was ready to sojer with
the most backward man In the army.
put the matter Off till the dinner I
have mentioned came round, when, sit
ting at table. was handed n tele-
graphic order direct from Washington
to sail on ship leaving the next morn
ing for Manila.
II read the dispatch to the company,
and Of course it created flutter in the
breast of Miss Chatterton, distinctly
visible on her countenance Here was
ordered away, and the expected pro-
posal had not been made. Mrs. Chat
terton, who was dead set for the match,
as soon as coffee was served said that
II l didn't care to smoke might join
the ladies' in the library. l knew
very we'll that by the ladies' she
meant Margery, and said that
would join them Us soon as had
drunk my coffee.
81 would have left the dining room
with them had 1t not been for the fact
that. sitting so long In one position. my,
feet had becope swollen. and the in
elastic patent leather had held them as
in wise. had slipped OF the. shoe
that hurt ME most, and when the
ladies arose from the table / rose. too,
and stood In one shoe. The general
and the adjutant. who was Of the
party. remained. and when the ladies'
had gone felt with my feet under
the table for the missing shoe. I could
not find it. While l was trying the
general said to bis adjutant. we must
settle Swinton's case before you co.
and to me: 4 trust you'll excuse uA
captain. We've got an important mat
ter on hand that we must tackle.'
II was mighty glad to excuse them,
and as soon as they were gone got
down under the table to hunt for the
shoe. While I was there the door
opened, and I heard Miss Chatterton
exclaim:
"'Well. I declare!'
81 put it to you as a man. could I
crawl out from under the table and
in one shoe face the girl who was
awaiting my proposal? I knew very
well that. hearing the men go out, she
had come in to sit with me while I
slipped my coffee. intending then to
guide me to place where we would
be alone together. I lay still as q
mouse for moment, when I heard the
dining room door close and knew that
I was again alone.
ut was evident to me that I must
lose no time in getting my shoe. find
Miss Chatterton and give her o salts
factory explanation as to where had
been when she had entered the dining
room. But in the first place couldn't
find the shoe. and In the second I
couldn't invent an excuse. It occurred
to me that II could get away unde-
tected would have q whole night 10
make up plausible story, return In
the morning before sailing, account
for my conduct and do the Job. A
window opened ON to the veranda,
and
"Why in the world didn't you walk
right into the presence Of the girl and
tell her the whole story"
"Why don't you say something I
don't know? I've asked myself that
question a million times since"
why didn't you go back the next
morning7'
"Ship sailed two hours ahead Of
time. The only thing I've been able
to do since has been to let the matter
go by default. But how do you know
I didn't go back? And what's the
message you have for me?~
We'll, ut Manila You told the story
to Jones Of the Eighteenth Jones
told his wife, his wife told mine. and