Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-10-28
FATE INTERVIEWED.
Nv WILLARD X, FlFEN.


have expected to see you here? Isn't
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 q message for you. Are
you marrtedY'
mo"
"How's thatT'
"Fate."
How has fate kept you from marry
ingY'
"Chucked in a contemplate incident
the evening of the day parted from
you at San Francisco"
What incidentY
Come in to the club and III tell
you"
when I parted from you that day l
went to my quarters. donned evening
dress-I never wear uniform of duty
put on q pair of new patent leather
shoes-stiffest things In the world;
they might as well be made Of cast
iron-and went to dine at the quarters
Of my commanding officer. then Colo
nel 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 ] saw Miss Chat
terton l remarked to myself. That's
the woman Of all others | want for my
wifer You can understand. then. how
easy it was for me to be steered into
that particular matrimonial hive. The
arrangement having been perfected.
our mutual friend warned me not to
make q botch Of 1t by hurrying. but
preface my proposal by proper
amount Of counting. Instead OF being
stayed l should have been hurried. for,
while l had found no difficulty when
at West Point In making any number
Of sham proposals. when 1t came to the
real thing was ready to sojer with
the most backward man In the army.
I put the matter OF till the dinner l
have mentioned came round. when. sit
ting at table. l was handed tele-
graphic order direct from Washington
to sail on a 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. knew
very we'll that by the ladies' she
meant Margery, and ! said that l
would join them as soon as l had
drunk my coffee.
II would have left the dining room
with them had It not been for the fact
that, sitting so long In one position. my
feet had become swollen. and the In
elastic patent leather had held them as
In a 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. could
not find It. While ! was trying the
general said to his adjutant. We must
and to me: 4 trust you'll excuse us.
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 | was there the door
opened. and l heard Miss Chatterton
exclaim:
We'll. declare!
IL put It to you as man. could !
crawl out from under the table and
in one shoe face the girl who was
awaiting my proposal? l knew very
well that. hearing the men go out. she
had come In to sit with me while
slipped my coffee. intending then to
guide me to place where we would
be alone together. ! lay still as
mouse for 4 moment. when heard the
dining room door close and knew that
! was again alone.
ut was evident to me that must
lose no time in getting my shoe. find
Miss Chatterton and give her 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 ]
couldn't invent an excuse. 1t occurred
to me that If I could get away unde-
tected ] would have whole night to
make up a 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
don't know? I've asked myself that
question a million times since"
"Why didn't you 60 back the next
morning"
"Ship sailed two hours ahead Of
time The only thing I've been able
to do since has been to let the matter
20 by default But how do you know
didn't 60 back? And what's the
message you have for mG?"
"Well. at Manila you tod the story
to Jones Of the Eighteenth -, Jones
told his wife. his wife told mine. and
mine. who is bosom friend Of Miss
Chatterton. told her. Miss Chatterton
told my wife she'd never marry any
man but you. That's the message"