Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-02-17
THEY MET BY
CHANCE
By GEORGE EDGAR

mer's day.
He wore motoring cap and riding
trousers. She-well. she was COM
position made up of big hat,
blouse, brown boots and fringe.
AS they met, they stared fixedly,
each on the other. Without moving
muscle in any other part of his face,
he winked, opulently.
And they passed, like ships in the
night, card players, postmen and 9th
er things that pass.
He raised his cap-the motor cap
most politely; he bowed, still politely
but not with grace; he sided along
by her side deferentially; and he said
"Ahem!" as if he had whole shrimp
in his thoat-a live one.
she-she went very red. Also. she
pushed her nose higher in the air and
slightly forward, accidentally acquir-
ing the Boston dip, which made her
still more fascinating.
Some dreadful minutes passed, in
which he grew red and felt all feet
The silence was intense. Even the
&.
kept on-in the male instinct of the
chase is strongly developed.
There was something electric in the
atmosphere. She knew how full of
feet he felt, and she smiled.
That gave him courage and he
swallowed the shrimp.
Didn't see you at Lady Golightlys
dance?" he asked earnestly.
She said, go way, man.
II knew you belonged to county
family as soon as I saw you," he ven
tured.
Her nose went further forward, but
| she answered never word.
Must have met you out with the
Loamshires- he volunteered
with grin.
you've got face like plate" she
answered suddenly apropos of moth
ing.
Anyway, I've got a tongue in it,
he urged. gently.
She sighed. That's what / dislike
about you-your tongue. You've got
a tongue and can talk-that's where
you have the advantage of the monk
ey."
| He ficked his brown leggins with
his cane.
She looked at him, critically, coldly,
with suggestion of contempt eff
you hadn't had q tongue should have
wondered where you came from. And
l should have guessed-the Zoo"
They walked SO yards in silence.
He was nearly frozen off, but he
held on-if only to give her just a
piece of his mind of which he really
had not too much to spare.
He thought aloud. NO." he muir
INJURED; ut wasn't at Lady Golightly's
dance 1 met you; nor the hunting
He seemed to be searching his mind.
Il think l know-tyou came from the
pickle factory, where they make the
sauce"
She looked at him firmly, and was
| direct in her frank opinion.
Herbert" she said, you are the
limit"
II have no limit, not being a book
maker, and my name amt Herbert"
There was tired note in her voice.
Somehow men with faces like yours
always look as if they were Herberts.
You've got to be, see, and you are the
limit. When it comes to talking of
comes from, I'll just take leave to tell
you Pm lady, and come from no
pickle factory. I'm a laundress, if you
must know. And if it comes to a
guessing comes FROM I can tell
from your face how you happened
You've not got what one could call a
starting place. You've just simply oc.
curred-sort of nightmare"
| Look here, Polly" he began again
i mot Polly" she answered CURLY.
"Ann, then?"
| mo, nor Ann, nor Matilda, nor Liz
zie."
81 know" he said, triumphantly-
Rose"
Nor Rose" she replied relenting
plain Margaret, that's my name"
"Not plain" he suggested-"not
plain. Say-sweet Margaret, lovely
Margaret, or-er. dear Margaret"
you're a rare kidder," she an
swered.
He smiled and tried to walk like
soldier.
Look here--I take all that bacl
about the pickle factory" he began.
No answer.
Excepting the sauce" he added.
She tossed her head.
He thought awhile.
'You know knew you came from
laundry all the time. 1 knew by rea
son-you've got such pretty whit
hands"
"Do you think they are pretty?" sh
said, holding one up without reserve
"Prettiest hand I've ever seen," h
] said, and held 1t for half a minute
looking pleased.
when you've done." she urge
l NJ