Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-04-01
BY FATE OR CHANCE,
The Meeting of the Two Who Had
Been SWeethearts.
BY HELEN IA. QUINN.

Saturday afternoon and the great
publishing house was almost deserted.
In one Of the offices a mun and n wo-
man Were. At work, the former busily
writing and the latter reading wearily
through slowly diminishing pile Of
manuscripts.
The woman sighed. The man looked
up ut her.
Tired. Miss King:"
'"rired! That does not express It.
and it does seem that am accomplish
ing very little today"
Can | be Of assistance? l am al
most through
"Well. there is one thing should like
to have you do when YOU can spare
time have two stories here ON which
l should like to have your opinion"
"You think they are good:'
Eyes. but should like to know
whether your judgment agrees with
mine. This Reason and Romance
think. shows decided genius. and this
For Aud Lang Syne' seems to me to
be rather clever little story. but as
it is written 10y very dear friend Of
mine perhaps am partial. Will you
give me your unbiased opinion:"
lie crossed the room and took the
manuscript from her hand. 4 few
minutes later she closed her desk and
put on her hat.
II am going home" she said as she
paused ut the door. III Mrs. White
should come in. would YOU mind asking
her to telephone me from here:"
lit will he a pleasure. Miss King"
When She had gone he laid down his
pen. put away his papers in method
zeal way. lighted Il cigar and settled
himself comfortably back in his chair
Tie first story he took UP was "l,ca
son and Romance" 1t was short. and
he read it through quickly.
"Umph. Well. yes. suppose there
is genius in it, he unused. but 1t Ger.
tainly wants cultivation"
He picked up the other and at first
glanced over it somewhat carelessly;
then suddenly a few lines brought
back his wandering thoughts. He
turned the pages to look at the au-
Lillian Watson" he said thought
fully. well. this is Il coincidence:
He read Il few pages further.
ut is surely more than Il coinci
dcnce. because no one but Bessie could
have written this. no matter what the
signature Why. remember this
scene as if 1t were yesterday. We
were only children then. to be sure.
but there are things one never for
very words"
Once more he turned to the sheets
in his hand. but soon they were laid
on the desk. and he sat with his fore
head resting on his palm. and his deep
gray eyes looked YEARLY back through
the years.
How wildly the little story brought
It nil back to him-the two childish
playmates Of long ago. the scrales
they fell into and out Of together. the
boy and girl who were schoolmates
and shared each others sorrows and
Joys aud were loyal comrades. then
the realization that this youthful com.
panionship had developed into the pas
sionate love Of man and woman and
the deep happiness Of this awakening
had brought to both Of them: How
we'll hr remembered his ardent wooinE
and her sweet surrender:
Then the gray eyes grew troubled
~ he thought Of the little rift within
the lutte" and the tinal quarrel and
parting brought about by woman's
pride and u mans stuhl,ornness.
That was five years ago. but It
seemed ms II he had just awakened
from a long dream. He had tried so
hard to forget and until today almost
hnd convinced himself that he was
succeeding. but somehow all the old
hopes crowded into his heart. aud he
realized that they were mastering him
IN spite Ut himself.
II cannot forget" he said. Il must
see her again and win her forgiveness
She cannot have forgotten the old
days or she would not have written
this
There came to him great longing
to hear her voice. to feel her hand. soft
and cool. on his forehead as she used
to lay it long ago when he was tired
or discouraged and came to her for
sympathy.
He was reused from his reverie by
the entrance Of the office boy bearing
card
Lady for Miss King. sir.
''Isring her in here" he said without
CHANGING at the card which the boy
laid OH his desk. He took it for grant
ell that the lady was Mrs. White.
Was it fate: Was it chance? Who
knows!
In moment he heard the office boy
return. and lie could hear the faint
rustic Of Il wOmans skirt.
The shadows had gathered IN 'h'
office. and the light was somewhat dim.
/ He looked up and saw her standing:
/ there in the doorway in her simple
! white dress and blue ribbons. the
sweet girliSh face Just Il trit!e NOR,