Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-01-08
BY FATE OR CHANCE.
The Meeting of the Two Who Had
Been SWeethearts.
BY HELEN N. QUINN.

AAoh "NAN IT "OAht thN ~ AAS' DeSfJ
writing and the latter reading YEARLY
through a slowly diminishing pile Of
manuscripts.
The woman sighed. The man looked
up at her.
"Tired, Miss KingT
"Tired! That does not express 1t,
and 1t does seem that am accomplish
ing very little today"
"Can l be Of assistance? l am al
most through"
well there is one thing should like
to have you do when you can spare
time. l have two stories here on which
l should like to have your opinion"
"You think they are goodp'
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 n clever little story, but as
1t is written by very dear friend OF
mine perhaps l am partial. VIII you
give me your unbiased opinion"
He crossed the room and took the
manuscript from her hand. A few
ldlGT SlOoCh oSSh anu
put on her hat
II am going home" she said as she
paused at the door. "If Mrs. White
should come in. would you mind asking
her to telephone me from here%
ut will be pleasure, Miss King"
When she had gone he laid down his
pen, put away his papers in method
ical way, lighted a cigar and settled
himself comfortabl back in his chair.
The first story he took up was "Rea-
son and Romance" 1t was short, ana
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 1t somewhat carelessiy;
then suddenly few lines brought
back his wandering thoughts. He
turned the pages to look at the au-
thor's name.
Lillian Watson" he said thought
fully. well, this is a coincidence!
He read few pages further.
ut is surely more than coinci-
dence. 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
gets. and she has remembered our
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
1t all back to him-the two childish
playmates of long ago. the scrapes
they fell into and out of together. the
boy and girl who were schoolmates
and shared each others sorrows and
Joys and were loyal comrades. then
the reaIizat iou 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
well he remembered his ardent wooing
and her sweet surrender!
Then the gray eyes grew troubled
as he thought of the little rift within
the lutte" and the final quarrel and
parting brought about by a woman's
pride and mans stubbornness.
That was tive years ago. but 1t
seemed as If he had just awakened
from a long dream. He had tried so
hard to forget and until today almost
had convinced himself that he was
succeeding. but somehow all the old
hopes crowded into his heart. and he
realized that they were mastering him
In spite of himself.
81 cannot forget" he said. II 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 1t 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"
Bring her In here" he said without
CHANGING at the card which the boy
laid OH his desk. He took 1t for grant
ed that the lady was Mrs. White.
Was 1t fate? Was 1t chance? Who
knows?
In a moment he heard the Office boy
return. and he could hear the faint
rustic Of woman's skirt.
The shadows had gathered in the
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 trife more
serious perhaps than of old. but 9th
erwise unchanged.
He jumped to his feet and came for
ward. but his back was to the light.
and she did not have a good view of
his face.
HAS Miss King gomez" she asked
In low voice. and the old tones
thrilled his very soul.
without answering her question he
held out both hands.
"Bess.'
For a moment the woman's self pos
session left her: her lips were color
less. AMI the roses In her cheeks turned
from red to white. That deep. strong