The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-10-03
BILLY ADMITS THERE IS
AN ELEMENT OF LUCK
ny LESLIE W. oulRk.

of-thumb will admit, there really Is
no such thing as luck. Perhaps there
isn't, But Billy Winslow was not old
enough to be gray-hoired, and he did
not live nor love by rule-of-thumb.
Hence his constant observations on
the subject were tiresome.
Today his dissertation on luck had .
been particularly positive and pro-
longed So long had he denied the
possibility of chance, indeed, that not
once in the whole afternoon had he
found time to propose to Helen
Thurlow. The oversight carried its
sting. Any girl finds pleasure in lis
tening to a proposal, even when, as
in this case, the man proposes some
two or three times day on an aver
age, only to be politely but dimpling-
| ly rejected. Down in her heart Helen
Thurlow loved Billy Winslow, and
meant in the fullness of time to say
yes.
But don't you think, Billy" she
asked finally, that sometimes luck,
or chance, or fate"
"Ah, fate" interrupted Billy, 'is
quite another thing. If 1t Is ordained
| that a thing is to be, some power
works for that end. But the act,
while it may seem the veriest dip of
luck, is really nothing of the kind.
Now, If we go back into the history
of the ancients-"
Please" pouted two pretty lips,
please let's keep to the present.
Now, Billy, what were you about to
say?"
| And Billy, being neither gray
haired nor guided by rule-of-thumb
in his loving, forgot ancients and
luck, and proposed again.
'T--I don't know what to answer"
said Helen, looking little startled,
as If this were the first time. II am
not sure l love you enough to marry
you, But, Billy"-and her face light
ed roguishly-"if you are certain
that we are merely the playthings of
. fate, am willing TO leave my answer
, to-to luck"
This was striking in a wholly un.
fair and poignant manner.
please explain"
|
/ shall go to my desk and write you
, two notes. One will be an acceptance
: of your proposal and one rejection
shall inclose both in similar en-
: velopes, with nothing to indicate
which is which. Then shall shuttle
them fairly-oh. quite fairly, Billy
3 that no -telepathy of mine shall in
. terfere with that which is to be-an(
| one / shall stamp and mail to you
without opening to know which has
I gone to. you, and"
d Helen! You're insane! You'll dt
nothing of the kind! Love Is too
: sacred to trifie with in this fashion
( I won't allow t."
i But, Billy, some power will worl
t for the proper end that has been or
n dained. You have just said so your
l. self. You know, Billy, there Is n,
g such thing as luck. Now, not word
I. Here's your hat. Tomorrow morn
:, ing, when your mail comes, you will
find my note. Goodbye and"-sh
o could not resist the final boon of tn
last taunt-"good luck!"
9 For a man who had not been &C
n tcepted-yet-the hour of Billy's cal
d the next morning was little short o
,, scandalous. But early as he was
9 Helen was waiting for him. She me
d him at the door, and after he ha
n swung it to, that the curious worl
q outside might not share in his happ
ness, he took her in his arms withou
q word. For long minute neithe
|, of them spoke. Then Billy lifted tn
Q girls face to his.
TITS yes" he declared, not as
question, but as the repeating of
, set form.
D. Its fate, Billy" whispered the gir
r Her whole face was wreathed in
smile of contentment.
After they had talked of many othe
8 things. the girl said abruptly:
e 81 think, Billy, l must have bee
= mad yesterday to leave the decisio
u to luck-that is, fate After you ha
gone, and l had written the notes,
% began to grow afraid, But / wa
. stubborn enough not to give up tn
silly plan. and l burned one an
. mailed the other. Then, Billy, b,
n gan to wonder what you would thin
. of me, and whether you mightn't sto
. loving me altogether; and I lay o
70 the bed and cried myself to sleel
:. you'll forgive me, won't yol
!. Billy%
u Forgive you! It was my faul
. Helen. suspect I've been babblin
fool with my theories. / am the on
- who was to blame, because l goade
- you into making the test to open nj
. eyes. I-well. grille, after this al
3 going to admit there is an elemeI
- !. of luck in what we do. Shall we 70
- get the whole wretched business"
y But she seemed not to have hear
20 !. him.
- II was jesting, Billy you kno
that. After had mailed the note
- you, / thought of the horrible poss