The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-20
Daily Short Story
A CHAPTER OF CHANCES.

MS eyes on the straight profile, with
the feathery fur OF pale hair above
the eager eyes. There was tragedy
Yes. but IL was accidental TRACE
dy. don't you seer-not tragedy
bound up In the nature of the char
acters, Incident alone doesn't sui
fee. It's incident inseparable from
the natures of the actors. it's the
, complications their-what do you
call them?-disposition souls. some
thtng-create. not the street corner
jams any of US may get into indis-
Roderiok leaned back and laughed.
Olive turned her eyes. dark. gray.
shining with inner excitement, upon
him.
Man is man and master OF his
fate, is your notion resolved into
copybook quotation. isn't IL. Miss
Nelson? suppose that if'-he
looked at her half boldly. half ques-
ttoningly. beneath his heavy lids-"if
this ride OF ours on this February
morning. which by mere chance
feels like spring. which by mere
chances makes US look for daffodils
instead of early spring millinery be-
hind the plate glass windows. which
by mere chance makes our blood
move 10 springs time in our veins
| m this ride OF ours. sprung OF "A chance
meeting at the corner. after we had
both CHANGED 10 see The Incompre-
hensibilities OF Matilda at the the
atre last night"
Don't" laughed the girl. II have
been holding my breath waiting for
the end OF that chain of chances, and
I'm gaping"
The end OF it'-he leaned for
ward and spoke in lower tone. bur
more emphatically-'W this: IL Il
should chance that this morning
this meeting-was the beginning OF
the things ! hoped for last summer
YOU remember"
The girl grew a little pale.
DO We need to 40 all over that
again she protested She remem-
bered the feeling Of distrust that had
made her answer so positive at Man
chester. in spite of a certain insist
ence OF her own heart that il was not
the right answer. lie ignored the in
( terruption.
She nervously laughed down the
comPelllng earnsstness in his tones
/ IL was her one weapon against the
( power he eNerted over her, the power
against which she shrank inexplica-
bly,. distrustfullv
on, let's be reasonable" she said
If ! should be seen bv some dragon
OF propriety who knows me- careeriug
down Firth avenue with YOU in a
hansom on pleasant February morn
[ ing, and should be reported To Aunt
Emeline or 20 dear cOnfidmg mamma
in Baltimore, and should be locked in
my room and dieted on bread and
water for con iuCt so unbecoming. /
should say that my own impulse in
driving down 10 see your new club
mouse rather than anvil ting else. had
landed me IN my dungeon. Aren't We
nearly there. by the way?"
We are turning in towards il now
It's on the next block I merely did
II over. You knOW-it isn't new. bu.
you'll say its a neat Job. think
The hanson slowed up, and Olive
b looked out She admired enthusiast
cally. It's dear-so bright and digni-
ned AT once 50 different" she said.
am glad you like IT," Roderick
himsclt looked apprOvingly AT the bit
OF colonial restoration which certain.
~ did diner' initiate the modest home
or the Bookplate club from its neigh
bors III be only "A second inside /
must nave Just word with my con
tractor But before ! go. Olive
Perhaps you'd better no call me
that she suggested gently.
Why did YOU fight against-acains
the inevitable-down az Manchester
last summer? Why did you hgnt
against me-
She turned her honest eyes toward
MIN as n To appeal 90 his wider kuowt-
edeE and experience.
II don't trust the emotion In mo.
. she said a little laboriously. And
somehow forgive me don't trust
YOU. I'm not sure Of the quality OF
Your love"
Roderick's face was Of the SQUARE
laWed rather heavy tyne 4 fush
Hounted h now. Ills dull ewes slowed
IT s the best In me. be said eager
" IF YOU viii lot my I'etimo--"
Don't. please. said The girl little
coldly M least. ] know enough TO
recognize the commonplace Of court
ship when ] hear them. and I don
Ike them. Please 20 In and hurry
OUT
Th" heavy jaws closed determincdly.
II was as 10 he would compel her TO
acknowledge a love for him then and
. there. Then the look softaucd. grow
almost ali'flc sad. and he nodded
u won't be- three minutes" he de-
cl1red. Tie strobe up the path with
less ~ buOyaucs than was usual iu his
square set figure He had tho tread
of the conscientious rather than 81 the
spontaneous athlete olive was CON
-cioIs of e little pain 40 her heart
that he should look weary. and surely
Do" seemed unnecessarily older than ne
vns '1.' summer
She ls1ueI back. iIupe5 M The de'u-
tI.F warm o. OF the late winter morn
Der "u tt' -uc"t boy across her Iir ana
w.. Gel them lE tIy. With zu.f"
Size fsIt .urer OF hiw today chan 10
% HIr..t seemed f1 ..- trsf she mIrHt
frr... ... l.Hfg ruHt .| NsH.rs.fsr amt
'ls ".N . bod e"Irr SOD upon TIE
|t". OH" ~.rI FROM IT. ".ra. train 90 4.
look oft surprised EI.ntHtc ana
what .1T induced Ur.eIr harram
....... F .'.rU.Uf f|.." .." rfrH. &c