Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-09-16
GOOD
INTENTIONS
Fate Turned Them Away.
Rv DWIGHT NOR WOOD
Fate Turned Them Away.
By DWIGHT NORWOOD


We move ON from day to day in
grooves that it would seem will be
everlasting. Then suddenly we make
a sharp turn. There is a saying, 1T
is the unexpected that happens" The
reason for the adage is that now and
again the unexpected does happen and
is noticeable.
The unexpected happened with me
one summer, and it was the most i'm
portant event for me between birth
and death. 1t was not only uneXpect
ed, but unintentiOnal. It was not only
unintentional, but contrary to my de-
termination. Fate, ignoring my reso-
lutions, led me into a trap, and be-
fore | was aware Of it, presto, change,
! was not the same man I had been
before.
In the first place, I did not wish to
60 for a summer outing. | was much
interested in a business scheme, and it
required not only a doctor, but my
mother, to drive me away from it. In
the second place, I had repeatedly told
my mother that my home would be
with her and her alone SO long as she
lived. No third person. especially a
woman, should come into the house to
usurp her place as its manager. In
the third place, if | must go away for
a rest I proposed to set rest and
would go where no one would inter
fere with my quiet. Now, mark you
how these intentions went awry!
| chose a summer hotel in the noun
tains in which | understood there were
to be a medium number Of guests. /
did not wish too small a number, for
a few persons under one roof are liza
BILE to wrangle l did not wish too
large a number because in that case
one cannot be quiet. l was driven
from the station to the Chuchihoochee
inn, alighted from the cab on to the
steps leading up to the porch, handed
a small satchel to a hotel attendant,
paid the cabman and turned to go up
on to the porch.
A pair Of feminine arms was thrown
around my neck, and pair of lips
pressed to mine. =
Taken by surprise, | acted as nature
prompted. My embracer was too close
to me for me to determine whether
she was beautiful, but the impulse OF
her act indicated that she was young
The lips, too, were not within my
vision, and their sweetness might have
been due to Imagination. But what
mattered the cause since they were
sweet? Nor did | mediate upon what
person the lady might be, whether
cousin or intimate friend. | returned
the embrace with something Of the
fervor with which it was given. That
is, | began the return thus, but before
it was concluded my own test was SUI
perior to that of the lady.
''Oh, TOm," she exclaimed, what a
joyful meeting after so many years
Separation!'
''Delightfulr' l stammered, unwill-
ING to seem irresponsible till | could
come to better understanding of the
matter.
IL IL uitll L USCLA SOAcLuIlS dDOul
your figure and the way you carry
yourself | doubt if I should have
known you"
= You, too, have changed; much i'm
proved"
I'm so glad you think so. l feared
you would be disappointed in me-
This brief dialogue occurred while
we were pausing up on the porch.
Had it not been for a Discrimination to
dash cold water upon the girls happi-
ness, to turn it into modification.
might have told her that she must
surely have mistaken me for some one
else. This is the reason l give for not
having done so, but there was another
more powerful reason that | will not
put in words. Nevertheless, | will say
this: l defy any man who has tasted a
pair of sweet lips of girl who has
made mistake in his identity to turn
upon her Immediately and announce
the fact.
/ | took a seat beside the young lady
on the porch, but when she began to
slSk questions WHICH WOulu uQUOuDCoU-
ly betray me l beat a retreat, telling
her that as soon as l had got some of
the dust of travel off me | would re-
turn to her Entering the house, |
was shown to a room on the second
floor overlooking the porch.
l was performing my additions near
q window when | saw a cab enter the
grounds and stop at the steps below.
"a young man alighted as l had aIight-
ed a few minutes before, and l wit
messed a scene that chilled the very
marrow in my bones. Leaning out of
the window that l might extend the
range Of my vision, l saw him APP
proach the young lady l had recently
left.
Aren't you Belle Lawrence?" he
asked.
"Why, yes" doubtfully.
I'm Tom, Tom Underwood. Don't
you know me?'
You Tom Underworld"
Certainly. You received ny tele-
gram. didn't you?"
"Your telegram? Yes, l received