Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-09-04
PLANNED OPPOSITE
BY MISS STELLA L. COLE.

Tic IdSL IuOull DuL WI1dI JuSC the oDDO-
site thing has happened"
"So?" queried her brother Jim, look
ing up from his book.
"Yes, p she replied. "Now, for
instance, wanted to go to the concert
last Thursday night, but on account of
a severe headache / had to stay at
home. Sunday night 1 wanted to call
on the Browns, and Kate Briggs came
in and stayed until it was too late to
go. And then tonight I particularly
wanted 1t to be fair, and it rained!
Even the weather conspires against
me! And it always happens that if
[ put on comfortable dress and pre-
pare to spend quiet evening at home,
some one special calls; but if dress
up and sit around just longing for
pleasant company, I am doomed to
spend the entire evening alone"
Silence moment, then Jim's book
struck the table and his feet hit the
floor with a thud. 81 say, Sis" he
shouted, "do you mean to say that
everything you plan Genes out the OPP
posite way?"
eyes, that's just what I mean," she
replied.
"Well, you silly goose" he said, "the
solution is easy. Just plan things OPP
posite from the way you want them
to happen"
Virginia's face was still gloomy.
swell, according to my numerous ex-
periences that rule would be success
ful," she said.
"Say, I'll tell yen what" said Jim.
'Try it for week and see what hap
pens. If the experiment is a success,
all well and good. If it isn't, you have
nothing TO lose. Now, viii you do it?'
II will try your remedy for week.
If it works out, shall be made hap
py."
It was on the morning of the sew
enth day. "Well, Virginia, how is your
experiment working out?" questioned
Jim.
"Not at ALL" she replied. "Here I've
oeen planning Opposites all the week,
and simply nothing has happened"
But Jim remained unruffled. "Per-
haps you haven't done it in the right
spirit" he said. ''You must plan these
Dpposites, just as if they were really
going to happen, you know. Now, for
Instance, what about tonight?"
Tonight? Well, tonight I guess I
will put on an old dress, get buried in
an interesting book"
(Which means that you want some
,ne you care for to call on you?"
eyes"
"And you would be willing to have
some one you care for call on you,
then, when you have an old dress on?"
Certainly not, stupid I shall have
another dress where I can get into it
luicklyw
"Ah!" exclaimed Jim. 81 feared so.
Cheated every night. l suppose. How
Fan you expect the experiment to work
out unless you are fair about it?NNever
mind that other dress tonight, but do
Just as if you really expected to spend
the evening alone. Now will you?"
A moments hesitation, then Vir-
ginia's decision was made. eyes," she
said.
A young woman with untidy hair,
soiled dress and shabby shoes, sat in
the parlor reading when suddenly the
bell gave a sharp ring. Resisting an
Impulse to flee Virginia turned to the
door, perhaps it is Kate Briggs" she
thought consolingly.
At the door stood khaki-clad figure
upon whose shoulder strap was the
lieutenant's bar, and across whose
face was a broad smile. Good eve
ming, Virginia." he said. 81 am home
for few days, and thought I would
call on you"
Virginia's face burned with embar-
rassment. Robert Thomas! The man
of the whole world who held the high
est place in her heart. That he, of all
men, should see her thus. But with
supreme effort she gained her self-con-
troll, and smiled as she extended her
hand. 'sWhy, Robert, 1 am so glad to
see you'll" she said. "Come right in! J"
No one would have guessed the eff
fort it cost Virginia to keep her poise
as she engaged her caller in an ami
mated conversation. But her heart
sank as he rose. Surely there was no
hope for her after this. She had tried
the experiment fairly. 1t had worked
out to the letter, but by so doing she
had lost the thing dearest to her in the
whole world.
Then the soldier turned, and took
her hands in his. Virginia" he said,
please forgive me if I have seemed to
be unkind. Jim told me about the ex-
pertinent you were making and so de-
cid I'd that I, too, would make an ex-
pertinent. have cared for you long
time, dear, but / wanted to be sure
that you possessed those qualities
which are necessary to a soldiers
wife. / am now more than satisfied on
that point for you have proven your