The daily Alaskan., 1918-12-07
PLANNED OPPOSITE
By MISS STELLA L. COLE.

Paget, 'tt seems as If everything plan lately comes out just the other way from what 1 want 1t to. l don't be- lleve that have planned thing In the last month but what just the sppo- sRe thing has happened"
 "So7" queried her brother Jim, look ing up from his book.
 @Yes, sol" she replied. "Now, for instance, I.wanted to go to the concert last Thursday night, but on account of a severe headache I had to stay at home. Sunday night wanted to call on the Browns. and Kate Briggs came in and stayed until 1t was too late to go. And then tonight particularly wanted It to be fair, and 1t rained Even the weather consplres against mel And 1t always happens that if put on a comfortable dress and pre- pare to spend a quiet evening at home, some one special calls; but If l dress up and sit around just longing for pleasant company, am doomed to spend the entire evening alone"
 Silence a moment, then Jim's book struck the table and his feet hit the floor with a thud. II say, Sis," he shouted, "do you mean to say that everything you plan comes out the op- posIte way?" ,nr '"t'....
 "Yes, that's just what l mean," she replied. -.....
 "Well, you silly goose," he said, "the solution Is easy. Just plan things op- poslte from the way you want them to happen"
 virgInin's face was still gloomy. "Well, according to my numerous ex- perlences that rule would be success fuf," she said.
 Say, I'll tell you what" said Jim. "Try 1t for a week and see what hap pens. If the experiment Is success, all we'll und good. If It isn't, you have nothing to lose. Now. will you do it%
 "I will try your remedy for a week. If 1t works out, shall be made hap py."
 It was on the morning of the sev- enth day. "Well, Virginia, how is your experiment working out?" questioned Jim. r"' -fr'-t ..
 Not at ull," she replied. "Here I've been planning opposltes all the week, and simply nothing has happened"
 But Jim remained unrufiled. "Per- haps you haven't done 1t In the right spirit" he said. "You must plan these apostles, just as If they were really going to happen, you know. Now, for instance what about tonlghtY
 Tonight? Well, tonight guess I will put on an old dress, get buried in an interesting book"
 (Which means that you want some one you cure for to call on yOu?"
 "Ycs."
 And you would be willing to have some one you care for call on you, then, when you have m old dress on2"
 "Certainly not, stupid l shall have another dress where I can get into 1t Quicklyw
 "Ah!" exclaimed Jim. "I feared so. Cheated every night, I suppose. How can you expect the experiment to work out unless you are fair about It? Never mind that other dress tonight, but do just as if you really expected to spend the evening alone. Now will yOuT"
 A, moments hesitation, then Vlr- ginia's decision was made. "YeS," she sald. .
 A young woman with untidy hair, soiled dress md shabby shoes, sat In the parlor reading when suddenly the bell gave R shurp ring. Resisting an impulse to flee Virginia turned to the door. "Perhups It Is Kate Briggs" she thought consollngly.
 At the door stood a khakl-clad figure upon whose shoulder strap was the IIeutenant's bar, and across whose face was n broad smile. Good eve ming, YirginIa," he said. q am home for few days, and thought would call on you" ....-..----
 Vlrginia's face burned with embar. rassment. Robert ThomasI The man of the whole world who held the high est place in. her heart That he, of nj men, should see her thus. Bat with a supreme effort she gained her self-con. trol, and smiled as she extended her hand. "Why, Robert, I am so glad to see you!" she said. Come right In p
 No one would have guessed the ef- fort 1t cost Virginia to keep her poIse as she engaged her caller in an ani- mated conversation. But her heart sank as he rose. Surely there was no hope for her after this. She had tried the experiment fairly. It had worked out to the letter, but by so doing she had lost the thing dearest to her in the whole world. 'rs .'.. 5. F 'e Then the soldier turned, and took her hands in his. "Yirginia," he said, 'please forgive me if have seemed to be unkind. Jim told me about the ex- pertinent you were making and so l de- cided that l., too, would make an ex- pertinent. have cared for you long time, dear, but wanted to be sure that you possessed those qualities
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