The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-12-16
PROFITABLE ERROR
BY GEORGIA SMITH

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1t all began by my following an i'm
pulse to ride on the merry-go-round at
Old Orchard last summer. / felt ex-
tremely foolish after seating myself
On one of the prancing ponies and
glanced around at the people stand
ing near, hoping ] should see no one
I knew. Carefully 1 inspected the
crowd and recognized none Of them,
so proceeded to enjoy my ride.
Soon young man walked around
the corner Of the ticket stand and
stopped in front Of the now moving
horses. 1t was Tom Campbell. the
very same tall, good-looking Tom /
had chummed around with in Law
renee year or so before. Through
slight misunderstanding, before my
return to Maine, / had lost track of
him, which fully explained my sur
prise on seeing him at this summer
resort. In spite of our disagreement
I still held a friendly feeling toward
him and thrilled with pleasure at see-
ing him once again.
"As soon as this merry-go-round
stops will go and speak to him." !
treasured myself. Thus thinking, ]
kept my eyes on him at every turn,
waiting for him to glance In my direc-
ton. He soon spied me in my ridicu-
lous position, and I smiled toward
him. Again he looked at me, then
turning walked to the end Of the
pier.
This was too much for my reason
ing ability and utterly unlike Tom.
Therefore I felt inclined to think he
still remembered our difference Of the
previous year. Otherwise how could
he have failed to recognize me.
The fault having been mine, I has
tened after him as soon as the merry
go-round slowed down, intent upon be-
coming friends again. He was soon
found leaning idly against the pier
railing, watching the waves on the
beach below.
won't you speak to an old friend.
TOMB" I began.
'Yes-er-indeed: of course / am
glad to speak to you, Miss-er1"
This last was followed by signif1-
cant pause. At his first words I had
looked at his face again. Looking at
him at close range showed me not
Tom Campbell but a darker looking
young man, greatly resembling Tom.
I was frightened at my mistake and
could not speak.
REALLY you must pardon my for
getfulness, but your name has actu-
ally slipped my mind"
His voice stirred me and I FASTENED
to apologize, explaining how had
mistaken him for Mr.. Campbell, q
friend Of mine. Very politely he told
me his name, that his home was far
from Lawrence-in fact, he lived In
Canada, and while he was sorry he
wasn't the original Mr.. Campbell, he
had no grievance against being mis-
taken for him.
Perhaps 1t was his frank, good-na-
tured smile that won me. At any rate,
soon found myself laughing over my
mistake, and he appeared so little
like stranger that I told him my
name and where was staying. With
that I dared not prolong the scene
further, for fear he would mistake my
intent.
Joining my friends again. I re-
turned to the cottage, my thoughts
far from their ever-cheering chatter.
Several times during the following
week we passed on the beach. At
first he merely tipped his hat, while
I acknowledged his greeting with q
smile, and as I thought, very proper
"How do you do?" The situation
amused me, and when he stopped me
on one of my morning walks to ask
permission to accompany me, I put
formality aside and gave him permits
sion. A few such meetings left me
firmly convinced that if there wasn't
such thing as love at first sight
there surely was at second or third
sight.
Fate befriended Us and we were
formally introduced at one of the cot
tages where visited now and then.
Then followed q series Of walks, ex-
cursfons. boating trips and dances,
ending In my return to town at the
end Of the season the proud posses
sor Of bright new diamond ring and
his return to Canada to prepare for an
early wedding.
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.l