The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1918-10-03
PROFITABLE ERROR
sy GEORGIA SMITH

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Il all began by my following an i'm.
pulse 10 ride on the merry-go.round ai
, old Orchard last summer I felt ex.
tremely foolish after seating myself
on one OF the prancIng ponies and
glanced around at the people stand.
Ing near. hoping I should nee no one
knew. Carefully inspected the
crowd and recognized none OF them,
30 proceeded 10 enjoy my ride.
Soon a young man walked around
the corner Of the ticket stand and
stopped In front Of the now moving
horses. II was Tom Campbell. the
very same tall, good.looklng Tom I
had chummed around with IN Law.
renee n year or 40 before. Through
n slight mlsunderetandlng. before my
return 20 Maine. I had lost track OF
him. which fully explained my sur
prise on seeing him at this summer
resort. In spite OF our disagreement
] stili held friendly feeling toward
him and thrilled with pleasure at Sec
ing him once again.
"As soon as this merry-go-round
STOPS ! will go and spenk 70 him."
reassured myself. Thus thinking. I
kent my eyes on him at every turn.
whiting for him 20 glance in my dlrec.
tion. He soon spled me IN my ridlcu-
lous position. and smiled toward
him. Agnin he looked ne me, then
turning walked 10 the end OF the
pier.
This was too much for my reason
ipg ability and utterly unlike Tom.
Therefore ] felt Inclined TO think he
still remembered our difference OF the
previous yeaf. Otherwise how could
he have failed 10 recognize me.
The fault having been mine. hns-
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 wnves on the
beach below.
Wont you speak 70 an old friend.
Tomi" began.
"yes--er.-indeed; OF course I am
glad to speak 10 you. Miss---er----
This last was followed by a signin-
cant pause. AZ his FIRST words I had
looked nj his face again. Looking at
him nf close range showed me not
Tom Campbell but a darker looking
young mnn. greatly resembling Tom.
was frightened at my mistake and
could not speak.
"healiy you must pardon my for
getfulnefs. hut your name has actu-
ally slipped my mind"
His voice stirred me and hasfened
10, apologize. explaining how ! had
mistaken him for Mr. Campbell. a
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-
aiken for him.
Perhaps II was his frank. good-na-
ured smile that won me. Al any rnte,
soon found myself laughing over my
nistnke. and he appeared 80 little
Ike a stranger that I told him my
lame and where ! was staying. With |
hat. ] dared not prolOng the scene
urther. for fear he would mistake my |
ntent.
Joining my friends again, re-
urned 10 the cottage, my thoughts
ar from their ever-cheering chatter.
Several times during the following
week we passed ON the beach. At
Irst he merely tipped his hat. while
acknowledged his greeting with a
mile. and as thought. very proper
How do you dof" The situation
mused me. aud when he stopped me
n one OF my morning walks 10 ask
ermission to accompany me. put
ormallty aside and gave him permls-
lon. A few such meetings left me
rmly convinced that II there wasn't
uch thing as love at first sight
here surely was at second or third
ght.
Fate befriended us and we were
'rmally Introduced az one OF the cot
lges where ! visited now and then.
hen followed series OF walks, ex-
lrsionS boating trips and dances.
nding IN my return 20 Town NJ the
nd ~ tle season the proud poFsc,i.
,r of a bright new diamond ring rad
Is return 20 cauadn 20 prepare Tor an
lfis weddlns.
'opyrieht. 1914 b. he Mcclure SensnA-