Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-08-15
FATE INTERVIEWS
BY JACK LAYTON.

4 peereu cOVertly over Its edges at the
handsome masculine face across the
aisle. Not that Bess was an impress
slonable young creature; strange faces
rarely interested her, but there was
about this one some peculiar magnetic
charm which drew her own eyes I'M
willingly.
Resolutely now she pursued her
reading as the miles few by. A sensa-
ton Of being observed forced her to
look up again. The man was regard
ing her wonderingly, as though trying
to place her among past acquaint-
ances.
No self-respecting young woman
may pick up a travelling companions"
she severely reminded herself. The
man. across the aisle had sighed wear
lily; his dark eyes seemed to be plead
Ing the question. Bess turned to the
car window impatiently. Back there in
town some mutual friend had but to
humble in introduction two names
and one is in duty bound to be pleas
ant to the one presented.
"Oh, well !''-Bess abruptly arose
and made her way to the diner. This
was really the last call to the dining
car" There was but one unoccupied
table. Seating herself, she studied the
menu. AS she hesitated over Its con-
tents the subservient waiter pushed
forth the remaining chair.
"Sit heah, suh," she heard him say
ing, and glanced up to find her visa
Wis the man who had been sitting
across the car aisle.
i beg your pardon" he began, as
though apology were necessary for his
intrusion.
Silently Bess nodded; then, at the
mans evident difidence, she flashed a
smile.
You have perfect right to the
only vacant CHAIR she said. After
That silence seemed foolish formal
lty. The man was a journalist, she
learned, and his conversation proved
to be as interesting as his appearance
had promised. After the meal, it
seemed but natural sequence that
he should transfer his suitcase to Bes-
sizes side Of the car and continue the
conversation there.
The hours now flew by as quickly as
the miles. Bess dimpled and smiled,
glancing up into the mans attentive
eyes, and wondered again at that
sense Of familiar companionship.
1T is strange" he said, promptly
answering her thought, ''yet I could
not have forgotten had / met you b.
FORE"
She flushed at his implied meaning.
We must meet again." he added,
impulsiyely.
Bess did not answer. He was leav-
Ing the car at Buffalo, so he told her,
and arose as though reluctant, draw,
Ing on his greatcoat. Her own desti-l
nation, few miles farther on, had not
been mentioned.
AS the car slowed into the station
she realized, half-angrlly, that she WIS
10th to let the stranger go, saddened
at the thought of losing forever, in the
rush of life outside, this man whom,
yesterday she had not seen.
4 cannot co." he said tensely, with
out hope of seeing you again. Your.
name, at least, you will tell me that
and some time
But Bess was resolute. Tomorrow.
perhaps, he would laugh at the incl,
dent. Tomorrow she would forget ALI
about it.
"Good-by.' she said, smiling. .This
IS the end of short but pleasant ac-
quaintance.'' =
The car was emptying. The man
reached desperately for his valise. 1T
cannot be the end" he answered firm.
ly. Fate will intervene"
Would it? Bess was very doubtful,
as she caught a last glimpse of his
broad-shouldered figure before the
train whisked her on in the darkness.
And if fate refused to be obliging,
would she forget the last few hours
ps easily as she had prophesied?
\ Long she sat before the fire In her
room that night. From the flames
mans dark eyes seemed to be re-
preaching her, and the vision would
not be banished. Where was he now?
And would he try to find her? But the
hope was not to be entertained. This
was a prosaic world, where people
went sensihly about their duties. Day
after day she would go back and forth
teaching in the schoolhouse on the hill, y
and nothing beautiful or unusual
would ever happen. Then suddenly
Bess sat up listening. Some one was
calling; she was wanted Long dis
lance on the phone"
sHow do you do?" came deep,
.well-remembered voice. This is your
travelling companion Of an hour or two
ago. Fate has interviewed. opened
as supposed my suitcase, few mo-
ments ago and found pink silk XII
mono,I think you call 1t, and a let
ter. The letter being addressed to
Miss Bessie Roberts / have lost no
time In calling up that young lady to
identity what I believe IN he her r,ron.