Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-20
Daily Short Story
COMPLETE IL rus ISSUE
storms OF Fate
n piioEnM snE:ErrE,n.

n"rth. 1T was Que OF those mid,.le be-
, =, 2tternonS when the darkness
ia'ls early, and the storm dll not las {
sen the general confusion
ripping soud from above carsed
.,..a to look up suddenly, ard she
on her face through a great hole'in b.,.
umbrella Someone sSized het arm,
anu piioted her to doorway. uStering
breath returned and She could .ook
about. katherins saw i toll utn be-
side her and. at sight % the wocbe-
gone expression on his face. she laugh
cd outright.
Il can't help it," she insisted you
look go funny with that expression on
your face. | rcally am not dead, you
know.
man said. a ghost OF smile itcSorins
Al the corners OF his mouth. Here
I've ruined your umbrella, probably
spoiled your best nat and got. you il, 1
for Il good drenchins. anu All YOU do is
laugh about it,
"'rhc umbrella isn't mine. found it
al the office. Someone had LET, X there
The hat doesn't count; the rain won't
hurt me and, If YOU care 10 hear a
secret | am trying to get fat, so
laugh at ali sorts o. things other
grow fat you know
Il might try that recipe myself"
he man told her. Il am much too
don't laugh very much: never see any
thing 10 laugh at"
surely you do now" Katherine in
sisted Look ut that woman scurry-
ing across the street. holding up her
skirts III that funny fashion. See that
fat mSn arguing with the traffic police
man In the midst OF the downpour as
though it were a sunny June afternoon.
II you look about, you can laugh all,
| day long" II.
| II wonder if you'd help me. L know
very few people in the city and it's
| very lonesome sometimes" and at
kathcrne's hesitation. he added quick
~. "of course. we would have to be
| introduced by someone. Do you know
| John Clayton
| Il am not acquainted with one
single girl here" the man told her,
! dcspondently. Wen. never mind, Well
| trust to luck. ii you will allow me-
TO get on this car with you we may
arrive at solution
| before they could decide on a mutual
acquaintance and Katherine carefully
nrSpsn could up only n aay ana
hope tor another meeting.
IT'S TOO bad" she told her mother
mothering."
| Mrs Truesdale looked at her quickly.
ing 10 get me on your side. still, if
the boy is alone and in need of
mothnringl ~ seems wrohg 70 refuse
had better asi! him TO call when you
Eut weeks went ny and though
Katherine watched eagerly. the man
scented TO have vanished from the face
one snowy evening when she heard
| an exclamation behind her and turned
TO ind the man laughing down ut her.,
where" he said. and in the mean
| time I've learend to laugh. I've found
4 mutual acquaintance: met him last.
| TO call on YOU"
You seem to come with Storm
eart Mas Tan sha fhqug fe y nsn
| that have looked for you. too. Mother.
decided that you need motherlng and
| might be waived. so I've had AN in
vitation for YOU for ever so long
The following months proved to be
for Stuart lesson. between Katherine'sl
companionship and Mrs. Truesdale's
nay snGle es VAS in n.a fair May to be
cus,omed 10 being made much of that
AZ he ran out To katherine's one night,
that he heard the piano and a man's
| voice ringing out in the latest war
! songs.
that Katherine had other friends
had met some of them. hut this fell
low in Uniform. too, seemed a spe-
lighted window showed. II '9 See e med ned
terrible 10 stand there in the darkness
a sxna, 10 spy on them, as II We're, and
catherine in his arms and kissed her.
stuart was rooted to the spot" Even
the , eh,rance OF Mrs. Temple did not
uisturb the pair. In fact, she patteI
the soldier on the back as she PASSED
Gone were poor Stuart's dreams ass
IA tn ha o.t,.
man could not be II cousin, for katlr
erine mad often regretted the fact that.
only thing for him to do, Stuart re-
nreicu was to keep away, and. though:
rision. neglected to answer Katherine's
letters OF inquiry and proved so abrupt
over the telephone, the few times she
rang up mat lie heard from her no
more.
II was very foolish. OF course. but
i, would he only with years and sx-J
nerience that tolerance would come 10.
him Finally the longing to see Kath-5
crime became too great and he took to
standing about where he knew she
tniSht pass. but his watching brought
no result. Then one stormy evening"
saw her across the street. bravely buff
ic,ing the wind and the e"'~ \ Yis-S
ION Of their first meeting almost a year
ago and on Just such night. came to-
h!n. End his first impulse was to hurry
10 he. She looked p@ic and thinners
tina. before, he thought Her laugh
and grow fat policy had evidently
Then suddenly he pushed across to-
her al pushed aside :. rough. looking
man who had accostcd her 81
There was a long silence. Then as
katherine. without word of thanksE
Tor his help. attempted to pass him,s
stuart blocked her way. lie seized thet
umbrella. putting his hands over hers,s
and looked IT her penitently.
n Iuf -
4 cad. and everything that's bad" hes
said humbiy. but when / saw that
soldier kissing YOU. | couldn't bear
it"
THAT soldier!' Katherine interrupts
cd, you mean little Johnnie Turner
that have known since he was Il baby?
OF course ! kiss Johnnie-I always
ltnvc. He's only IL"
No. YOU NAV not call on ME again,"s
Katherine began few minutes later.s
Then suddenly She Swayed towardi
stuart. Il feel very faint. that tramp
frichtcned me. You'll have to stay
with me"
Whatever Stuart's answer that
brought back the color TO Katherine's
cheeks. no hut the two knew. for