Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-03-06
IheAgreea'b!l!|e
Storm
tossyrisA. lsls. y w.stss. N,v.p.l,e u,i.,
D, MILDRED WHITE

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toseyrisAt 1919. y Western NsvsDap,e uaies.l
Virginia looked hopelessly from the
window, then drew on her rubbers.
The continued threatening gloom Of the
December sky added the last straw to
her desolation. &
Life was strange thing, she reject.
ed 40 she walked the busy street ones
sorrows and ones joys seemed forever
quivering on the brink OF chance. For
surely 1t had been mere chance with
out reason, which had separated her
from Billy. and ended in an evening
their long planned future happiness.
Billy should have known that she
loved him to distraction. and that no
other man could possibly win her ia
vor. And she should have known that
Billy's Jealousy alone was responsible
for his angry speech upon that occa-
sion.
They had been attending a concert,
and had started out blissful in each
others companionship. Then chance
had led Barris, the good-looking tenor.
to seat behind virginia's own. And
when, several times, her fur wrap had
slipped from her shoulders, Barris. in
his caressing way had replaced II, be-
ing rewarded BY virginia's bewitchins
smile.
Wasn't 1t q delightful concert?' Viz.
ginia innocently questioned.
Delightful to you and Barris, per-
haps," Billy had CURLY replied. .But
II you think it 10 the proper thing to
entertain one man exclusively while in
the company Of another. you're mis-.
taken"
"Billy!" gasped the girl. what a
horrid thing to say. Surely you are
not so unreasonable that cannot BE-
pleasant to another man."
eff you were my wife and acted az
you did this evening" Billy began hot
~. II would"
Virginia interrupted, her tone was
sweetly calm.
Don't bother about what you'd do"
she said, because that possibility is
now out of the question"
you are not going to marry mef".
Billy had blankly repeated, and vir-
ginta suddenly realizing to what length
angry chance was leading her, stu nod.
ded her pretty head.
II am not going to marry you," she
answered decidedly.
Their parting had beea even more
stormy. Billy was quite wild In his
renunciation. :
ut is Barris. Of course" he told her,
"who has changed yosr heart. But
why did You not tell me how things
were between you two. long agov' Xeu
can BE- sure that I will never put ny
self in Jour way again-never"
And 20 faithfully had Billy kept his
VOW, that Virgins hoping through dis
was forced ct length to
believe that Billy had emily wished for
this trick Of chance and was taking
advantage Of 1t. She had not thought.
when making her reckless assertion
that 1t would be possible for Billy to
remain away.
Several times she had passed him
upon the street, and to the girls long
ing eyes. her lover seemed to grow each
time more desirable. Poor Barris.
making several attempts to call, had
been as peremptorily refused
- II Virginia declared herself unwill.
ing to marry Billy, she was firmly de-
termined not 10 marry any other man.
So her face grow whtts, her blue eyes
more wistful, and the lsaden skies Of
November stretched on into the month
that should be merry, while she
trudged on sorrowfully to visit =
friend.
The visit beneath rose. colored lights
Of the pleasant room ended abruptly.
"They say" the friend contded,
shat Billy has new sweetheart. He
il seen with her often"
The fury Of q sudden snowstorm
seemed an outlet to yirginia's pent-up
feelings. She was aware as she plunged
through the biting wind toward a car,
that people jostled her unseeingly.
Her heart was SO sore about Billy,
that 1t really didn't seem to matter.
While pride. a great impossible wall,
held her from the man she loved, this
new girl with whom he had been seen
would take him away from her for
ever Then mighty gust. befors
which VIrglnia's desperate fight was
hopeless, whirled the girl out to the
pavement directly in the path Of an on.
coming car. Her frantic warning ges.
lures were lost in the swirl Of snow
then, all at once, she saw dark fig
ure rush toward her; his arms enfold.
ing her, n man snatched her back from
the track. And as the car came to a
standstill. Virginia reallzed that the
man had loosened his coat to shield
her face.
1 Her breath came pantingly, as he
helped her into the shelter of the car
THE worst Of the storm will nf
doubt be over" he suggested politely
before you leave the car"
With quick cry Virginia reached
her hands out In the dimness to clutcf
her rescuer. ''Billy" she said. "Oh
Billy, to think that 1t should be yon.'
virginia." the man murmured un
believingly, and followed into the cur
Observation-Disclosures
When they were seated. very clos,
together, Virginia looked into her low
er's shining eyes.
"Chance again. Billy" she said Joy
ously. "chance took our happjnes!
away. and now 1t Is giving ii back
(Ny1,a ..1,,VA kht-t. 80 I.