Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1919-03-08
THE HAND OF FATE
BY HiLDA MORRIS.

1t was raining that morning and a
over Cissy's empty day that stretched
ahead OF course, she should not have
felt bored with so many things to do
busting, cleaning, sewing, all the tasks
demanded by the care of her brother
Toms new house. But she was bored.
Girls of twenty-five want more than
household tasks to dream of. and more
than blank gray landscapes to look
out upon.
Toms house was new and attrac-
tive one, built at the very edge Of
new addition"
Cissy stopped to lean upon her broom
and wipe away a tear as she gaZed out
at the fiat prospect. If only some
thing would happen! Anything to
break the monotony. She strained her
eyes to look down the road that led
toward the city. If someone would
even drive past it would be something.
And she looked as she saw the faint
speck OF an approaching automobile.
1t was a miserable day to be abroad,
the roads were deep with mud and
puddles. But the low yellow racer
came on at a good pace, apparently
disregarding anything so trivial as the
weather.
"Why, it's Morton Sims carl" Cissy
said aloud to herself Il wonder what
he's doing out here
Morton Sims was the brother OF
Toms fiancee. Cissy had met him once
or twice in town.
He got out and pulled and puffed; he
got in again and tried to override
Fate; he got behind and tried to push,
but the car stuck fast. Cissy watched,
In growing f1utter of interest and
determination.
eff he can't get 1t out" she muf-
INJURED to herself, perhaps he'll want
to come in here to phone or something.
1 ought to ask him to-" Very shyly
she opened the front door and called
to him.
"You seem TO be stuck" she said.
"Would you like to come in and phone
for another car to pull you out?"
"Why, Miss Morrow I" he exclaimed,
turning from his inspection Of the yell
low car. II didn't know that you lived
here! Yes, I do seem to be stuck fast,
and should like to use your phone.
If you don't mind"
The phone was in the hall, and Cissy
fluttered back to the fire while he used
1t.
.'They can't send out another car for
an hour or So" he explained. II don't
want to be nuisance, Miss Morrow.
I'm afraid"
"Oh, you must stay here by the fire !"
she exclaimed quickly. "You look
soaked through now. Why do you
drive on such an awful day, any
how?'
He laughed little bitterly.
Because I was bored. This is hol-
iday, you know, and the office is closed,
and my rooms are awfully bleak and
gloomy on day like this. A fellow
gets lonely sometimes"
Eyes, know" she assented quickly,
and then there fell an odd silence be-
tween them.
"You have pleasant place here"
he commented. "It's Toms, I suppose.
Christine has told me about it, but l
never knew exactly where it was.
Christine is awfully in love with your
brother"
"Of course! Who wouldn't be?" she
laughed back "And Tom is awfully in
love with your sister, too. And so
am l."
'Im sure you'll get on together"
"Oh, yes, but l shan't stay with
them. 1t wouldn't be right. Young
married people ought to have their
homes to themselves. | shall go away"
''Where?" he asked, as if 1t were a
matter of vital concern to him.
ooh, 1 don't know yet. To be a
nurse, perhaps, or teacher"
CiSsy's eyes were on the fire, and
she did not know that he was watch
ing her, noting the little culver of her
chin as she spoke.
"Oh, 1 wouldn't do that" he urged
a little awkwardly. Nurses have an
awfully hard time, and 1 can't imagine
you as a teacher. There's just one
thing that you ought to do. and that
is"
"What?" Cissy thought she knew
what he was going to say, and her
color deepened.
"You ought to be keeping a house
of your own, and making it look like
this one. You ought to be married"
"Oh, of course" she laughed. THAT
Is what they say of every girl"
Eyes, but you are different. You
haven't known me very long, Cissy, but
I have felt. ever since that day that
Christine first introduced us, as though
I had known you from the beginning Of
time. I've watched you everywhere.
I've dreamed about you, and-yes, even
written poetry that didn't have the
courage to send. And I've asked
Christine so many questions that she
thinks I'm eaten up with curiosity.
guess there's no use trying to conceal