Smyrna times., 1919-04-16
THE HAND OF FATE
~
BY HILDA MORRIS.

1t was raining that morning and a
gray pail of ennui seemed to hang
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 a new and attrac-
tive one, built at the very edge OF a
new addition"
Cissy stopped to lean upon her broom
and wipe away 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 leo |
toward the city. If someone would |
even drive past 1t would be something.
And she looked as she saw the FAINT
speck of an approaching automoDlle'
It was a miserable day to be abroad,
the roads were deep with mpd ana
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 carr Cissy
said aloud to herself. 81 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 putted ne
got in again and tried to over-rlde
Fate; he got behind and tried to push,
but the car stuck fast. Cissy watched,
in a growing flutter of interest ana
determination.
eff he can't get it out" she MUIR
INJURED to herself, perhaps he'll want
to come in here to phone or something.
I 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" !" he exclaimed
turning from his inspection of the yel-
low car. 81 didn't know that you lived
here! Yes, do seem to be stuck fast,
and 1 should like to use your phone
if you don't mind"
) The phone was in the hall, and Cissy
fiuttered back to the fire while he usec
1t.
"They can't send out another car fol
an hour or So" he explained. 81 dom
Morrow
I'm afraid"
"Oh, you must stay here by the fire
she exclaimed quickly. "You lool
soaked through now. Why do yo1
drive on such an awful day, any
- hOw?"
He laughed a little bitterly.
'Because was bored. This is no
iday. you know, and the office is CLOSED
Il and my rooms are awfully bleak an
II gloomy on a day like this. A fello'
II gets lonely sometimes"
II ayes, know" she assented quickl
II and then there fell an odd silence b
II tween them.
II "You have a pleasant place here
n he commented. Its Toms, suppos
III Christine has told me about it, but
iii never knew exactly where it wa
III Christine is awfully in love with yo
iii brother"
iii "Of course! Who wouldn't be?" s.
iii laughed back. "And Tom is awfully
U love with your sister, too. And
iii am l."
iii 'Tm sure you'll get on together y
iii "Oh, yes, but 1 shan't stay wi
" them. 1t wouldn't be right. You
III married people ought to have tn
iii homes to themselves. / shall go ava
III "Where?" he asked, as if it were
iii matter of vital concern to him.
iii "Oh, 1 don't know yet. To be
iii nurse. perhaps, or a teacher"
III Cissy's eyes were on the fire, g
Y she did not know that he was wat
iii ing her, noting the little culver OF
iii chin as she spoke.
iii ooh, I wouldn't do that" he uri
little awlkwardly. Nurses have
awfully hard time, and 1 can't imag
you as a teacher. There's just
thing that you ought to do, and
- is"
. "What?" Cissy thought she kr
. what he was going to say, and
W. color deepened.
& "You ought to be keeping a ho
+ of your own, and making it look
this one. You ought to be married
"Oh, of course" she laughed. 81
& is what they say Of every girl"
& eyes, but you are different.
& haven't known me very long, Cissy,
3 I have felt, ever since that day
3 Christine first introduced us, as the
E I had known you from the beginnin
& time. I've watched you everywf
I've dreamed about you, and-yes,
& written poetry that didn't have
q courage to send. And I've al
8 Christine so many questions that
g thinks I'm eaten up with curiosi
guess there's no use trying to cor
& it. Cissy; I'm in love with you.
tooy for q long time -