The Touch of Fate Page #2

by Lucy Maud Montgomery is a poignant exploration of love, destiny, and the intertwining of human lives. Set against the backdrop of the picturesque landscapes of Prince Edward Island, the story follows the protagonist as she navigates the complexities of relationships and the choices that shape her fate. With Montgomery's characteristic warmth and insight into human emotions, the narrative delves into themes of longing, serendipity, and the power of hope, ultimately revealing how fate can lead individuals to unexpected and transformative paths.

• Short story

								


So he was not going to ask her after all. Violet felt piqued. She was
also conscious of a sensation very near akin to disappointment. She
looked across at Madison. How trim and dapper he was!

"I hate a bandbox man," she said to herself.

Spencer meanwhile had picked up one of Mrs. Hill's novels from the
stand beside him.

"Fools of Habit," he said, glancing at the cover. "I see it is
making quite a sensation down east. I suppose you've read it?"

"Yes. It is very frivolous and clever--all froth but delightful froth.
Did you like it?"

Spencer balanced the novel reflectively on his slender brown hand.

"Well, yes, rather. But I don't care for novels as a rule. I don't
understand them. The hero of this book, now--do you believe that a man
in love would act as he did?"

"I don't know," said Violet amusedly. "You ought to be a better judge
than I. You are a man."

"I have never loved anybody, so I am in no position to decide," said
Spencer.

There was as little self-consciousness in his voice as if he were
telling her a fact concerning the Loon Lake trouble. Violet rose to
the occasion.

"You have an interesting experience to look forward to," she said.

Spencer turned his deep-set grey eyes squarely upon her.

"I don't know that. When I said I had never loved, I meant more than
the love of a man for some particular woman. I meant love in every
sense. I do not know what it is to have an affection for any human
being. My parents died before I can remember. My only living relative
was a penurious old uncle who brought me up for shame's sake and
kicked me out on the world as soon as he could. I don't make friends
easily. I have a few acquaintances whom I like, but there is not a
soul on earth for whom I care, or who cares for me."

"What a revelation love will be to you when it comes," said Violet
softly. Again he looked into her eyes.

"Do you think it will come?" he asked.

Before she could reply Mrs. Hill pounced upon them. Violet was wanted
to sing. Mr. Spencer would excuse her, wouldn't he? Mr. Spencer did so
obligingly. Moreover, he got up and bade his hostess good night.
Violet gave him her hand.

"You will call again?" she said.

Spencer looked across at Madison--perhaps it was accidental.

"I think not," he said. "If, as you say, love will come some time, it
would be a very unpleasant revelation if it came in hopeless guise,
and one never knows what may happen."

Miss Thayer was conscious of a distinct fluttering of her heart as she
went across to the piano. This was a new sensation for her, and worthy
of being analyzed. After the M.P.s had gone she asked Mrs. Hill who
Mr. Spencer was.

"Oh, John Spencer," said Mrs. Hill carelessly. "He's at the head of
the Land Office here. That's really all I know about him. Jack says he
is a downright good fellow and all that, you know. But he's no earthly
good in a social way; he can't talk or he won't. He's flat. So
different from Mr. Madison, isn't he?"

"Very," said Violet emphatically.

After Mrs. Hill had gone out Violet walked to the nearest mirror and
looked at herself with her forefinger in the dimple of her chin.

"It is very odd," she said. She did not mean the dimple.

       *       *       *       *       *

Spencer had told her he was not coming back. She did not believe this,
but she did not expect him for a few days. Consequently, when he
appeared the very next evening she was surprised. Madison, to whom she
was talking when Spencer entered, does not know to this day what she
had started to say to him, for she never finished her sentence.

"I wonder if it is the Loon Lake affair again?" she thought nervously.

Mrs. Hill came up at this point and whisked Madison off for a waltz.
Spencer, seeing his chance, came straight across the room to her.
Sergeant Robinson, who was watching them as usual, is willing to make
affidavit that Miss Thayer changed colour.

After his greeting Spencer said nothing. He sat beside her, and they
watched Mrs. Hill and Madison dancing. Violet wondered why she did not
feel bored. When she saw Madison coming back to her she was conscious
of an unreasonable anger with him. She got up abruptly.

"Let us go out on the verandah," she said imperiously. "It is
absolutely stifling in here."

They went out. It was very cool and dusky. The lights of the town
twinkled out below them, and the prairie bluffs behind them were dark
and sibilant.

"I am going to drive over to Loon Lake tomorrow afternoon to look into
affairs there," said Spencer. "Will you go with me?"

Violet reflected a moment. "You didn't ask me as if you really wanted
me to go," she said.

Spencer put his hand over the white fingers that rested on the
railing. He bent forward until his breath stirred the tendrils of hair
on her forehead.

"Yes, I do," he said distinctly. "I want you to go with me to Loon
Lake tomorrow more than I ever wanted any thing in my life before."

Later on, when everybody had gone, Violet had her bad quarter of an
hour with Mrs. Hill. That lady felt herself aggrieved.

"I think you treated poor Ned very badly tonight, Vi. He felt really
blue over it. And it was awfully bad form to go out with Spencer as
you did and stay there so long. And you oughtn't to flirt with him--he
doesn't understand the game."

"I'm not going to flirt with him," said Miss Thayer calmly.

"Oh, I suppose it's just your way. Only don't turn the poor fellow's
head. By the way, Ned is coming up with his camera tomorrow afternoon
to take us all."

"I'm afraid he won't find me at home," said Violet sweetly. "I am
going out to Loon Lake with Mr. Spencer."

Mrs. Hill flounced off to bed in a pet. She was disgusted with
everything, she declared to the Major. Things had been going so
nicely, and now they were all muddled.

"Isn't Madison coming up to time?" queried the Major sleepily.

"Madison! It's Violet. She is behaving abominably. She treated poor
Ned shamefully tonight. You saw yourself how she acted with Spencer,
and she's going to Loon Lake with him tomorrow, she says. I'm sure I
don't know what she can see in him. He's the dullest, pokiest fellow
alive--so different from her in every way."

"Perhaps that is why she likes him," suggested the Major. "The
attraction of opposites and all that, you know."

But Mrs. Hill crossly told him he didn't know anything about it, so,
being a wise man, he held his tongue.

       *       *       *       *       *

During the next two weeks Mrs. Hill was the most dissatisfied woman in
the four districts, and every M.P. down to the rawest recruit
anathemized Spencer in secret a dozen times a day. Violet simply
dropped everyone else, including Madison, in the coolest, most
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