The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-11-28
A WOman's Choice.


lovers, and she wondered which it was
best to choose. John Rainsford was
young and had life full of promise
and great possibilities before him. But
he was poor. Kate Wartield knew that
he loved her, as strong man can love,
but could she, used to luXuries of life,
give up that which seemed necessary to
her comfort and marry a poor man?
Philip Leith was old and rich, and he,
in this letter which she had just been
reading, made her the offer of his heart
surprising such an organ to be in ex-
istcncc-and hand. lie could give her
the things she longed for, the glitter and
show she coveted.
She heard some one whistling down
the road, and, looking in that direction,
saw John coming. Something seemed
to tell her that she must decide be-
tween her lovers now, and in swift
way she looked the case over On one
side, wealth and fashion, and all that
the heart could wish for in the gratiica-
ton of its selfish, worldly enjoyments;
on the other hand, humble life, and
struggles to climb to that position where
wealth could place her at once.
But them Did she-could she-love
Philip Leith, Il man old enough to be
her father! Would his wealth make up
for what her life would have been if
love was in il. As she asked herself
that question she felt a twingc which
told her that, after all, she carried tor
John Rainsford as she had never cared
for any other man, and for moment she
ln
preferable to life with Philip Leth and
all his wealth.
But the glitter Of gold blinded her,
and shut her eyes to the purer vision
which passed before her for a moment,
and in that resolu.e crushing down of
the better impulses of her nature, John
Rainsford's answer to his wooing was
made before he asked it.
He came up the orchard path and sat
down beside her. lie had learned, in
the summer gone by, to love this woman
as he thought he could never love
another. She was all that was pure and
wonianlv in a woman to him.
81 have had letter from the city,"
she said II am going back next week"
$50 soon" he said, slowly, and looked
thoughtfully off to the blue hills. She
knew well enough what he was thinking
about.
"Yes, have fingered here too long
already. This summer has been very
pleasant one to me; one of the pleasant
est of my life, think
"Can you guess whe, it has been to
me-" he asked, suddenly. II have learned
lesson in it that never tried to learn
before have learned to love-to love
you
His words were full Of passion,
strength and tenderness. Beneath his
gaze, she felt how unworthy she was of
such love as he gave her.
Il am sorry she said, slowly.
He started, growing pale.
"Why" he asked.
"Because---thi letter is from the man
| ain going to marry"
lie answered not word, but his eyes
were on her face in a strange, half doubt
ing gaze. Could it be true that the wo-
man he had thought to be SO true and
womanly, and who had let him 90 on low
ing her, knowing all the while to what
he was drifting. was the promised wife
of anotherl How he had been deceived
in his estimate of her! | think the
shock which John Rainstord's faith in
woman's trust received was at that mo-
mcnt full as strong as that which her
answer gave the love he held for her. To
him she was the ideal woman, the type
of womanhood. and, proving herself UNI
true, he doubted all, because he had been
so cruelty deceived in her.
She saw the lines Of pain about his
mouth.
II am sorry" she began.
But he stopped her.
DON'T" he said; leave the matter rs
it is. Its better 50. No word of yours
is needed TO soften the blow. | shall
get over it in time, | think. without
them"
"If ! had known" she said, but
again he interrupted her.
81 am going now. l hope you will
be happy, and never regret what you
have done, but some day, think, you
will see what pitiful amusement it is to
win a mans love, just for the mere sake
of winning it. Good-byew
And John Rainsford was gone.
Eight years passed, bringing strange
changes with them. Kate Warfeld, in
the years gone by since that summer
afternoon, when she made her choice
between the man who loved her and the
man who bought her, had become wife
and widow. In all those years she had
not succeeded in forgetting Jim Rains
ford. She had tried to do SO; her hus
band had been kind to her, but she
could not love him. She had been true
and faithful wife to him-that Is, if