The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-12-20
KIRK'S CHOICE.

klRk'S CHOICE.
A curious old man was Hamilton Kirk
and good old man, said those who
had the best means of knowing.
Hamilton Kirk had gone abroad when
q mere youth, having been thrown upon
his own resources by the death of his
parents, and he had remained abroad IN
til be was forty Ave, or thereabouts.
Then he came home, and having found
q woman who could love him, he mar
ried her and settled down. He built him
q spacious, handsome house, and LAID
ont his grounds very beautifully. prom
Using himself much comfort in the new
phase of life upon which he had entered.
But he was doomed to an early disap.
pointment. In one short year his wife
died, leaving an infant daughter 10 his
care and protection.
And from that time the child never
brought cloud upon his brow by any
act of hers. When she was maiden,
just blooming into we'll developed
womanhood, he was an old man with
gray hairs. And she repaid him we'll for
all the care be had bestowed upon her
during her childhood.
But Myra was now nineteen, and the
time for new scenes was drawing upon
her.
"Myra," he said to her. as they sat in
the library one summer afternoon, I've
been thinking"
"Wel!, father, she replied, looking up
with one Of her sweet smiles, what have
you been thinking sbout?"
i've been thinking that you will be
wanting husband one of these days"
Then / wouldn't try TO think any
more" she said. But she didn't speak
with such simple assurance Is usual.
II am serious. my pet" he resumed,
and now let Us talk seriously about it.
l am not going to give you up, for the
man Who takes you must take my house,
and me with it; or, I'll take him, Just IS
You please. But you know, as we'll as l
do, that very soon you may be loving
somebody. aud then it will be too late to
reason"
Myra didn't dispute him; but she only
hung down her head and thought. So
he continued:
Nov, it's all very we'll to marry for
love. if other things are As they should
be; but love is a curious thing, and very
often brings bod les together that can
have no more harmony in life than fire
and water. / know that many people
scout the idea of exercising reason in
conjunction with love; but the ideas Of
the world are not always safe guides. /
the ground, but l would have it 90 ahead
and light the way. 50 THAI love may go
on with more safety. Doa'i that seem
proper"
"Yes, father
"And. pov, Tn coming nearer home.
There's Joseph Vaughan; don. you
think he would like to propose for your
hand?"
Perhaps So"
Come. come. Myrs. Be plain With
me-"
We'll, think be would
"And Henry Walsh, wouldn't be-"
"Yes, think he would"
"And Jacob Lorrimer?"
II hope not, replied the girl, With
shudder.
well, veil, we'll throw him eut, darl.
ing. I'm sure, however, that he would
very quickly apply for your hand if he
thought he could get it. But - would
not have him, and - don't think you
would, we'll consider him disposed Of in
advance. But there's Chauncey Stewart,
how is it with him? Don't you think he
would like to propose2"
I'm sure / don't know" returned
4yra, opening her book, and pretending
to find something interesting there.
But what should you think"
II never thought anything about it,
papa"
But her father had thought about il,
and he fancied that when the erotic dart
came it would come with the heart of
these three, whom he had mentioned, i'm
palsd upon it, shaft. Later in the after
noon, - Myra walked in the garden,
poudsring very deeply upon something
that bad occupied her thoughts ever
since her interview with her father, she
We startled by the appearance Of an old
beegar-msn in her path. He looked wan
and weary, and his sarb wss scant and
poor.
Charity. charity" he murmured lean
ing upon his sta6.
The maiden had not been q all fright
ensd--only startled from her own busy
theughts-and she quickly forgot I'll