The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-05-31
THE BETTER
CHOICE
BY G. v. Gregory

nedfu some Skou news Vh-uay,
Nancy" he said, leaning forward ex
peotantly. She raised her eyes ques-
tioningly
Fathers bought farm in Dakota"
he went on, "and he wants me to go
out there and run 1t for him next
yecr.' He paused. but she did not
reply.
"Well?" he asked at length.
1T will be very good chance for
YOU"
And You"
I'm getting on very well teaching
school"
but | don't want you to teach
school, Nancy" he pleaded. Think
how much nicer It would be to have
little home OF our own
81 don't want a home Of my own"
she replied, turning her head away.
Have you forgotten your promise?'
Ev asked. note of mingled pain and
surprise in his voice. You told me
oEcc you loved me- There were
toars in her eyes as she looked at
I'm imploringly
Il know ! promised Jimmie she
said, but was young then and
scarcely realized what it meant
But, Nancy"
She checked him with an appealing
: sture. 81 don't love you, Jimmie.
we tried and tried, but ! can't. |
dent believe ever did" Mechanical
y she drew off her ring and held 1t
ont toward him He made no move TIC
take it. but rose abruptly and walked
over to the window. For long time
he stood there gazing at the whirling
suowfakes outside, and when he
finally earned and came back his face
was so changed that the girl In the
big armchair hardly recognized him.
He came and stood in front Of her
chair. steadying himself a moment be-
fore he spoke Think of these four
wears, Nancy" he said. These four
Happy years. and that one particular
evening long ago when we were out
IN The lake and the moonlight turned
The waves to ripping silver, Oh, |
was happy then. II all seemed too
good to be tTue. TO think that you,
the dearest girl in all the world, had
promised to be mine and only mine.
II seemed like a glorious dream. Yes,
Il was a dream, and | am just begin
ming TO waken." His voice broke and
he buried his face in his hands.
Don't, Jimmie, please don't" she
Fuhhed Don't you see that ! can't
help it You'll find some girl out
thee, Jimmie. a nicer and truer
girl than / am"
Il never want to see another girl"
he replied. "Good.by, Nancy, i hope
v~u'n be happy"
n moment he was gone out into
tie storm and darkness with an awful
loneliness freezing his very SOUL and
back in the house fair.haired girl
leaned her head on the arm OF the
old chair and sobbed herself to sleep.
Slowly the weeks passed away. The
bleak winter with its sleet and snow
had gone, and the beautiful summer
flowers were fading one by one to
make room for the gorgeous colors Of
autumn. Nancy had been attending
summer school and was coming home
again-homc to the little white school.
l,use and the dear, exasperating
ldren Somehow the thought OF II
Ga not awaken any of the old en-.
thUsasm. She used to think she
loved to teach, but now-wc-l. she
was almost afraid she was beginning
70 hate 1t. She kept thinking of
Kim and remembering his many
little acts of kindness. How good
he had been and how manly.
There was a sharp shrek of the
whistle and the passengers were near.
~ thrown from their seats as the air
axes were suddenly thrown on.
Then there came a crash, and outside
the cries of excited men mingled with
the hiss of escaping steam. The pas.
scnlers hurriedly climbed out and
.raa forward A stock train had
broken truck and in stopping to re.
pair II had neglected to put out sig
mails to warn other trains that might
be approaching. The caboose was n
total wreck and the passenger engine
DdNlN udIluptu. l ne tram crews,
with the help of some of the passen.
gers, set to work at once to remove
The wreckage. Before they had gone
"a" they came upon a body OF man.
crushed and bleeding but still alive.
Carefully they cut away the timbers
that held him, and carried him out
and laid him on the grass. A we'll
meaning old gentleman attempted to
lead Nancy away from the gruesome
sight, but too late. She had recog.
nizcd the blood.stained features, and
with frightened sob she sprang for.
ward.
Jimmie" shs cried, as all unmnd.
ful of the wondering crowd she knelt
beside him and threw her arms about
his neck. Jimmie, don't you know
me-" Slowly the eyes opened and
the lips parted in a wavering smile
Tenderly she bent over and kissed
them. Il love you, Jimmie" she