The Cairo bulletin., 1907-06-17
THE BETTER
CHOICE
BY 9. v. Gregory

9 out there and run II Tor him mex
: year" He paused, but she did nc
9 reply
n "Well?" he asked at length
1T will be very good chance TO
I you"
5 And you?"
I'm getting on very well teachin
school"
But don't want you TO ,teacl
school, Nancy he pleaded. ''Thinl
how much nicer it would be 70 hay
, a little home OF our own
81 don't want home Of my own,
she replied, turning her head away.
"Haye you forgotten your promise? 2
; he asked, note of mingled pain ant
! surprise in his voice. ''You told mt
once you loved me-" There were
tears in her eyes as she looked al
him 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
! gesture. Il don't love you, Jimmie.
I've tried and tried, but can't. I
! don't believe | ever did" Mechanical
/ ly she drew off her ring and held it
out toward him. He made no move to
! take it. but rose abruptly and walked
over To the window For a long time
he stood there, gazing at the whirling
snowfakes outside, and when he
finally turned 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. steadring himself a moment be-
fore he spoke Think of these four
years, Nancy" he said These four
happy years. and that one particular
evening long ago when we were out
on the lake and the moonlight turned
the waves to ripping silver. Oh l
was happy then. II all seemed too
good To be true. To think that yon,
tho dearest girl Id all the world, had
promised to be mine and only mine.
1t seemed like a glorious dream. Yes,
it was dream, and | am just begin
ming to waken.' His voice broke ard
he buried his face in his hands.
Don't, Jimmie, please DON'T she
sobbed Don't you see that ! can't
help it, You'Il find some girl out
there, Jimmie. nicer and truer
girl than am
II never want to see another girl"
he replied ~Good-hy, Nancy. ! hope |
you'll be happy
In a moment he ,sas gone out into
the storm and darkness with an awful
loneliness freezing his very soul. and
back in the house a 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 erie by one 10 |
make room for the gorgeous colors Of |
autumn, Nancy had been attending |
summer school and was coming home |
again-home to the little white school |
house and the dear exasperating |
children. Somehow the thought of it |
did not awaken any of the old en-
thusiasm. She used to think she
loved to teach, but now--well she
was almost afraid she was beginning
to hate it. She kept thinking of
him and remembering his many
little acts of kindness. How good
he had been and how manly
There was sharp shrek of the
whistle and the passengers were near
y thrown from their seats as the air
brakes were suddenly thrown on
Then there came a crash. and outside
he cries OF excited men mingled with
he hiss of escaping steam The pas.
iengers hurriedly climbed out and
an forward A stock train had
lrokea truck and in stopping to re-
lair II had neglected TO put out sig
lals 70 warn other trains that might
ie approaching The caboose was a
otal wreck and the passenger engine
'adly damaged. The train crews.
With the help of some Of the passen-
,ers, set 10 work at once TO remove |
he wreckage before they had gone
ar they came upon a hody OF a man.
rushed and bleeding, but still alive.
carefully they cut away the timbers
hat held MIN, and carried him out
md laid him on the grass. A well
meaning old gentleman attempted to
cad Nancy away from the gruesome
light. but too late She had recog-
lied the blood-stained features. and
With a frightened sob she sprang for.
yard
"Jimniei" she cried, as all unmind.
vi of the wondering crowd she knelt
eside him and threw her arms about
lis neck Jimmie, don't you know
1e7" Slowly the eyes opened and
be lips parted in a wavering smile.
'endcrly she bent over and kissed
hem 4 love you. Jimmie" she
-hispered. I'm just beginning TO
sslize how much | do love Won.
cure not going 10 die. are YOU. Jim
lie7 You'll live Tor my sake. won't
QUIZ
Ills bruised face seemed almost
-ansfigured with happiness as he
odded silent assent And he did
We. though the doctors gave him up
lore than once. But Nancy's loving