The Green Forest tribune., 1907-05-24
THE BETTER CHOICE
By c. V. Gregory

| Nancy" he said, leaning forward ex- | pectantly. She raised her eyes ques- | tioningly.
 Fathers bought farm in Dakota, | he went on, and he wants me to go out there and run it for him next year" He paused, but she did not reply.
 "Well?" he asked at length.
 'It will be a very good chance for you"
 And you?"
 'Im getting on very well teaching school"
 But I don't want you to teach school, Nancy" he pleaded. Think | how much nicer it would be to have a little home Of our own | T don't want home of my own" she replied turning her head away.
 Have you forgotten your promise?" he asked, note of mingled pain and surprise in his voice. You told me once you loved me There were tears in her eyes as she looked at him imploringly.
 .I know l promised Jimmie,' she said, but I was young then and scarcely realized what it meant"
 But, Nancy"
 She checked him with an appealing gesture. T don't love you, Jimmie. I've tried and tried, but 1 cant. don't believe I 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 snowflakes outside, and when he 1 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, steadying 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. I was happy then. It all seemed too | good to be true. To think that you, | the dearest girl in all the world had l promised to be mine and only mine. It seemed like glorious dream. Yes it was dream. and I am jus: begin ming to waken" His voice broke and he buried his face in his hands.
 Don't, Jimmie, please don't she sobbed. Don't you see that I can't help it? You'll find some girl out there Jimmie, nicer and a truer | girl than I am
 T never want to see another girl" he replied. "Good-by, Nancy, I hope | you'll be happy"
 | In moment he was gone out into | the 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 it's sleet and snow had gone, and the beautiful summer flowers were fading one by one to make room for the gorgeous colors of l 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 shriek of the whistle and the passengers were near | ly thrown from their seats as the air brakes 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 sengers hurr1edly climbed out and ran forward. A stock train had broken truck and in stopping to re- pair it had neglected to put out sig nals to warn other trains that might be approaching. The caboose was a total wreck and the passenger engine badly damaged. The train crews, with the help of some of the passen- | gers, set to work at once to remove the wreckase. Before they had gone far they came upon body of a 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. we'll meaning old gentleman attempted to lead Nancy away from the gruesome sight, but too late. She had recog- nized the bloodstained features, and with frightened sob she sprang for ward
 "Jimmie!" she cried, as all unmind- full 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 wavering smile. Tenderly she bent over and kissed them. T love you, Jimmie, she whispered. I'm just beginning to realize how much l dc love you. You're Rot going to die, Are you, Jim mic? You'll live for my sake, won't you?"
 His bruised face seemed almost transhgured with happiness as he nodded silent assent And he did live, though the doctors gave him up more than once. But Nancy's loving care was rewarded at last and he be- gan to improve slowly, though it was months before he was entirely we'll. Nancy never went back to teaching school, but if you should ever happen to go out to certain part of South l DoLoto vou would find hor op.a Vs,-,