The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-03-03
Fiction
A White Mans Choice.
BY MARTHA NC. WILLIAMS.

In the mind Of Brush Greek, Jimmy
had but two redeemIng qualities One
was being his father's son, the other
that he had wit enough to love his ia
theirs ward, Cressy Oliphant
Upon summer morning Cressy
called to him over her shoulder: Jim
my, do come onl You are the slowest
old thingl An you know hate man
or horse without lots Of go!7
They were riding uphill. Cressy's
whiplash whined accompaniment to
her words Jimmy had a talent for
saying nothing Still, as he came with
in easy hail he piped amiably, "Cress,
l been wonderin' all this mornln' II
you won't never learn better'n to gal
lop horse uphill"
1--WE been wonderin' II you Will
ever learn anything" Cressy retorted.
slashing savageiy at a near bush.
Jimmy opened his eyes. "Whut's the
matter, cross catr' he asked. "You
come ridin' with me-nobody didn't
make you--an' I've let you pick your
own road an go your own gait"
"If you've tired of me I'll go on by
myself" Cressy said irritably, half
wheeling her horse.
Jimmy kept beside her. "You needn't
try to run away from me-" he said II
been KNOWN all the way you felt bad.
an reckon know whut about"
"You don't. What is it7" Cressy an
swered all in breath.
Jimmy laughed TRANQUILITY. Il fetch
ed you letter yistiddy evenin'-a let
ter frum Charley"
What business have you to know
that" Cressy demanded. Hes COM
In today. That's why I am runnin'
away"
"Ef he pesters you I'll make him 20
right back" Jimmy said promptly;
then Ills face fell "But itn be sorter
awkward. Old Charles is all the own
cousin I've got. .Pappy an nanny
think nigh as much Of him as they do
OF me-"
"You ought to hate him. Why don't
your" Cressy demanded.
Jimmy stared.
Hate him!" he repeated slowly. "why
should hate him? He can't help bein'
whut he is--smart an bright an good
lookin'-no moreh / can help bein'
whut am"
And whut is that9" Cressy asked
crlsply.
Jimmy drew a deep breath.
"a born fool" he said hunbly. 'But
l got sense enough to know It. All 1
can do is TO be real white man, an
II nin't white to hate Char-anybody
better off," 'r"
''You are worse than a born fool-a
made one" Cressy cried passlonately.
"An' you won't stand up for yourself.
You won't even say you love me. You
drive me to tell you / know it,
you can't help but know It," Jimmy
broke in. "You been KNOWN It ever
sence you were knee high, | been fool
enough to think sometimes maybe you
might fetch yourself to take mean
the place.
'T do love-the place." Cressy inter-
rupted, smile dawnlng in her stormy
eyes. can 1t has belonged TO the Mar
ions ever sence the Indians went
away"
81 know" Jimmy said wlstfully, "but
don't LET that bother you. Cress. There's
jest us two of the name-Charles an
me. You needn't never leave-the place
mo matter whut happens" Then per-
suasiyely, "Let us leave all this talk
until next year"
Charley is not so patient" Cressy
said, swallowing hard. HE insists
on definite answer today"
'T lay he don't get it-not until you
are good an ready" Jimmy said, with
a quick smile, patting her hand, Then
he ran on haltlngly. "Cressy, / love you
all know how, but don't you let that
count if-if you love-anybody else"
They were nearing roadside gate.
AS Cressy went through It she said,
with her head very high: go home,
Jimmy, an give Charley his answer.
Tell him l don't know, an l don't
want to know"
AS Jimmy went up the walk he saw
his mother at the sitting room win
dow, very white and moaning family.
He rushed inside. His father met him,
all his hale ruddiness changed to ash
en- gray. Charley had come and sat at
Squire Marions desk. bis pen racing
over a sheet Of legal cap. Without
looking up he called; Saddle me a
fresh horse, Jimmy, the best you've
got. The minute this is signed must
ride Ike the devil"
"Whut's up?7 Jimmy demanded. His
father clutched his shoulder, leaned
heavily upon 1t and gasped: "Son, son,
we're on the edge OF ruin! Charley
found out early this mornln' that GIL
Magee had run away with all the
county money! An me on HIS bond
for $50,O0O / trusted Gin like my
own brother"
There, there, Uncle Jim" Charley
interposed. Walls have ears some
times, and we must not leave one
loophole IN this precious document.
It's deed Of gift. Jimmy. Uncle Jim
makes over TO you everything
money stock and crops"
"Whut fori" Jimmy asked, his eyes