Smyrna times., 1910-07-06
Her Choice.
BY ELIZABETH WADDELL.


please. Without scientific round
abouts-just conclusions. "
"My dear Mrs. Wortham. | regret
to say that-surgery-is unav old
able"
She studied the pattern of the Will
ton rug for long minute. "And
then?'
1.-The chances are all in your favor.
1t is an operation that is success
fully performed every day..
"And-the alternative, doctor?''
"Ah, that is not even to be thought
OFF,
"But please tell me, for l am
curious to known. How long-how
long should be likely to-
"My dear lady, could MT promise
you year.
GA year or even more would be
possible p
"Dear lady, this is proftless and
painful speculationr' but l in
sist. -
"With the best of care, two-yes.
l should say two years might be pos
sible."
i There was short, portentous sill
ence.
81 know, Doctor, that you have
always been Conservative in the
matter of decreeing the knife. -
"YOu are right, Mrs. Wortham. -
81 would particularly request you,
DR.. Breton, she said, after another
silence, nervously fastening and un-
fastening the clasp Of her glove.
mot to-mention this mater-to my
husband. "
But-how is it possible that he
should be kept in ignorance? The"
"Oh, that will be easily managed.
He goes to Europe this summer
for study, you know. l shall, of
course, 60, too, after a while. for
he expects It, an l shall like it of
all things. But, really, l have not
felt strong enough-and can easily
contrive an excuse to stay behind for
a short time. He need never know.
There is no need to worry him. -
Pardon me, Madam, | think there
is need. You will need the support
of his presence and sympathy more
than he needs to be spared the worry.
And i am very sure that would be
his own verdict. -
"Of course it would '''
Then let US not consider any other
course
But, Doctor Breton, l am seri-
ous' l wish to spare him. If you
knew his temperament-al the artist
so easily upsetn'
Pshaw. my child! | know Tom
well enough. He was man before
he was an artist. He doesn't want
to be paupered or babied or SPARED. ,
Why, he would never forgive you for
predicting such cowardice of him. >
"All the same, l shall risk it. -
She rose, with gesture of finalitv.
And you will accede to nv re-
ouest?'
But, my dear child
g. was your dear Mrs. Wortham
just nowl
but just now you are needing
advice"
- shall not take it. submit to
this operation OF my own terms or
not at ALL
"You understand, he said
gravely, "that was terribly in
earnest about it being necessary -"
''TO be sure -
60 do not understand your strange
mood. And as to sparing Tom-why
l met him on he street the other dav.
and thought then he had a spring to
his step, a swing to his shoulders and
sparkle to his eye that you don t
see once in meeting a thousand men.
Nerves, worries-Not a bit of itl
At least not more than other folks.
Why. Mrs. Wortham he looks so
cnlpper-sO young
Had he observed closely he would
have seen that the woman before him
WINGED. Il will be going now" she
said, gathering up her furs.
"Mrs. Workman, let me beg of
you not to procrastinate. -
Glow soon should it be?"
Within month, at the least. -
"And in the meantime-say for
one week-yOu promise not to tell
Tom"
why surely, might do so much
as that. -
"And if he says-no matter what
he says to you? may be compelled
to white-lie a little, you know p
every we'll, then." he replied, the
man in him beguiled by the beauty
of womanhood that pleaded for her.
"My conscience is elastic enough to
Il 49,