Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-03-13
The Choice

over ILle Dlue waters Ol Tue TdCluC.
Less than a mile away the smoke
curled upwards from the fishing town
of Kakiak, and far away to the east
ward, across the shimmerng stretches
Of the strait, rose in dim grandeur
the glaciers and snow-clad mountains
of the mainland
Close at hand the wide fields were
green with high meadow grasses.
where the cattle grazel in blissful
peace, unheeding the golden beauty
of the daisies, the sapphire grace OF
the blue bells, and the dainty bushes
of the wild roses, making rich riot
of color and perfume. For this Is the
warm garoen of that chill north coun-
try-a bit of the gracious southland
that nature has transplaated to these
islands of the sea, and carefully nur-
lures Ind blesses with warm ocean
currents, sunny skies and soft breezes.
Strang frowned impatiently at his
thoughts, and turned on the threshold.
He stepped to the low carved mantel
and took in his hands the photograph
Of fair-faced girl. Her eyes smiled
straight into his sombre ones, but
still unsmiling he laid the picture
down and tramped restlessly back and
forth, the frown on his forehead
growing ever deeper.
He needed no visible reminder of
the face into which he had looked
that afternoon when Lolita the daugh-
ter of the white superintendent Of the
canneries by his Aleut wife, had walk
ed beside him on the shore
There had been a short, perilous
moment when he had caught her in
his arms to save Ter from the unsus-
pected Quicksana that had sucked
her feet downward. But in that brief
instant her arms had held him tightly
and he had seen in her dark eyes a
strange light that told its tale Of
warning.
The girl was young and utterly
unlearned. Her slim, supple girlhood
appealed to him, and she had become
a part of the free, open-air life he
had led for two years. But Brenton
Strang was a true man at heart, and
he faced his problem with unflinching
candor.
half Indian and almost wholly pagan
with her passionate love of nature
in the wild northern land; should he
bring her into his home which he had
builded with the thought of another
woman always in his heart, and so
settle down to the vast farming life
that opened before him?
Or should he go back to civilization
2 and to the girl whose face watched
him from the simple gold frame? She
belonged to the life behind him, her
dainty, almost fragile beauty found
It's rightful setting In the luxury to
which she had been born. And yet!
There had been a time-two short
weeks of camp life-when they had
lived very near to the heart of the
world. and the uays had glided by in
the deep and true channels of life,
He looked around his empty home,
picturing her there, as he had so often
done. Not until this hour had he
realized how closely he had wrought
the thought of her into his life.
Three months before he had writ.
ten her of his decision to remain per.
manently at Kadiak, save for an oc'
casional winter in the South. The
old life which they had known togeth'
er had lost it's grip upon him, and the
new, broader, saner life held him fast
He needed her and so he had told her
at the same time leaving her free to
\ choose.
Weeks had passed and no word had
come and his heart and lone were
very lonely Lolita's youth charmed
and tempted him, but the love of the
other woman still filed his soul.
Again he took u the picture and
studied its silent beauty.
Virginia" he whispered, why have
you deserted me, when ] love you SOP
The face of the Indian girl had van
ished from his heart, and the fail
Southern woman reigned supreme
once more. With grave tenderness he
kissed the sweet lips and spoke to hel
again.
1T shall be the best or nothing
dear" he told her, and placed the lit
tie frame on the shelf.
Then he went to the open door, ant
his eyes dwelt sadly and calmly OF
the glory of the scene before him
Suddenly he saw woman's figure
coming swiftly along the road from
Kadiak.
His breath came fast, his pulses
bounded, then his heart stood still
with great joy. He brushed his hant
acr h'' eyer "a If to sweep ava.
ii.
Bul the reality of his hope wal
drawing near, for he beheld Virgins
coming toward him. half-running. he
cheeks glowing above her dark furs
her lips parted eagerly, and her gra.
eyes alight.
He dashed toward her with out
stretched arms.
Virginia, Virginia" he repeate,
over and over again and even sh
wondered at the solemn tenderness O
his voice
tA a.