The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1917-10-18
Picking the
Better Man
4 Thrilling Episode Enabled
Polly to Decide.
By AGNES c. BROGAN.

| l snail never 1OrSeL lnaC SUMMER,
the most important season Of my
life. David was then twenty-five,
tall and straight as an arrow, cool
of disposition, never fustered, while
I was not only full of whims, but
impulsive and never certain of do
ing the right thing at the right
time.
I had known him since was
little girl and had always looked up
to him as something too far above
such a chit as I. Cyril Marston l
did not meet till that eventful sum-
mer, but as soon as he saw me it
was plain that / had made an i'm
preston.
Nv uncle-my dear uncle who
loved me as his own child-was with
me, or, rather, was under his care,
and l knew he was watching me,
knowing that had two strings to
my bow. l tried to get out of him
which was his choice, but he would
not tell me. l have since known
that he preferred to leave it to me
to choose instinctively the better
man.
Ny uncle bade me goodby as I
stood on the steps of the summer
hotel. "Have a good time, Polly"
he said at parting, "and may the
best man win"
1 laughed, but my face flushed
hotly, and when uncle had gone |
sat there upon the veranda think
ing things over. You see, David
had been asking me to marry him
both in and out of season for long
time, but why hurry to decide so
important a question, for David
would always be waiting patient and
faithful, immovable as the sphinx.
So through this one long sum-
mer vacation at least l determined
to think no more of the vexing ques-
ton of marrying or giving in mar
riage, and then Cyril Marsden ap-
peared on the scene.
1t was very gratifying, I must ad-
nit, to be the one chosen above all
others by man 80 greatly admired,
and we were soon jolly good COM
panions, he and I, always enjoying
together the little excursions and
fetes which the guests had planned.
Then one day David came. 1t
startled me, and 1 said: "What!
You here"
eyes," he answered quietly, cit is
I. You do not seem pleased to see
me, Pollv?'
"If I had known that you were
coming" l answered flippantly, II
would have met You with brass
band. As it is"-
David's face grew very stern.
eyes" he said questioningly, "as it
is?"
"I have made another engage
ment for this Afternoon" I finished.
David studied me reprovingly.
"Then, Polly" he said slowly, M
will not stay to interrupt your
plans"
His glance followed mine down
the roadway, where Cyril Marsden
came swinging along, looking very
handsome in his yachting flannels.
David barely acknowledged the
introduction as 1 presented the two
men, but Cyril was charming and
gracious as ever and thoughtfully
invited David to accompany us on
our pleasure trip-an invitation
which was curtlv refused.
"Goodbv, Polly" David said in a
low voice. Il think that l under
stand everything now"
That summer upon the lake shore
was one round of gayety, but l did
not see or hear from David again.
It was after we had returned to
the city that Cyril disappointed my
summer time friends by proving
that upon his part at least ours had
not been an idle Irritation, for he
asked that world old question, and,
listening, I thrilled at the beauty OF
his language.
He had driven me about in his
electric as l shopped one glorious
morning. and We stopped to dine at
a restaurant on the ninth floor OF a
great department store building.
It was when we had settled our
selves in a secluded corner that my
rowing eyes fell upon David. He
had evidently finished his meal and
was leaning back YEARLY.
How white and thin he looked!
Working steadily all summer with
| ,,,4 ,os{ or -ooroarion had heen too