St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1918-01-11
Picking the
Better Man
A Thrilling Episode Enabled
Polly to Decide.
BY AGNES C. BROGAN.


tall and straight as an arrow, cool
Of disposition, never fustered, while
/ was not only full of whims, but
impulsive and never certain Of do
ing the right thing at the right
time.
l had known him since | was a
little girl and had always looked up
to him as something too far above
such a chit as /. Cyril Marston |
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.
Ny uncle-my dear uncle who
loved me as his own chiId-was with
me, or, rather, was under his care,
and / knew he was watching me.
knowing that had two strings to
my bow. ] tried to get out Of him
which was his choice, but he would
not tell me. have since known
that he preferred TO leave il to me
10 choose instinctiyoly the better
man.
My uncle badc me goodby as /
stood on the steps Of the summer
hotel. "Havc good time, Polly"
he said ut parting, "and may the
best man win
laughed, but my face flushed
hotly, and when uncle had gone I
sat there upon the vcranda think
ing things over. You see. David
had been asking me 10 marry him
both in and out of season for long
time, but why hurry 10 decide so
important question. for David
would always be- waiting patient and
faithful. immoynhlc as the sphinx
So through this one long sum
mcr vacation at least ! determined
10 think no more Of the ycxing qucs-
tion Of marrying or giving in mar
riagc. and then Cyril Marsdcn ap.
pcarcd on the scene.
IL was very gratifying. | must adj
NIT, to be- the one chosen above all
Others by man ~ greatly admired,
and we were soon jolly good COM
panions, hc'and |. always enjoying
together the little excursions and
fetes which the guests had planned.
Then one day David came. II
startled me. and ! said; what
You hcrcy"
"Ycs," he answered quietly, 1T il
1. You do not seem pleased to see
me. Poilyg"
III l had known that YOU were
coming" | answered ilippnntly, II
would have met YOU with brass
band. As il is
Dayid's face grew very stern.
"Ycs," he said qucstioningly, "as il
ny"
81 have made another engage
ment for this Afternoon" | finished.
David studied mo rcproyingly.
"Thcn. Polly" he uid slowly, II
will not stay to interrupt your
plans"
His glance followed mine down
the roadway. whore Cyril Marsdcn
came swinging along, locking very
handsome in his yachting ianncls.
David barely acknowledged tho
introduction as presented the two
men, but Cyril was charming aud
gracious as ever aud thoughtfuny
invited David to accompany us on
our pleasure trip-an invitation
which was curtly refused.
"Goodby, Polly" David said in a
low voice. II think that under,
stand everything now"
That summer upon the lake shoce
was one round of gaycty, hut | did
not see or hear from David again.
II was after We had returned 10
the city that Cyril disappointed my |
summer time friends by proving |
that upon his part ut least ours had
not been an idle Irritation. for lac /
asked that world old question, and, I
listening, | thrilled at the beauty of 4
his language.
He had driven mo about IN his
electric as ! shoppcd one glorious
morning, and We stopped to dine at |
a restaurant on the ninth Goor of %
great department store building.
IL was when We had settled our
selves IN a secluded corner that nav
rowing eyes fell upon David. Re /
had evidently finished his meal aud 1
was leaning back YEARLY
How white and thin he looked |
Working steadily an summer with !
out rest OF recreation had been toS
hard on him
The pianist began 10 play sWmc-
thing weird and sad, and the violin
joined in sobhingy looked down
upon my corsagc bouquet Of white
Siolets tied with silkcn cord, and /
resentment rose within me nj the I
thought that with all his umcasing
labor David could not hope TO buy /
the yiolets which Cyril bestowed so.
Iayishly.
Then above the hum Of conyersa-
tion, even above the crash Of the
Deafness Cannot BE Cured 4
y local applications as hry cannot roach