The Wrangell sentinel., 1919-09-18
HER DECISION By JOHN GREGORY.

ter. junior partner of the firm for which she was stenographer was as unexpected as the one of that morning from Harry Marvin. son of the senior partner, also employed in the office.
 'Tll have to tell you what I told Harry this morning when he asked me the same question, Jack" Pearl said after Jack had made his declaration. "1 cannot decide until have had time to think 1t over. have never thought of either of you as anything but very dear friends, but see now that must decide between you or reject both. Please, Jack, give me two weeks and l will promise you whatever way I de- eide l will always count you as one of my very best and closest friends"
 Harry Is one of my best friends, and I am sorry that we have both de- cided upon you as the only woman.' Your decision must bring unhappiness to one of us, and If I am to be the lucky one my sympathy will go out to him, and I know that If It is reversed he will feel the same way about 1t toward me-" Jack answered as he pre- pared to leave. Tn the meantime if you decide. don't keep us in suspense the full time."
 After Jack had left Pearl sat down and tried to compare the two men whose happiness she held in her hands.
 Harry Marvin was bright. reckless fellow, with not q care in the world, pleasure seeker, generous to his friends and general good fellow.
 Jack Porter was of a very different makeup. He seemed to get more of the real things out of life. He looked on life little too seriously, perhaps He never made a loan or showed gen erOsity toward one unless he was sat isfied that one was deserving and in need.
 The days passed quickly and Pearl found her two weeks almost up. She had not come to her decision yet. She found it next to impossible to choose between the two men.
 She was sitting at her desk, absent mindedly picking at the keys of her typewriter, her thoughts on the decis- ion she had to make before the end of the week. She had almost decided to tell them she could not marry either of them and make them both unhappy, when the office door was pushed open and shut with bang, and Harry Mar wins laugh drew the attention of the whole office staff to the door where he fa ndi diyln Ntrtyh p.t fl, f.,an that told them all he had joke on someone to tell. They crowded around him, eager to hear what it was.
 "It's the best joke yeti" he ap- nOunced. Jack and I were on our way here, were just crossing the street by the park when an old dame with arms full of bundles was nearly run over by an auto. She was frightened nearly to death and looked as if she was going to keel over. I knew she would be all right in a minute, but Jack caught hold of her and led her to seat in the park. He fused over her as if she was his grandmother, and crowd collected. She was such seedy-looking old person I got out of the way as quickly as I could When I was about a block away I looked back. and if there wasn't Jack coming along the sidewalk with the old coun- trified lady on one arm and her bundles under the other. It looked too funny for anything.
 The others joined in Harry's laugh, all except Pearl. Somehow the humor of the incident did not strike her. What if It had been her little mother, safe home in the country?
 AS Pearl settled down to her work again she found it hard to keep her mind of the scene Harry had de- scribed. As she heard the outer door open she turned eXpectantly, then jumped up in delight.
 Mother" she cried, as she ran to the little old lady who was standing in the doorway. "Mother mine, what are you doing here, darling?" She had the little person in her arms and was kissing her wrinkled cheeks again and again, unmindful of the fact that Jack was standing behind her mother and the whole office staff was staring in their direction.
 "Is this your mother Pearl? I'm so glad '" Jack said.
 "This young man has been so kind to me, dear,' her mother said at the sound of his voice. T nearly met with an accident and he assisted me here."
 Pearl was radiant. "Thank you so much, Jack. Mir. Marvin told us of the narrow escape, but I had no idea 1t was mother"
 Her mother was still little daZed. ''Thank this young man for me, Pearl; I have been so nervous I have not done so." she said with slight auiyer in her voice.
 "I have already done so, mother and know you will be glad when tell you this young man, who has been so kind to you, is Jack Porter, the man am soon to marry"
 "Is that really your decision, PearlP" Jack asked eagerly.
 Yes Jack, dear, 1t is," she answered and waS glad thp others hoard