The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-12-30
A Late Choice
~ OTII-lIA r PFEIFFER

a lsse xssasFa .saapas@f ulaH.f
Well I've met my fatei- aunooneed
clyde Martin. and his close friend sns
chosen shum looked Interested
"And aho may the favored lady be
prayf" Intercepted the latter
4 thought she was Patty the PastrJ
Cook at first found out later that
she was Miss Patricia Elsden; ms
family. some means-s real charity
worker: loves children. and that "a
the keynote 20 the entire situation.
4 hardly understand" submitted the
other In a puzzled WAY
+ "well you know my rich brother
f Ronald when our sister died he took
4 charge Of her three children. About
six months ago Ronald offered me 3
home and an income II would marry
some worthy girl, as he put H. who
would become sort Of mother 20 the
+ children I've been away ever since
until last week. Came back 10 step
f into a pretty little restaurant near the
+ nurses school"
81 know OF it--home cooking and
/ all that Co on with your story"
There. past TIE tables within the
food room was the daintiest, most ex-
quisite young lady ! ever saw. She
seemed 10 be directing LOT Of able
assistants although befloured and
aproned and brisk. ate three pieces
OF cherry pie Just 10 keep my place
where could see her. Then ! wsltef
around outside. In about an hour, ele-
gantly attired. she came out and was
whirled away I'm luxurious limousine"
"Ah! You found out that she wss
simply training the girls AZ the res
taurant"
That's It."
And then"
'T felt that ] couldn't resist her
You know Ned Archer Well, he has
secured me an invitation 10 a function
where Miss Elsden will be tomorrow
evening Then I shall see her"
"And. / suppose, the usual topo-
graphical points Of our romantic vii
lage covered Lovers Lane 'Cupld's
Crossroads Honeymoon Hlghwaysy "
"No. shan't daily. like her she
may like me. Wedding, home, income
and everything settled for life" spoke
the self-suficient Clyde
His companion babe him adieu, hut
glanced after him with n queer express
sion on his face
81 wonder that Clyde hasn't heard.
It's common gossip" he soliloquized.
"Oh. welll Live and learn"
Now what had happened was that
Ronald Martin had evoke up He
was tired Of the ways Of spoiled, s0r-
did and selfish Clyde He was wor
rled because there was no one in the
house to award 70 the three little chill
dren the love and care they deserved.
During the absence Of his brother,
Ronald had been induced by some
friends 10 attend some social gather
ings. He was a courtly and hand
some man and he realized that he
looked t. The thought had suddenly
come TO him: why not anticipate the
dllatory Clyde and himself find mother
and friend for the little onesl
There was great crush at the so
cial function where Clyde expected to
meet his friend and receive an intro
ductlon TO Miss Elsden.
As fate would have II, his friend
was detained from the function
through Illness. Clyde Toasted his eyes
on peerless Patty at distance. Wan
dering about the conservatory, he was
fully amazed to come across his broth |
er Ronald arrayed as the best OF them, |
and an unusual smile OF satisfaction |
on his usually serious face.
"Well. ! never expected to meet you |
here" Clyde expressed himself with a |
bluntless devoid OF any delicacy.
"why notr' challenged Ronald i'm
perturbably.
81 thought You had eschewed fash.
ions follies.-
"Have your
"No. but--er-I say. Ronald. you look
young and full of life. How long has
this been going orr
"Since you deserted me and showed
no inclination to provide our three lit
tie ones with n mother"
"You are mistaken" spoke Clyde hur>
riedly. I'm ready. That is, | have
selected my bride that is to be-"
as It possible7"
'Yes. DO you notice that being Of
beauty near the pianor
syou moan Miss Patricia FIaden -
Intercepted Ronald.
"Oh You know herr
"Yes. have met her several times
lately"
well. am going 20 make up 10 her.
All need is an Introduction"
II can serve you there" observed
Ronald a queer twinkle in his eve.