Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-04-21
HIS CHOICE
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS.

are bue." she opened her own brown
ones TO their widest and gave William
Davey glance through frlnged lashes
she paints-my, how that girl palnts!"
"Why, ] thought"
That's all you know about IL. them
she answered almost snappishly. And
Marcia's features aren't bit regular"
IL went into the library TO get
book l couldn't find and she showed
me just where IL was In the shelves
smart little thing" he said almost
TO himself.
"Of course, If Marcia was1s to work
place is at home; at least n girl of our
class" she said decisively.
Then she lookSh up at William
Davey and said, aren't you starved?
l am" a dimple thimble deep in her
curving cheek caught his eye and he
admitted To himself that Kitty was the
prettlest thing he knew.
He watched kitty's hands ms they
flew about the preparations, soft white
hands with pink oval nails. She light
ed the lamp under the chatting dish and
rang for Sarah. When Sarah came in
10 the room bearing a tray that held
cheese and butter and toast and tall
glasses, Williams eyes were again
fascinated by the skill and rapidity
OF those soft hands of Kitty's aS they
stirred the bubbling mess In the chatting
dish.
1t was a delicious rabbit and Kitty
and William laughed and chartered,
but underneath it all William was CON
scious Of discomfort that he could
not place.
When he had said good night and
the door had banged after him. Kitty
came back into the sitting room and
threw herself down angrily on the big
couch.
Fool" she cried TO the pillows.
Hes fool Why doesn't he pro
pose? l wouldn't even think of TAX
ing him If his father didn't own tie
Davey mills--old stupid"
"I'll soon make William stop living
fhe simple lfe After he marrics me
he'll have 10 give up that room over
shop on Fairview street and stop
being a workman In the mills" She
blew ont the candles beside the mir
rOr and climbed the stairs undoubtedly.
William Davey. walking home
through the darkness. was thinking of
Kitty-and thinking hard. glove. Mi
she was pretty. A bit ftighty. VI
course, and lots of notions. That about
not working. for instance. when her
father really needed her help
He thought Of Kitty again suddenly.
when he went into the library a few
nights later. returning the book on
merchants that he had been studying.
He remembered as he handed the book
across the counter to Marcia Haden
that Kitty had said her eyes were fad
ell Faded? He looked into their
translucent blue depths quite forgetful
Of what ne was doing until he saw
Marcia's cheeks begin 10 deepen their
rose. palnt?-no. Kitty was mistaken
there, Marcia didn't paint. Funny how
girls could get those things wrong.
Gould YOU show me-" he stumbled.
"whcre I'd find the second volume of
this?"
He followed her into one Of the long.
dusky. book-lined abysses while she
pointed ont the book sitting snugly on
It's shelf. She reached UP to It and as
she did William saw her profile, not
regular. but with certain piquancy.
a certain something that drew his eyes
back TO hers.
II say" he asked. "what time do
YOU get through here?"
at nine" she smiled ami William
wondered why two such simple words
should sound so charming. as there
anything else | can DO for you?"
YES. YOU can let me walk home with
YOU" he said.
She did not answer "yes" or mo"
but when at nine he stood waiting for
her, she smiled demurely up at him.
All the way home he caught glimpSes
OF her face beneath the lighted street
lamp; and as ut last she stood on her
own doorstep, with the yellow light
falling on her, he wondered why he
had never noticed her before.
But it was Marcia herself who star
tied him.
I'm leaving here in n month" she
said. 1--WE been offered n much better
position in Rockport." She held out
a bare hand and then as he took il in
his big one, she said, ooh. don't please.
don't look at II !" and drew back the
roughencd little hand.
you see my hands aren't soft he.
cause take care Of the stoves" she
said.
William suddenly saw another pair
Of hands, soft, white. with oval pink
nails; for some reason n curious lump
got IN the way of his talking.
"Good night" lie said at last.
Why was Ii that that small rough
hand should come before him again
and again on his way home? And
those expressive eyes, and a mouth
neither small nor bowshaped but gen.
tie In its curves? He let himself into
his own quaint chamber nj last and