Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-02-04

Pauline rose impatiently from the
great davenport. Why should 1t be
SO difficult to make a decision? Sure
ly she could not love two men equal
ly well? She could be happy with
one, of that she was sure, bat, alas,
Jim's voice had great power to thrill
herl
The sound of his step on the stair
could cause her. heart to beat suffo-
catingly. Last night, at the country
club dance, both men had asked the
right to place on the third finger Of
her left hand the shining circlet which
means but one thing. She thought
whimsically that 1t was unfortunate
that she could marry but one.
The girl was no coquette. She In
stinctively shrank from the thought
Of bringing unhappiness to anyone. But,
which one should she marry7 Chan
ming was coming this afternoon for
his answer, and she was no nearer to
knowing what that answer was to be
than she had been the night before.
Restlessly she wandered from room
to room, readjusting a chair here, O
curtain there. She moved across the
room 10 the window. There she stood
watching the children who were slid
ing on the Icy walk. Their hearty
laughter rang through the clear, frosty
air, and Pauline smiled In ready sym
patty. She would have liked to have
joined In their sport.
A familiar figure rounded the corner
and she caught her breath. 1t was
Jim Oh, surely he wasn't coming TO
see her now Surely he must remem-
Der that he was not to come until
evening" He must not be. there when
Charming arrived Hastily she rang
for her maid. -.
Hester" she said, IL am at home
to no one but Mr.. Claiming"
"Very well, Miss Pauline" 9
The girl turned again to the window.
The man was rapidly approaching the
UOuJC uDN SliE AOlCu WALL u 3ClApbNOL
pleasure the air Of distinction about
him. She remembered how proud she
had been of her handsome escort last
night. Claiming was a dear, but he
lacked the assurance, the clever wit
that made the other mar stand out
from his fellows. A wave of pity swept
over her, and instantly she knew that
she had made a decision. She was
sorry for Charming because she must
hurt him by marrying Jimf 4a i
AS the hurrying maj reached the
stone steps one Of the children, with
a squeal of pure Joy, sid. along the
sidewalk and lost her balance directly
before Jim. Pauline, watching from
the window, could not suppress her
laughter. The dignifed james, Of all
people, to be sitting, crimson with
embarrassment, on an Icy sidewalk
directly before her house! A mo-
ment later her mirth changed to con-
sternation, then quickly to anger, for,
having struggled to his feet, Jim had
seized the innocent cause of his ig-
nominous tumble and was energeti-
cally shaking her.
snow run home, every one of YOU"
he cried furiously, and like frightened
rabbits the children scurried around
Pauline held her breath as she
watched him straighten his hat, glance
furtively and somewhat sheepishly at
the windows, then stride up the steps.
"0h, l hope Hester remembers" she
whispered, as she drew back still fur
Their from the curtained window. II
never want to see him againl That
poor little girl"
She heard the door open, then close,
and Jim went slowly down the
steps again. She felt no thrill now as
she watched him In d half panic
stricken way she was thinking, And
I might have married q man who didn't
like childreni"
AS the minutes went slowly by. she
began to fear that Chanting, too,
might fail her. At last he came, but
not exactly as she had expected him,
for he almost-no, actually--rushed
into the room, holding In his arms q
child whose 'grubby fists were making
strange, marks on a tear-wet face.
II knew you wouldn't mind II !
brought the little shaver In. Pauline"
was Ghannings greeting. "You see"
he burst into q hearty laugh I'VE had
a little mix-up on the ice, and when
We got u~ntangled this chap seemed to
be on the casualty HIST, ! thought some
~witchhazel insight fix him UP. all right"
With shining eyes, Pauline ran up
stairs for the bottle, and together they
bathed the bruises. Soon the child
slipped of Cummings knee. II gotta
go home now. he announced. A mo-
ment later, with a slice Of cake in each
hand, he was ushered tremendously
out the front door. = s
Pauline turned to Charming. II
think you are the incest man | ever
knew she exclaimed.
why, Pauline" stammered the sur
prlsed Charming, DO you-will you
that Is, may T.
'%'Yes,l' interrupted the girl, with a
happy laugh, Il do, and will, and you
1 =, ~ ~rf-tt ~