The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-07
TIE D6lEL q
SHORT STORY.
A Disturbed Decision
By Il w. PEACH,

Marsh as he read and reread the
letter upon his desk. Beyond hts
windowS the white winter lay with
rs ancient triendllness over tho
Village square. His office was
coy and warm, but he shlyered.
The preceding evening he had
gone TO the little cottage at the end
Of the broad street wheres Avery
wells lived with her pleasauttaced
mother, and there. in the homellk9
quiet Of the cottage LIVING room, hoI
had looked into Ayery's dark eyes
and asked the question as hrayeIy
as he could, which she had answer.
ed in a whisper.
He had spent most OF the night
dreaming Ia his rooms building
castles. He loved tho village, and
the village people trusted him. His
future did mot promise glory and
gold, but Il did promise happiness
with Avery. to share It with him.
Aud nov, from beyond the grave
Brfnner had reached with bitter IN.
gennlty TO wreck dream he could
not share.
Marsh turned to the letter. I'll
was from a law. firm, In Philadel
phia ttEsaid in precise phrases that
Edgar Brtnner had died, that inl
his VIII q bequest OF 100000 was
made to Miss Avery Wells, that thu
firm wished him to take charge Of
the matter, 10 notify Miss Wells
hiniselt as the will directed.
Something Of an idealIst, YET
practical in his acceptance of facts
he knew that as far as the was con.
eetned two things were plain: he
could not marry Avery II she &C.
cepted this money bequeathed to
her by his old and bitter rival; yet
that sum OF money meant for her
and her mother independence and
comfort, the removal OF worry, aft.
e. long years OF severe and frugal
living. It meant for them bright
future which he could not ofierl
them, u
Skinner" Marsh said bit sad.
~ you knew finally that She
loved me. You were soured and
emhittered by her decision. You
knew I could not marry her II n
were 20 see, everywhere the thing
your money made possible. How
You made that money I know, and
i smells, but can't tell her that
Iwonder what you want in willing
that ] was to notify her, that was
10 take charge OF the iund| He
thought a moment, then leaned
back With low mutter. 1T would
be easy--forge her name, and sInca
am TO notify her and don't, II
could keep that money. ! wonder
itsyou wanted to tempt me TO tryi
ie thing he was sure Of: iiI
AT ty knew how he felt, she would
not accept tho bequest, and her
own sense would make her accept,
apce OF Il impossible :; Init therll
was her duty, to: her mother, whose
years had been hard and laborlous
ones, while Wells was building up
his little business. That was al
duty 10 consider. Then, too, March
reasoned, u cannot ask her to give
the fortune upS and Brinner knew
j would not Funny, how a dead
man In his grave can tangle up the
living
Under theistress of his suffering
memories, his thinking became a
bit hay. hut he came to a decision.
He heard the 1lngllng sleighbells.
the hearty greetings as med came
into the postoffice below him; faint
as they were they were clear
enought TO make him think OF the
Wholesome, friendly life OF his vii
iage. With the thought came his
decision; he would leave. A friend
~ q northern city had written to
him repeatedly to join him where
opportunity was wide and money
ready. He would go, refuse to as.
sumo charge OF the fund and shut
the door quietly but firmly IN his
little house. Of. dreams.
"a week passed. He did not sec
Avery, and pleaded as San excuse
that he was very busy. He was-in
the grfevous business Of slowly sun.
dering all ties that bound MIN TO
The home Of his boyhood and his
manhood.
Sometimes he was doubtful Of
tie wisdom Of his purpose, at times
when, his great longing for Avery
broke through the barriers his
Judgment had set, at times when
thedream castles doomed SO hrigh.
~ on the hills that they seemed al.
most real. But over and anon heI
returned once more to his decision.
Then came tho incident that
clidched the matter, a friend had
come In, his voice athrill with the
news. tfDlck, what do You think?
Rfinner has left Avery 100000!
What makes you start? The news3
] should think It would. And, say,
Avery is going to accept e"
..No!"
II stopped in to get her to sing
at the church fair, and she told me
about it-said she. would. She was
happy as lark over It" His
friends face grew sober. II sup<
pose this will make little differ.
epceswith you, but not serious" II
ssSefious!" Marsh laughed hI.
terly, his mind whirling at the
athought OF her acceptance round
lid round. BE had hoped in 81
dim way she would refuse the
money. Serious? No, except II
nm now closing my work. I'm go.
ing TO leave the village for good!"
The realization dawning upoR
him that he had given himself
away under the strain. he swore
his friend 70 silence. aud he heard
his pounding down the stairs, NUT
tefing as he went.
He turned to his desk, Dusk
came down over the village with
is suggestion Of peace; the home.