The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-21

SHORT q DRY:
The Divided Road
BY a. w. PEACH

By a. w. PEACH
Her bright head held proudly
high, Valerie swept gracefully into
the chair opposite her father. Her
deep-blue poo1-lfke eyes were
bright with inner fire
Father, can you imagine?
Nelson has really made up his
mind to practice medicine in that
little town OF Royton. Think OF
it," she ended with a tone APP
preaching anger That old rag
bag Of a doctor Of yours is to
blame simply can't go there"
M Bronson smiled as he laid
down his paper. but there was a
faint sadness in his smile. My
dear, you and Nelson are unlucky
Nj en- ough to love each other. He Is
1T un1ucky enough to have in him a
desire to be OF service where most
q men don't care to be-and where
you d on't want to go. ] am afraid
h my old friend. Doc Barnt wants
B y elson to take over his practice.
.'Ye s. But think what future
Nelson would have in this city
And think how nice it would be
e Tor you-good times without end
i lass, now it appeals 70 you; but ]
t00d "duGFIo IA &c .ot 49, "
h another.aIho hope you will follow him
ssLo his field Of service i'll the small
You know from Royton he
#ean serve wide countryside-be
an angel of mercy where these
young doctors don't seem to want
ito go nowadays!
-.Angel!" Valerie repeated with
sniff Of her Grecian nose 1T
sounds pretty. but it doesn't appeal
ito me. / have made ny my mind; II
he doesn't love me enough to stay
where want to stay he'll go out
to the COWS and crossroads without
n me
" Valerie heard her fathers exclam
alton as she rush out at the sound
" of firm steps on the walk outside.
Two minutes later she was looking
up from Nelson's arms into his
clean-cut, tender face. Swiftly she
asked him about his decision.
< Quietly he answered.
Eyes. We are going 10 Boyton.
Z honey. J have worked hard and
amy knowledge can be of wide use
there. I know what it means
long, hard drives, hard work, but
Barnes Is too old and he wants
Sms to take over his practice; but
gMe'll have the fun OF living where
men know each other as they do
lin small town.
She backed away from him:
you will give up money and
4%think!"
His eyes searched hers with
keen purpose. 81 see you don't
want to go. 1 had not thought you
smight disapprove. n He was silent
Kin thought for a moment Then,
5sw eetheart, this is where the ROAD
divides. am hungry to use my
Slife for service; money and fame
care nothing aout-l
And you care nothing aoou.
s:ne!' Even as she spoke ste
4gualiec before the deep hurt In
..You know l do" he said gently,
s"But my decision is made.
Ie- dark eyes famed. And so
Ms mine; if you go. you go Withou
There was a moment OF CULVER
stirg silence between them she
heard as in a dream his serere
SYords: -,
#b5!,. - (. clos
@tnz door-the sound many heart
has heard. shutting on dreams and
homes forever. She listened mo
5ment with strained attention, tura'
IA her head to the chair back, ana
vent a bit: then, rousins hersel
with determination. went in to her
4 father with the announcement ae
! ibid not look at her
"Don,t you think he is foolish!
T Ave YOU one OF those foolish ideal
lists. too?" she asked with some
heat.
learn, but believe In letting you
learn it. This old world owes lot
Ito your foolish fdealists! was ms
brief reply.
U again. She learned that he had
5cfosed his hospital work and hal
s. zone Then word came from DR..
@Rarnes through her father to her.
Ne1son was taking the burden
{ sp1endidly from the old physicians
sShou1ders. Nelson 1t was who faced
The long night drives into the hills
Where some suffering mother or
skathar or child needed him in soms
lonely farmhouse back on the dis.
sstant roads. He won quickly the
islovs OF the village, SO the old doc.
s8tor said, and he was happy in his
work.
Valerie listened to her fathers
eSssreading of the letters. and the
) I1kTYe ache in her heart began to
increase. Gay times did not still
ut: and often she turned to his
last note-"You are my first love
will be my last!' Then
more and more through her con-
aciousness she heard the immor-
tai words Of Ruth-"For whittier
Il thou goest I shall go. thy
peopIe shall be my peonle. and thy
God. my God', And that evening
she came to her great decision
Her father smiled in his under
3 standing way, and he made her
s decision easier for her.
She registered In the great
northern hospital as student
Aurse. The months went by
3 "a iaidlY in the routine work. She