The northwestern bulletin., 1922-10-14
The
Divided Road
By A. w. PEACH
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
sr syndicsts.)


Valerie swept gracefully into the chair
opposite her father. Her deep blue,
pool-like eyes were bright with inner
fire.
Father, can you imagine7 Nelson
has really made up his mind to prac-
tice medicine In that little town Of
Royton. Think Of itr' she ended with
a tone approaching anger. "That old
rag-bag Of doctor of yours is to
blame. ! simply can't 60 therel"
Mr.. Bronson smiled as he laid down
his paper, but there was q faint sad
ness in his smile. my dear, you and
Nelson are unlucky enough to love
each other. He is unlucky enough to
have In him desire to be Of service
where most men don't care to be-and
where you don't want to go. / am
afraid my old friend, Doc Barnes,
wants Nelson to take over his prac-
tice."
"Yes! But think what future
Nelson would have In this city"
"And think how nice it would be for
you-good times without end here
among your friends! 1 know, lass,
how 1t appeals to you; but 1 don't
want to urge you one way or another.
hope you will follow him to his field
Of service In the small town. You
know from Royton he can serve wide
countryside-b an angel Of mercy
where these young doctors don't seem
to want to 60 nowadaysp
"Angelr Valerie repeated with a
sniff Of her Grecian nose. 1T sounds
pretty, but 1t doesn't appeal to me. I
have made up my mind; If he doesn't
love me enough to stay where I want
to stay he'll 60 out to the cows and
crossroads without mep
Valerie heard her fathers exclama-
tion as she rushed 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, ten
der face. Swiftly she asked him about
his decision. Quietly he answered:
"Yes, we are going to Royton, honey.
I have worked hard and my 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 me to take over his practice; |;
but ws'll have the fun Of living where
men know each other as they do In q
small town."
She backed away from him. ''You
win give up money and fame, for
whatf Think, Ned, thinkr'
His eyes searched hers with keen
purpose. II see-you don't want to
60. had not thought you might dis
approve" He was silent In thought
for moment. "Then, sweetheart, this
Is where the road divides. I am
hungry to use my life for service;
money and fame I care nothing
about"
"And you care nothing about mel"
Even as she spoke she quailed before
the deep hurt In his eyes.
"You know do," he said gently.
"But my decision is made"
Her dark eyes famed. Sand so is
mine: If you 60, you go without mep
There was a moment of quivering
silence between them. She heard as
In a dream his serene words:
Then I go-without you. Good
byp
There was the sound Of q CLOSING
door-the sound many a heart has
heard, shutting on dreams and hopes
forever. She listened q moment with
strained attention, turned her head to
the chair back, and wept bit; then,
rousing herself with determination
went In to her father with the an
nouncement. He did not look at her.
/ "Don't you think he is foolishl Are
you one Of those foolish idealists,
tooY' she asked with some heat.
"Little girl, you have lots to learn,
but / believe in letting you learn 1t.
This old world owes a lot to your
foolish idealistsl" was his brief reply.
Nelson did not come to see her
again. She learned that he had closed
his hospital work and had ,one. Then
word came from Doctor Barnes
through her father to her. Nelson was
taking the burden splendidly from the
old physicians shoulders. Nelson II
was who faced the long night drives
into the hills where some suffer
ing mother or father or child needed
him in some lonely farmhouse back
on the distant roads. He won quickly
the love Of the village, 30 the old doc
tor said. and he was happy in his
work.
Valerie listened to her fathers read
Ing Of the letters, and the little ache
In her heart began to Increase. Gay
times did not still It; and often she
turned to his last note: 'sYou are my
first love-you viii be my last r. Then
more and more through her conscious
ness she heard the immortal words Of
Ruth: For whittier thou goest shall
60. thy people shall be my
people, and thy God, my God" And
that evening she came to her great
decision.
Her father smiled In his understand
ing way, and he made her decision
easier for her.