The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-21
EDening Story
The Divided Road.
By A. w. PEACH.

By A w. PEACH
Her bright head held produly high,
Valerie swept gracefully into the chair
opposite her father Her deep-blue,
pool-like eyes were bright with inner
fire.
Father, Canyon imagine? Nelson
has really made up his mind to prac-
tice medicine in that little town of
Royton. Think of it," she ended with
a tone approaching anger. That old
rag-bag of a doctor of yours is to
blame I simply can't go there!
Mr.. Bronson smiled as he laid down
his paper, but there was a 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 a desire to \be of service
where most men don't care to be
and where you don't want to go. 1
am afraid my old friend. Doc Barnes,
wants Nelson to take over his prac-
tice.'
yes! But think what a future
Nelson would have in this city"
And think how nice it would be for
you-good times without end here
among your friends! I know, lass.
how it appeals to you; but 1 don't want
to urge you one way or another. l
hope you will follow him to his field
of service in the small town. You
know from Royton he can serve a wide
countryside-be an angel of mercy
where these young doctors don't seem
| to want to go nowadays!"
Angel" Valerie repeated. with a
sniff of her Grecian nose. ut sounds
pretty, but it doesn't appeal to me. L
have made up my mind; If he doesn't
love me enough to stay where I want
to stay he'll go out to the cows and
crossroads without mel"
Valerie heard her fathers exclama-
ton as she rushed out at the sound of
firm steps on the waH<~eutside. 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 an
swered:
Yes, we are going to Royton, honey.
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 we'll have the fun of living where
| men know each other as they do in a
small town.
She backed away from him. you
will give up money and fame, for
what? Think, Mel, think"
His eyes searched hers with keen
/ purpose. II see-you don't want to
go. I had not thought you might dis
approve" He was silent in thought
| for a moment Then, sweetheart
this is where the road divides. I am
.
money and fame I care nothing
about"
And you care nothing about me-"
Even as she spoke she quailed before
the deep hurt in his eyes.
You know L do he said gently.
But my decision is made
Her dark eyes famed. And so is
| mine: If you go, you go without me!'
There was a moment of Quivering
| silence between them. She heard as
| i,,a = - ;er
Then I go-without you. Goodby,"
There was the sound of a. closinS
door-the sound many a heart has
heard, shutting on dreams and hopes
strained attention, TURNED her head 70
the chair back, and wept a bit; then.
rousing herself with determination,
went in to her father with the an
| nouhcenent. He did not look at her.
Don't you think he is fooliShl Are
| you one of those foolish idealists,
too?" she asked with some heat.
Little girl, you have lots to learn,
| but l believe in letting you learn it.
This old world owes a lot to your
| foolish idealists!' was his brief reply.
Nelson did not come to see her
| again. She learned that he had close l
| his hospital work and had gone. Thea
word came from DR.. Barnes thru her
| father to her. Nelson was taking the
| burden splendidly from the old physi-
clans shoulders. Nelson it was who
faced the long night drives into the
hills where some suffering mother or
father or child needed him in some
| lonely farmhouse back on the distant
roads. He won quickly the love of the
village, so the old doctor 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 QOte-''YOu are my
first love-you viii be my last!" Then
more and more thru her conscious
ness she hea ID the immortal words of
Ruth-"For whittier thou goest shall
go. thy people shall be my peo-
Die, and thy God, my God" And that
evening she came to her great decision.
Her father smiled in his under