Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-24
THE DIVIDED ROAD.
A Short Story.
ny A. w. PEACH.

Copyright. 1922, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.l
0Her bright head held proudly high,
Valerie swept gracefully into the chair
opposite her father Her deep-blue,
pool-like eyes were bright with inner
hrc.
Father, can you bmagine? Nelson
hes really made up his mind to prac-
ticc medicine in that little town OF
Royton. Think OF itr' she ended with
tone approaching anger. That old
rag-bag OF doctor of yours is to blame.
l amply can't 60 thereP'
Mr.. Bronson smiled as he laid down
bis paper, but there was 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 60. am
afraid my old friend, Doc Barnes
wants Nelson to take over his practice" "
Yes! But think what q future
Nelson would have in this city"
"And think how nice it would be for
you--good times without end here
among your friends! l know, lass,
how it appeals to you; but don't want
10 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-be an angel OF mercy
where these young doctors don't seem
TO want TO 60 nowadaysP
"Angelv Valerie repeated, with q
sniff OF her Grecian nose. 1T sounds
pretty, but it doesn't appeal to me. !
have made up my mind; If he doesn't
love me enough to stay where / want
TO stay he'll 60 out to tho cows and
crossroads without mer
Valerie heard her fathers exclama-
ton as shc 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,
! have worked hard and my knowledge
can be of wide use there. / 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 @
small town."
She backed away from him. "You
viii give up money and fame, for
what? Think, Mel, thinkp
His ewes searched hers with keen
purpose. Il see--you don't want to
60. l had not thought you might dis.
approve" He was silent in thought
for moment. Then, sweetheart, thi:
is where the road divides. / am hun
cry TO use my life for service; money
and fame care nothing about"
"And you care nothing about mel
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 ewes famed. "And so i:
mine: Ii YOU go, YOU go without me!
There was a moment OF qulverlnl
silence between them. She heard as il
dream his serene words:
Then go-without you. Good
byep
There was the sound of CLOSING
door-the sound many heart ha'
heard, shutting on dreams and hope:
forever. She listened moment Will
strained attention, turned her head Il
the chair back, and wept bit; then
rousing herself with determination
went in 10 her father with the an
nouncement. He did not look at her.
Don't YOU think he is foolish! Ar
you one OF those foolish idealists, too?
she asked with some heat.
Little girl, you have lots to learn
but believe in letting you learn il
This old world owes lot to your foo
ish idealistsr was his brief reply.
Nelson did not come to see he
/. again. She learned that he had close
. his hospital work and had gone. The
word came from DR.. Barnes throug
her father TO her. Nelson was taldn
: the burden splendidly from the oil
physicians shoulders. Nelson it We
, who faced the long night drives int
r the hills where some suffering mothe
; or father or child needed him in som
/ lonely farmhouse back on the distan
! roads. He won quickly the love OF th
D village, SO the old doctor said, and b
1 was happy in his work.
Valerie listened to her fathers read
ing Of the letters, and the little ach
in her heart began TO increase. Ga
times did not still it; and often sh
turned 10 his last note-"You are N
first love-you Will be my last?" The
more and more through her conscious
I ness she heard the immortal words {
} Ruth-"For whittier thou goest l sha
5 20. thy people shall be m
Z people, and thy God, my God" An
: that evening she came TO her great dt
y cision.
: Her father smiled in his understand
I ing way, and he made her decision easie
, for her.
She registered in the great norther
hospital as a student nurse. Tt
months went by rapidly in the routir
work. She learned what suffering ws
and healing. A nurse who went
: Royton on a case reported that Nelso
= was engaged 10 Royton girl. Naler
took the blow in silence. She was NAL
I ing her atonement. Then came II
= epidemic sweeping through the mountai
= valleys and into the cities. Then can
word from Nelson for nurses-two wen
e and then Valerie asked the superintent
e ent for the next assignment when 81
$ found out the nurse was to 60 straigf
: TO the farm, the doctor coming later.
e She went--chsnged in thought an
q character. AT the little country st,
ton worried farmer met her, an
swiftly they threaded the hill roac
back 20 bis home; and every mile
!. seemed TO her, the farmer could thir
: : of nothing to tell her but how b
doctor was fighting single-handed Il