Show Daily Short Fiction Story CHOOSING By GRACE KERRIGAN Copyright 1915 hy by the McClure News Newspaper unDer paper Syndicate You will wi have havo o ha to choose between them Trixie Iz said stid Dr Lane Lano looking lookin over his spectacles nt at his pretty daugh ter tel Trixie pouted mutinously b. b But nut dad fail lam Ive I've told you OU that 1 I like them equally well How lion can I choose from rom roni amon amon wel three perfect dr dears like Iko Harry and Bo Boand Bob Boband and Frank Frnk Th They rhey y are aro l like e you ant know reproachfully It I Is evident that they do not shar that fraternal feeling retorted lit her hor father dryly dryl Oh dear hear sighed sl hl Trixie In iii my own opinion pursued th the th doctor dotor severely they are exceedingly foolish young young men Vh Why one of them then all l all o of them In fact tact should should hay havo chosen to fall all fal In lovo love with a feather headed heared girl IP is II beyond my comprehension sion zion Tho The sort ort of a n a n young youn oun man mart real really ne needs dA I la Is a sensible helpmate who knows her own mind and and ther there th there re th there re I really realy believe tho the child has taken offense Ho lie polished hl hi glasses vigorously and looked at th th draperies behind which the slender Alender form Lad vanished Trixie met her mother on tho the stairs stain nd Mrs Lane stared ar after r the whirlwind whirlwind whirlwind whirl whirl- wind of ot pink that swept past her Sh She Sho went nent Into tho library In some lion tion ton What is the matter with Trixie she asked Tho The same old Ok story stor Mary Its It's Is I's this Harry Barr Frank Frnk and Bob business I wish time thc they would RO go o off and marry nomo sont other girls and stop bothering me mo about ours If I Trix doesn't want to marry mar thom them why doesn't she Bhe sa say so and ent end It Mrs Lane smiled thoughtfully I In n run t afraid m my may dear der that she rel really dOOR docs care car for one ono of or them and she oho i Is 15 afraid to choose chooRo Afraid Trixie afraid of a mere man Pooh Poh You dont don't understand girls James I am glad you OU were not the complex complex com corn plex sort Mary Hut But what hat aro are we ti tib to todo do b about Trixie and d her lovers lovers' Harry called caled on me this morning about the matter matter asked muter asked asked me to use m my Influence with wih her her and and I promised Frank trank f Demarest called caled me mo on th the phone and mado made the time same samo saro plea pIca I 1 promised him too How Host about Do Bob Hay Hayward ward The transaction struck mo mc as aB being so 10 10 absurd I Just juat called cled up Bob am and I asked him if I he needed my assist ance and ho he as aB good as told me to gi giro go goo goto to ro o the dickens Said he ho didn't need nn ray any help In his courting I courting If if ho he hI couldn't couldn win the girl ho he wanted without as assistance as- as ho he guessed he didn't deserve her The rhe doctor chuckled chucklEd softly Why Vh James Lane Iane Ine protested his wife weakly Did you really realy say eay sy that thatto ha hato to Bob I did ask him the tho queston question but h ho he did lId most of or the talking Real Really lm he was ver very hot about the matter mater my mm lear dear Oh dear I dont don't know what to do sighed Mrs Lane Lne Tho The other girls married narried without an any trouble and I really wouldn't care It If Trix never married mar mar- ned ried and went away from us But I wish she sho would put these three young younK men out of or their misery miser The They keep keei dan dangling on hoping that she ahe may mako malto up her mind They are aro all nI fiercely Jealous lealous of or ono one another But But somehow I do wish It happened to be bo Bob Dob hayward Hay- Hay ward I like him hm So do I. I 1 But they aro all al likeable in a way and all al equally desirable atto as at asto asto to character B By the wa way Tn m my dear the tho they am aro all al coming to dinner this thu evening evening I shall ask the Hinman girls then decided Mrs Lane as she sho went to tho thc telephone Trixie Lane Lano Lne dressed for dinner that thai night with wih her mint mind quite quie made up to tc Accept Frank Demarest if I ho should sk her Fank to marry him Sho She liked Frank Franl she the assured herself hersel He was always Jol Jolly and pleasant plesant and would make tho hi most delightful husband Harry was wat Inclined del to be Jealous and Bob well Bob well Bob 1301 Hayward was quiet and thoughtful thought thought- really sho she wanted want want- ful tul and diffident and realY ed d well she knew what she wanted ed TrIxie Lane Jane Ine was not a coquette Still the she wore her green because It was Franks Frank's favorite favorite- among her hem gowns towns and Fanks Fank's sho she wore pink roses roso beaul because be be- be- be cause aul Harry Harr ar liked the combination o of 01 pink and green and tho the tiny tny rose roso tucked ed behind geon her car ear In the coil coll col of or soft toft black hair was a n mute testimonial WIS nial ial to Bobs Bob's remark that she should always wear a flower fower in her hor hair hall So when she greeted tho the three thee young men nen with equal cordiality Franks Frank's wih heart meart leaped at a sight o of the tho green frok frock Harry tarry smiled quietly at th the symphony in a pink pinic and green goen and Bob never saw tho ho rose rOBe in her hair because his eyes didn't go o beyond her lo lovely h. h face The Hinman girls Nellie ele and Grace were mere charmingly vivacious and do- do voted them themselves to Bob Hayward and and Harry larry Brinton so BO that Trixie found herself laughing gaily at Franks Frank's MIles sallee sal aal- les lee and quite deceived al- al her interested parents arents Really nealy I wits was hoping It I might be Bob lob Hayward said Mid the doctor after Hayward dinner I So was tas I agreed ed his wife Ir I like his is independence and Independence and oh dear Im I'm Im afraid raid ho he is my fa favorite 01 te I wish he were es Meanwhile Frank Frnk Demar Demarest st was waR proposing proposing pro pro- posing osing to Trixie in the moonlit south Houth piazza lazan And In spite o of her resolution to the contrary gently genty re refused roused 10 ro- ro used fused him Did your our jour father tather pay ay A anything to you H He rather rather rather-rather rather promised to peak eak a good word for tor me growled gO Frank rank quite quie unpleasantly me You asked father lather Yes Yes Yes- Franks Frank's voice trailed off oc Im Im sorry som Frank said Mid Trixie with now on decision in her tone but I really realy do 0 not love you you you-as you you- as I should and should and so- so so so you ou understand I understand ho said Mid bitterly Shall wo we return to the tho house They had reached tho the front door when lien Harry Hnry Brinton rushed out Oh Frank the they are arc looking for you ou MI use Miss s unman Hinman says MYS you promised to Ing for her Frank gladly turned d over to Mr ft Brinton and went Indoors determined determined deter deter- mined to show Miss Lane Lano that his hil heart cart was as not quite broken oven even If ife I the ahe e had refused to marry mary him Presently Present Pres Free ent his voice rang out cheerfully in ine lh e latest popular rang song and Trixie listening lie lis ls- ls smiled and sighed at tho ho same mc Then Thon Harr Harry put hl his fate to toi tolio tome i lio ho me te test teat t once moro memo and and received gonto refusal If it he stormed for or a ahue awhile while hue who can cun blamo blame I him Your father not fath er r promised to speak a n good word for tor forme formo torm m mo me ho added gloomily coldly asked him H questioned Trixie This morning I am 1 sorry So o Harry Hary said good night and amid went h homo olne Trixie felt miserable but she sho was as unprepared unprepared un un- un- un prepared when Boh Bob Hayward ward Ha took ad- ad 11 o of or her being alone lone for or a moment mon mo- mo n tent ment lit Il the library and deliberately nj planted planted I himself between her and the dor door Trix V lie he said sid firmly I came camo here hero tonight flight with the intention of ot asking ou 00 to marr marry mo Inc You know leow I 1 lovo love you and d ho how about It ho he asked grimly Miss 8 Lanes Lano B heart was fluttering strangely M i and she sho put up ono one little lUla IU han d l to tl still sUl l its Is 8 beating Bob she whispered do you OU caro care vcr much h So S 'S much 1 he ho growled that when L our father ather called caled mo me up up this morning morn morn- mor- mor ing mg and asked me Jokingly I If 1 I wanted m a influence in the time m matter ter I was to como Coma core UP an and 1 trash hunt m Ti Honest t Injun I was hoU hot If I a aman a man maim can cant can't t win the tho Arl ho lie wants with with out help l let t him go without her I I. I want you but I dont don't want vant you ou unless un un- less Jess you au love me love me-love melove love me beyond How everybody and anti everything see everything see I about abut It Trix Ho He stood with wih his hands thrust behind behind be- be hind him a as If afraid he might be tempted to take tako her hor In his arms arias ars Trixie looked d up at him and her eyes es filled with tears Oh Bob Bob It I has been you OU all ni the time and I didn't know it sho she sobbed And it was wan 08 not until she had laid her rosy cheeks checks against the tho black lapel o of his coat that his arms came around her and his lips Ups claimed claimed their reward |