The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-08-05
A TICKLE GIRL.

~ fICNIe OIHI.
Here is a story told of a recent court
ship and marriage, the point Of which
is that woman will always exercise
her established right to be capricious
under any and all circumstances and in
every community, no matter how se>
Questered and remote from the worlds
beaten path:
Scott Robinson and Joseph Davis,
stalwart young Rocky Forkians, loved
their neighbor, Agatha Hewitt, a youne
m with some ~pretensions to
beauty, but of great indecision of mind.
The men were sworn chums, physically
equal n sturdy and good-natured.
Both were dear to Agatha's heart. But
Scott was reputed to be better of in
land, marketable Indian relics and cur
rency than his friend Joseph, and the
inhabitants Of the valley were certain
Scott would carry Agatha in the end.
Agatha was not so certain. Being
young she was in no hurry to express
a preference.
Months flew by. Agatha distributed
her shy favors with im~partiality. Scott
at last requested Joseph to vamoose
and leave the field to him. Joseph ex-
pressed his u%nbounded admiration of
SCOTS impotence, and made a similar
request of him. Both declined peremp-
torily to retire. 1t thereupon occurred
to them to put their cases in Agatha's
fair, if somewhat ample, hands.
She was much surprised, perplexed
and embarrassed when they presented
themselves n bluntly demanded that
she should make a selection there and
then. She retorted that she wouldn't
marry either n of them If he were
the last man in Rocky Fork, a remark
subsequently amended to read, Be
cause she liked them both pretty we'll,
but didn't know which one she was
willing to take for a life partner"
"Ain't o ever goin' to decide?"
asked the suitOrs.
Agatha shook her head.
Decide for yourselves" she said with
a blush.
The suitors eyed each other.
1--WE can't fight, Scott?" began
Joseph, doubtfully.
Hardly" returned Scott. positively;
we're friends"
I'll tell you what we can d." cried
the fertile Joseph, lies rassle, the win
ner of the first fall to have Agatha"
Suits me-" returned Scott. Agatha,
will you agree?"
At first she was indignant. She
wouldn't be wrestled for like 9 pig OF
COW at the Sabina fair, she stormed.
But the suitors argued they Knew Of
no other way of solving the quandary.
So, in a calmer mood she Eesttated,
drew cabalistic figures in the road dust
with her prehensile toes, and finally
consented. In a twinklirg Scott and
Joseph were at it, catch-as-catch-can.
Up and down the road they sQuirmed
and twisted, painting like exhaust pipes.
Agatha a on the grassy road bank and
at her ease watched the momentous
struggle. Once Joseph was nearly flung
to the ground. Don't fall, Joe"! she
cried, and it braced him up instantly.
Next Scott was on the verge Of an up
set. Look out, Scott!' warned Agatha.
That braced Scott, who exerted himself
so nightly that Joseph was sent spin
ming and sprawling in the dust. There
he remained for a moment, dazed by
the fall and grief at the loss of Agatha.
Scott, flushed with exertion and tri-
umph, advanced toward the young
woman.
i've won, Agatha" said he awk-
wardly. But Agatha heard him not.
Her eyes were fastened upon the van
quished. lying sullen and heart sick
in the dust.
You're goin' to marry me now. amt
| you?" continued the victorius Scott,
growing holder.
II suppose So" she replied. Joseph
rose to his feet, brushed the dust from
his clothes, and started down the road
with never a backward glance at the
victor or his prize. Agatha left her
grassy seat. Joe" she called, feebly.
The v%anquished paused, but did not
look toward her.
"Scott Robinson" she burst forth. cit
was a shame for you to throw Joe that
way, and I hate o for it, so I do. l
hate you! hate you! I won't marry you,
so I won't! Come back here. Joe! I love
you and I'll marry you, if you want me
to. I didn't know who 1 loved till I
saw Scott throw you, Joe, but 1 know
now"
The lately v~anquished. out now tri-
umphant, Joe was at her side in a. lash
and smiling mockingly pon h aston
ished, red-faced Scott, who could only
gasp inc pant at this extraordinary
turn Of events.
But you agreed to take the winner,
Agatha he feebly demonstrated.
Agatha brazened it out.
Don't care if I did," she retorted; II
won't, so there!'
And she didn't.
An amusing thing happened to a very
smart welding not far from London the