Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-11-06
Her Choice
BY VICTOR REDCLlFFE
CoOpydsAt, 1919. by Western Newspaper uDiop.,

She was dainty bit of early girl.
hood, 1.-the, lovely of face. eNqujSitely
attlred rs to becoming neatneSs.
There was spirit in her too Tor She
confronted Arthur Randall, loutsh
lad of fifteen, With blazing ewes,
flushed cheek and white, delicate
hands clenched.
you great stupidw she quavereG.
| Look at my scarf, wringlng wet,
| And-you coward When ,ne plank
bent you thought only of yourself, and
let 20 Of me and jumped for dry land,
and If | hadn't been quick and nimble
| would have gone into the brook, "
and Erma Bruce turned her back
| Squarely upon the culprt
where you going?" he challenged.
81 am going to walk to the old
bridge. Catch me wanting your com
pany or trusting 60 your care again y
They were children of wealthy par
ents, neighbors and until Arthur had
got into domineering ways, had been
close companions.
To get home frOA ramble they
had evaded the bridges spanning two
brooks and trusted to a narrow plank
to help short cut home, for Arthur
was disagreeable and Erma cross and
pettish.
"EIold ont" he objected, rs she
started off. "You promised kiss IL
I got across that plank"
"Come and get IT," flashed back
Erma, and as the callow youth APP
| preached her hand described a sharp
circle He drew back with n NUT
| ter of rage, nursing his singing
| cheek
IF you're ever my wife, I'll make
| you pay for that !" he snarled.
'1f | ever am, | deserve to he! J"
| cried Erma dsdanfully. She rounded
a clump of bushes and hesltated. An
other boy stood in her path He was
| totally unlike the dandtied Arthur,
"only common boy" but she smiled
upon him.
'You look tired" said Waldron
| Pearce. cts good mile to the
bridge, and you save that by fording
the second brook. It's quite shallow
| just now, and If you like I'll see that
| you get across without spelling those
| pretty Slip
"How will you" catechlzed Erma.
| "Tll carry you. Don't fear I'll
not drop you nor leave you in mid
| stream"
He was not Of her set. His father
was only an ordinary millwright, but
| ErTAa walked by his side hoping that
Arthur saw then When they reached
the second brook he was stumbling
alor'g behind them.
"3e you please" spoke Waldron
! andabe lifted Ei'ma in his arms. She
| did 1T demur except to tell him he
| would wet his shoes and stockings, but
| he only laughed at that and his color
ran high at the contact of those pref
ty arms casplng his neck, confidlng-
| w. Then Erma thanked him as he
| landed her high and dry beyond the
| brook. And then mischlevous
| twinkle came into her eyes ms she saw
| Arthur In full view watching them.
"You may kiss me, you brave boy y
| she spoke. In voice purposely
raised. al love brave boys. Good-by,
| and thank you." and she darted home
wards with knocking laugh, meant
| for the discounted Arthur
The slap Arthur soon forgot, for
| ne lacked sensitiveness and saw little
| Of Erma for four years.
His father had died and Arthur
was put in place rs manager of his
business. As 10 Waldron he was a
shop foreman, earning a liberal sal
| ary. but not minglng much socially.
One day Erma was driving her
| limousine when II broke down direct
| Nv I'm front Of the Pearce home. A
| sight of the open door Of q renr struc-
| ture used by Waldron as a shop, IN
| fIuenced her 70 hope that she might
command ready mechanical aid. She
left the machine and passed through
| the yard. She halted at the echo OF
| familiar voices.
81 will give you twenty thousand
dollars for your invention" sounded
| The voice of Arthur. 1T is indispens-
able TO our plant and Will take the
risk Of the contrivance turning out I'm
practicable"
"My price is one million dollars
| came the clear, lncisive declaration
from Waldron. "As to It's utility and
value. the best experts have passed
favorably upon those features
'T1l double my offer, then" spoke
Arthur. "and ] say, Pearce, you can't
deny that you have q sneaking fond
ness for Erna Bruce. Good I'll
throw her into the bargain"
II would give a world # II were
mine for one smile from the lovelies'
woman I have ever met" said Wal
dron with deep emotion. "but must
resent your right 70 allude to her as
your especial property"
Erma drew back ont of view as Ar.
thur left the shop. Waldron wondered
st her surused face and gracious
manner as she asked him 10 examine
| - ar4ornohfIp Within a few min