The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-06-13
Her Choice
By VICTOR REDCLlFFE


hood, 1.-the. lovely Of face, ~exquisitely
attired as to becoming n%eatness.
There was spirit In her. too, for she
confronted Arthur Randall, a loutish
lad Of fifteen, with blazing eyes,
flushed cheek and white, delicate
hands clenched.
"You great stupid |" she %quavered.
Look at my scarf, wringing wet.
And-you coward! When the plank
bent you thought only of yourself, and
let go of me and jumped for dry land.
and II l hadn't been quick and nimble
/ would have gone into the brook"
and Erma Bruce turned her back
~squarely upon the culprit.
where you goingT" he challenged.
IT am going to walk to the old
bridge. Catch me wanting your COM
pany or trusting to your care again! !"
They were children Of wealthy par
ents, neighbors, and until Arthur had
got into domineering ways, had been
close companions.
To get home from a. ramble they
had evaded the bridges spanning two
brooks and trusted to a narrow plank
to help a short cut home, for Arthur
was disagreeable and Erma cross and
pettish.
Hold onw he objected, as she
started of. "You promised a kiss IL
I got across that plank"
"Come and get It," flashed back
Erma, and as the callow youth ap-
preached her hand described a sharp
circle. He drew back with a NUT
ter Of rage, nursing his singing
cheek.
eff you're ever my wife, I'll make
you pay for that" he snarled.
IF / ever am, I deserve to bel"
cried Erma d~isdainfully. She rounded
a clump Of bushes and hesitated. An
other boy stood In her path. He was
totally unlike the dandified Arthur,
"only a common boy" but she smiled
upon him.
"You look tired" said Waldron
Pearce. "It's a 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 slippers"
"How will you?" catechized 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
Erma walked by his side hoping that
Arthur saw them. When they reached
the second brook he was stumbling
along behind them.
"If you please" spoke Waldron,
and he lifted Erma In his arms. She
did not 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 ~clasping his neck, confiding-
ly. Then Erma thanked him as he
landed her high and dry beyond the
brook. And then a mischievous
twinkle came into her eyes as she saw
Arthur In full view watching them.
"You may kiss me, you brave boy!
she spoke, In a voice purposely
raised. II love brave boys. Good-by,
and thank you," and she darted home
wards with a hooking laugh, meant
for the discounted Arthur.
The slap Arthur soon forgot. for
he lacked s~ensitiveness and saw little
Of Erma for four years.
His father had died and Arthur
was put In place as manager of his
business. As to Waldron he was a
shop foreman. earning a liberal sal
airy, but not mingling much socially.
One day Erma was driving her
limousine when 1t broke down direct
ly In front of the Pearce home. A
sight Of the open door of a rear struc-
ture used by Waldron as a shop, in
fiuenced her to 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.
II will give you twenty thousand
dollars for your invention" sounded
the voice Of Arthur. ut Is indispens-
able to our plant and I will take the
risk Of the contrivance turning out i'm
practicable"
my price Is one million dollars"
came the clear, incisive declaration
from Waldron. "As to It's utility and
value. the best experts have passed
favorably upon those features"
"T1l double my offer, them" spoke
Arthur. "and I say, Pearce. you can't
deny that you have q sneaking fond
ness for Erma Bruce. Good! I'll
throw her into the bargain"
Il would give a world II 1t were
mine for n smile from the loveliest
woman ! have ever met" said Wal
dron with deep emotion. "but I must
resent your right to allude to her as
your especial property"
Errna drew back out Of view as Ar
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