The Ocala evening star., 1921-03-22
Her Choice
sy VICTOR REDcLIFFE
eo0pyflEht. Is1s. " wsstsra Nsws0aesf Uaiss.

hood, 1.-the, lovely of face, exquisiteiy
attired as to becoming neatness.
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 quayered.
Look at my scarf, wringing wet.
And-you coward When the plank
bent you thought only Of yourself, and
let 90 of me and jumped for dry land.
and If I hadn't been quick and nimble
I would have gone into the brook"
and Erma Bruce turned her back
squarely upon the culprit.
"Where you going?" he challenged.
'T 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 70 a narrow plank
TO help a short cut home, for Arthur
was disagreeable and Erma cross and
pettish.
Hold onp he objected, as she
started Off you promised kiss IL
got across that plank"
"Come and get IT," flashed back
Erma, and as the callow youth ap-
preached her hand described sharp
circle. He drew back with a NUT
ter of rage, nursing his stinging
cheek
"If you're ever my wife, I'll make
you pay for that !" he snarled:
'Tf / ever am, I deserve to be! ]"
cried Erma disdainfully. She rounded
a clump of bushes and hesitated. An
other boy stood in her path. He was
totally unlike the dandified Arthur,
"only common boy" but she smiled
upon him.
"You look tired" said Waldron
Pearce. "It's good mile to the
bridge, and you save that by fording
the second brook. It's quite shallow
Just now, and If yeu like I'll see that
you get across without spelling those
pretty slippers"
"How will youT' cateehized Erma.
"TII 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
~
Arthur saw them. When they reached
the second brook he was stumbling
along behind them.
eff 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-
Iy. Then Erma thanked him as he
landed her high and dry beyond the
brook. And then 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 voice purposely
raised. ST love brave boys. Good-by,
and thank you," and she darted home
wards with a mocking laugh, meant
for the discounted Arthur.
The slap Arthur soon forgot, for
he lacked sensitiveness 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 q
shop foreman, earning a liberal sal
airy. but not mingling much socially.
One day Erma was driving hes
limousine when It broke down direct
" In front of the Pearce home. A
sight Of the open door Of rear struc
ture used by Waldron as a shop, In
fuenced 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.
'T will give you twenty Thousand
dollars for your invention" soundet
the voice of Arthur "It Is indispens
able to our plant and will take th'
risk Of the contrivance turning out i'm
practicable"
my price is one million dollars,
came the clear, incisive declaration
from waldron "As TO its utility ant
value, the best experts have passes
favorably upon those features"
'sPIl double my offer, then" spok,
Arthur, "and I say, Pearce, you cam
deny that you have a sneaking fond
ness for Erma Bruce. Goodl II
throw her into the bargain"
ST would give world IL IL wer
mine for one smile from the lovelies
woman I have ever met" said Wal
dron with deep emotion, "but / mus
resent your right to allude to her a
your especial property"
Erma drew back out of view as Al
thur left the shop. Waldron wondere
at her suffused face and graciou
manner as she asked him to examin
the automobile. Within a few mir
utes he had adjusted the break. H
thrilled with pleasure as Erma invite
him to social function at her hom
to take pleace the following week.
III was not a casual impulse. In
flashing moment the contemptibl
oyerconfdent Arthur had faded int
fnsignificance with Erma In compar
son with the manly young invento
and 1t was destined that, just rs b
had carried her over the brook In th
sweet olden time, he was to share hG
company through all the years Of hal