Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-09-08
Vera, the Little
Sche1rler
&c. 1891 Western New.paper Union
By WILLIAM FALL


"Don't tribe with me. vera--I ann
desperately in earnest !" pleaded
young Doctor Irwin.
I'm not, Rolfe, !" asserted the. bright
eyed, vivacious girl who leaned upon
the garden gate that separated them.
II think too much Of you to tell you a
falsehood, and I am too young-oh,
far too young, mamma saysto think
of telling you the truth" and the
flashing eyes looked clear and loyal,
IL they were mischieyous. =. 5.S
The wholesome looking young fell
low who had just asked her to become
his wife. looked puzzled, then hopeful,
and then he had smile.
II know you are the dearest,
sweetest little midget OF 5cheerfulness
in the world" he declared enthusiasts
ideally, "and am sure a. good friend
Of mine.'' ~
"Never doubt that, Rolfe," said
Vera. "But when you come to talk
about. becoming ehgaged-why, think
of q romping cut-np, us everybody calls
me, trying to pose. as the dignifed
wife of DIR. ROlfe Irwin" =
Doctor Irwin bestowed fond look
upon the little chiid-woman who was
the dearest being in the universe to-
him. He babe her good-by, not at all
gloomily, and started for his Office.
Vera stood, following him with her +.
eyes, q demure and thoughtful look on
her usually smiling face.
':Poor boy" she said, and then she
added: II love him! love him!'
and her face vieing with the red, red
roses along the garden path, she ran
down it, bursting into a happy song.
Vera had called herself "a cut-up."
Her bright ways captlvated every:
body, and the victims Of her mischief
felt honored, rather than offended.
There was the pure gold Of noble
manhood in Doctor Irwin, and Vera
recognized 1t. She had liked him the
better because he had accepted a piece
of real injustice without murmur.
When his granduncle, old Simeon
Dunn, had died, Rolfe was one Of sig
minor heirs. They were each to re-
ceive $4,000, but 1t was contingent
on the will and caprice Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Egbert Dawson. i
Simeon Dunn had willed all his real
estate to them. They also were given
a life interest in his investments. How
ever, II mutually agreed, they could
distribute these latter, pay of the
minor heirs, and take a third for them
selves.
Then terrific quarrel came up be-
tween them. It was regarding the old Z
Dunn homestead. Egbert Dawson
wanted this 30 that he might give its
to crippled. brother. Sarah Dawson
insisted on having It; to present to q !:
superannuated spinster relative. They
separated.
Egbert Dawson vowed he would new. !
er address his wife again until she
spoke first. Sarah Dawson obstinately
declared that not word should es-
cape her lips until her husband spoke.
This action tied up the estate.
Egbert Dawson had become crus.
ty, unhappy hermit. His wife shut
herself up like q. recluse. There was
no heart that willful, sprlghtly Vera
could not reach, however. Vera told
her mother she was going down to
see Mr.. Dawson. She was soon at
his home.
2 have come to ask great favor"
she told him. You know there eis go
Ing to be mask party at the library
hall next week. It is TOR the benefit
Of the old folks home won't you buy
"a tiekets' Sc ,s3s' !.
Two OF them, IL you like,. readily
announced Mr.. Dawson to his faverite.
Mrs. Dawson was not 80 easy to nh.
suade. Willy Vera told OF the good
cause she was helping along. Finally
she carried her point. ,s
Well. I'll I. come dear" promised
Sarah Dawson, ''but it's just to please
you" 4. 81
The bright little schemer had woven
quite q plot about the estranged and
unsuspecting husbands and wife. Shey
took great pains to- conceal from each
the expected appearance. Of 4 both at /
the funct lion. e Vera enlisted the. co-op-1
Grafton Of q number Of her girl friends.
Everything turned out as they planned.
Mr.. Dawson arrayed In his best, and
his wife, wearinga tasteful silk gown,
reminder Of happier days came, saw
and were soon CARVED away them.
selves amid the enjoyment Of the oc.
casion, II. ssss
ahrewd and watchful Vera had kent
"a 1y1p.,-