The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-05-18
By
William MacHarg
Edwin Balmer
Copyright by Little. Brown and Company

VII he lOOheu lOWdTu neT, IleIl slk
nailed him TO come over. She got
down, and they stood together follow
ing the play,
You know polo?' she questioned
him, as she saw the expression Of
appreciation in his face as a player
daringly "rode-off" an antagonist and
saved a 'cross." She put the ques-
ton without thought before she rec
ognized that she was obeying her ia
TIERS instructions.
II understand the game somewhat"
Eaton replied.
"Have you ever played?'
1T seems to deserve its reputation
as the summit Of sport" he replied.
He answered so easily that she
could not decide whether he was evad-
ing or not; and somehow, just then,
she found it impossible TO put the
simple question direct again.
Good! Good, Don! I" she cried en-
Enthusiastically and clapped her hands
as Avery suddenly raced before them,
Saught the ball with a swinging, back
handed stroke and drove it directly
toward his opponents goal. Instantly
whirling his mount, Avery raced way
after the ball, and with another clean
stroke scored a goal. Everyone about
cried out In appreciation.
He's very quick and clever, isn't
hep Harriet said to Eaton.
Eaton nodded. Eyes; he's by all
odds the most skillful man on the
field, | should say"
The generosity Of the praise i'm
PEELED the girl, somehow, to qualify it.
But only two others really have
played much--that man and that"
"Yes, / picked them as the expert
enced ones" Eaton said quietly.
"The others-two of them, at least
are out for the first time. | think"
They watched the rapid course Of
the ball up and down the field. the
scurry and scamper Of the ponies
after 1t, then the clash of a melee.
Two ponies went down, and their
riders were flung. When they arose,
n Of the least experienced boys
limped apologetically from the field.
Avery rode to the barrier.
II say, any Of you fellows, don't you
want to try it? We're just getting
warmed up"
Avery looked over to Eaton sud
gave the challenge direct.
Care to take a c~hance?"
Harriet Santoine watched her COM
panion; a sudden flush had come to
his face, which vanished, as she
turned. and left him almost pale; but
his eyes glowed. Avery's manner in
challenging him, as though he must
refuse from fear Of such q fall as he
just had witnessed, was not enough
to explain Eaton's start.
"How can II" he returned.
IF you want to play, you can"
Avery dared him. "Furden'-that
was the boy who had just been hurt
twill lend you some things; his'll just
about fit you; and you can have his
amounts"
Harriet continued to watch Eaton
the challenge had been put so as to
give him no ground for refusal but
timidity.
you don't care tot" Avery tainted
him deftly.
why don't you try itY' Harriet
found herself saying to him.
He hesitated. She realized It was
not timidity he was feeling; It was
something deeper and stronger than
that. 1t was fear; but so plainly 1t
was not fear Of bodily hurt that she
moved instinctively toward him In
sympathy. He looked swiftly at
Avery, then at her, then away. He
seemed TO fear alike accepting or re-
fusing to play; suddenly he made a
decision.
"Ill play"
He started instantly away to the
dressing rooms; a few minutes later,
when he rode onto the field, Harriet
was conscious that, in some way, Ea-
ton was playing q part as he listened
to Avery's directions.
Avery appointed himself to oppose
Eaton wherever possible, besting him
in every contest for the ball but she
saw that Donald, though he took It
upon himself to show all the other
players where they made their mis-
takes, did not offer any instruction to
Eaton. One Of the players drove the
ball close to the barrier directly be-
fore Harriet; Eaton and Avery raced
for 1t, neck by neck. Eaton by better
riding gained a little; as they came
up, she saw Donald's attention was
not upon the bail or the play; 10
stead, he was watching Eaton closely.
And she realized suddenly that Don
aid had appreciated as fully as her
self that Eaton's clumsipess was a
p~retense. 1t was no longer merely
polo the two were playing; Donald,
suspectlng or perhaps even certain
that Eaton knew the game, was try
Ing to make him show II. and Eaton
was watchfully avoiding this. Just In
front of her. Donald. leaning forward,
swept the ball from In front of Ea.
toms p0ny's feet.
For a few moments the play was all
"a A. &..xA~- - " 49, 81