The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-04-09
HER CRAFTSMANSHIP.

this delightful place Saturday to return
to our musty old city quarters. and re-
sumo the thread of our most humdrunl
existence. ], to work like slave all
day and spend my evenings in lonely
room. You, to lie on the hearth at my
feet; to keep your landlady's cat at a
distance. and guard my few poor treas
urcs. Eli. rrincc?"
And patting his companion, large
Newfoundland known to local fame as
the "Black Prince" who looked up at
him with an affcctionate and intelligent
expression in his large soft eyes. US il
he understood every word, (and many
would have maintained that he did)
Fred Castle threw himself on the grass
at the foot of a large maple and breath
ell a languid sigh of relief. This was a
rccumbent statue of Incidence. A we'll
built young man, of average height, or
dinarily noticeable by q certain fine
carriage of his well-proportioncd head,
and decidedly individualized manner.
A genial face, neither classic nor strik-
ingly handsome, but well moulded, the
only inharmonious feature was the
mouth. the full lips Of which were
drawn from their originally soft lines.
and hardened by an expression half con-
tcmptuous-half cynical. Aside from
this his face was pleasing and his man.
ncr most engaging.
During his two weeks stay at that
popular western summer resort, Ghost
Lake, he had grown to DO . general
favorite with all the guests of the prin-
cipal hotel, until no picnic, no moon
light boat ride or serenade. no parlor
entertainment was considered complete
without him. He conversed we'll on in
Vulnerable subjects; he was we'll read;
he sang fairly, and played the guitar
with some skill; he possessed quiet
vein of humor and q knack Of inventing
amusements; could sketch some and
row like u sailor. Besides this combi-
nation of attractions there was Q certain
nonchalance and an easy grace about
him that took well. He had spent his
vacation very pleasantly for an ordinary
clerk, and nothing had happened to
mar his enjoyment. Perhaps an un-
pleasant memory had crept in and
frightened the sunbeams away for q
moment and he had banished it with
that characteristic indifference so pc.
culiar to him, as he had banished the
vision of the two most ordinary wall
flowers sojourning there, strenuously
cndcavoring to land him in the matri-
monial net.
"Really, quite pretty picture-so
very. very romantic. An Endymion at
Ghost Lake!" There was hysterical
gigglc and two shadows fell across him.
Startled, Castle looked up. Horrors!
There stood the Misses Nevins, the
identical persistent angling wall flow
ers, looking down upon him with Ian
gushing eyes.
Thanks, ladies'" he said. but l
am more fortunate than Endymion of
old, in that l have two Dianas to smile
upon me-"
"Oh, You fatter," they giggled in
chorus, '.you horrid men are so terri.
bly, insinccre.
Not at all. You wrong us--we are
models of sincerity. May l ask vol,
where You are going?"
I'VE are off for boat ride. Will
you accompany us?" said the elder Of
tile two, an angular maiden of thirty
summers.
"Would be delighted, assure you;
but the fact is, l have been roaming
about all day and am completely fag-
ged out. You will excuse mep"
Certainly. but we are so sorry"
What strange, constituencies be.
ings some women are," he murmured
his eyes following them as they walked
toward the boat-house. EITHER fish
ing for u husband as cold-bloodet
1saak Walton angles for a fine trout
or breaking mems hearts with the sub
lime indifference with which the inauis
,tols of old broke heretics on the vince
or the rack. entirely unmindful of tn,
sufferings of their Victims
hello, CASTLE" cried q young man
hurrying up, ''have you seen Ned Ever
ton go by?"
mo. Is he here?' drawled Castle
lazily, as he drew cigar from hi
pocket and lit it. when did he Gomez
''This morning, with Elwood and hi
folks Thought every one knew the
were here. Elwood has turned tn
house upside down with his fun"
mo, have been away since break
fast. Took lunch with me and roam
cd all over creation. Don't know any
thing new don't care to-too tired.
Laughing heartily at Fred's superla
tive Incidence, the other hurried away
1.-The deuce!' muttered Castle, re
ilectivcly chewing his cigar, and gain
atasmall cloud just rising above the hol
lion. ''They here, land that fellow Eve,
ton with them. But. Igave them credi
for better sense. 1t is some of the oil
lady's work, I'll wager. The veriest foe
who pays her compliment or praise
one of her hobbies, Immediately be
comes paragon in her sight, is dut
bed friend, and together they rule tn
family, wrong you when 1 call 70
friend, if that is the worlds standard q
friendship. This is an additional re.
son why We should return Saturday
and laughing little, he arose to hi
feet and leaned against the trunk of til
maple.
Down on the lake shore. some on
was singing an old, old song, one tbs
he had often sung when-well whs
matter when that was all paste VIII
would that simpleton persist in Aattin
SO numerically. and spelling the beau
tiful song with intolerable discordl
And why sing that song of all Others
True, he had heard it since then; We.
lie had sung it many time. but neve