The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-04-13
WHO WON THE WAGER7

.lueer, you sayg You would not
think SO if you had seen women in as
many different shapes as I have.
have been in the company OF asociety
young lady, when really would have
left her, with pleasure, and be boiled
or frozen, or even eaten by cannibals,
rather than remain in her flippant
society. have heard women more
than scolding their husbands for the
mere fragile trifle of being late for u
meal, or for having renamed at his
club later than the usual ten o'clock.
! have been bored by so called htera.
ry women until my ears have ached.
have sat in silent ecstacy with %
bashful young lady until have felt
like screaming aloud to exercise my
vocal organs. Have l never had a.
mother? Well; Pm not like Topsy,
ken. SUPPOSE that 1 did have
q mother long ago-but SO long ago
that l have ceased to remember her.
She died when was two months old,
so no wonder that cannot recall her
features. The aunt who took her
place and acted master to mo WIS u
regular old Tartar--raw boned, rcd
headed, beary eyed, and cross. Won.
en!' ! hate them. Did ! never see IL
pretty, piquant girl face with yellow
hair curling over her white forehead,
and big, blue eyes upraised full OF
wonder, ut man who would dare to
say that he hated her sex? No. I
have never seen such a paragon. Have
never seen a coquettc who expects
to have men fall in love with her, as
much as she expects the sun to shine?
Yes, | have me, such ladies, and have
had no trouble to resist their social
ed charms. Have never met q sen.
sible young lady, who cauld talk OF
the latest news, and interest one? On
yes:--but have failed to be interest,"
ed. l tell you, man, | hate them
all! have no ideal. albion the
whole set offalsc. whimpering women"
Harold Clemens looked at his sim
istrous friend in amazement. He sees
q tall, straight, grandly proportional
man, stretched ut full length on the
grass. lis hat shades his dark eyes
from the sun, but his brown, hand.
some face is fully exposed.
Truly this woman hatcr is II
tnvorite OF the gods, if beauty is con.
sdered the criterion. But the cx-
preston is u discontented one and
the eyes seem full OF longing. Harold
Clemens and Ralph True arcspcnd,n.
their vacation by wandering over
Italy together. Both are rich Ameri.
cans and college chums,
"Ralph. IN make % wager with
you!" and Harry springs to his feet
in his excitement.
"Well?" lazily.
II have u sister whom know you
cannot resist. She is u charming
coquette. Twill give you Just three
weeks irUIiirli.e i;iIIc yuu meet ~
until you fall in love with her, or
vice versa-its all the same"
Fact"
"she is SO lovely. No man can re-
sist her."
"No mln9 Twill be an exception.
take your wager. Fivehundrcd dol.
lars down to one hundred that win"
"Grantcd. Come do&n to IInzetlrne
on Christmas and know that you
will leave an engaged man."
=
Hazedene on tine lIudson-a home
MS pretty us it's name. The winter
SHOWS are falling and the deep waters
OF the blue Hudson are frozen, cntic-
ing skaters to glide on its smoothness.
Hazellenc spnrkles in the wintry sun
shine, u grandly built, modern man.
sion OF white stone. The rooms will h.
in are bright withroaringlires and the
laughter OF II gay party, gathered
around the open fire placein t he ample
entrance hall.
One figure is the center OF the group.
One merry voice is heard above the
din. One merry piquant face Is ever
turning toward the door, as if in OK.
pectation OF an arrival.
$50. he is coming today" Gerald
enc Clemens says. turning her glorious
dark eyes upon her brother. louneing
upon a rug before the fire. "Oh lean
scarcely wait. The great, overgrown
baby. Thinks no one is so good as
he. I'll soon teach him that | am OF
some Importance. too. Oh, what fun
it will be-"
abe merciiul, Gcraldene," cries one
manly voice alter another.
"Zounds! Eity the man" murmurs
some one.
Geraldene tosses her brown ringIet-
ed head.
"Harrv. remember that two hun
dred and fifty dollars OF thatwaser be-
longs to mel"
Gerry" IL soft voice whispers at
the beauty's elbow, don't do it."
Let the poor man be happy in his
IDEAS. Don't make his heart ache for
fun. Gerry. Don't do it, sister, it's
wicked"
Geraldine laughs.
A small, childish creature it is, who
is thus pleading. A fair-huired, blue
eyed, delicate girl, ns unlike her bril-.
liant sister, Us water is unlike wine.
The face OF the elder sister, soitens.
daisy" she says, III won't hurt
him. He has boosted so lon! that he
hates us all, it will do him good to be
caught once. Don't worry little girl.
Well have our fun, and only Mr.. True
will be the wiser. Oh, long to see
him! The great. boastine, woman
hater OF the period"
"Whom you can see by using your
eyes," q quiet voice observes at her
elbow.
He has entered so quietly. that
Geraldine, in her excitement, did not
hear him.
She turns to him now, and her
laughing eyes do not fall beneath his
lackadaisical gaze.
Dalsy's blue eyes fill with surprised
tears.
"Well, the old adagc, that listeners
hear no good OF themselves. holds
true in your case" Gerry's saucy
voice cries.
Ralph True laughs.
"Miss Geraldene, how delighted am
that l could grant your desire at
the right moment"
"Mr. True is truly kind. Come to
the fire. You are surely cold"
"No-your warm reception has re-
freshed me already"
Is she at loss what to say? All
listen eagerly. Sil. straishtens her
slight figure and looks at him sobelly.
"Pleased with rattle and tickled
l., l al