The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-02-17


For naught We feared as his irowns-
We bleated, and burked. and beloved,
And danced like circus clowns.
From Boycsen's Modern Vikings"
Mrs. Brandow's EIopement.
New York Times.
Miss Mamie Du Bois had n great
many suitors. 1t was generally con-
cedcd, however, that only two mad
any chance OF winning her. Mr.. Jack
Minturn and Mr.. Bob Brandow
were the only ones who rode to
hounds, and as Miss Mamie was mn
enthusiastic follower OF the Willow
Brook pack, her friends concluded,
and quite correctly as it proved, that
when she ma,le her choice she would
become either Mrs. Mlnturn or Mrs.
Brandow. Those who took the troub-
lie to form an opinion as to which OF
the two gentlemen it would be, said
Jack would undoubtedly be the fa-
vorite ore. He was the handsomer,
rode ii anything q tritle better than
his rival, and during the Fall OF 1883
was temporary Master OF
the Foxhounds, hunting the
pack with great skill. Moreover,
he was more OF u ladies' man and
quite as well fixed financially. But
at the close oi The Autumn season OF
1883 Miss .,..nnie's engagement to
Bob was announced. The following
Fall the gentleman built u number OF
extensions and additions to his little
huntingdon, ,reconstructcdh his stables,
bought some new hunters, and for
two years he and miss Mamie, now
Mrs. Brandow, hunted even more en-
Enthusiastically than before their mar
riagc.
Jack Minturn went to the South of
France for the seasons OF 1854 and
1885. He told his friends that he
had long wished to try some hunting
there, and now he had an excellent
opportunity. His friends smiled.
Some even ventured to openly poke
fun at him.
When the Willow Brook Club met
at Delmonico's, in the midwintcr of
1886, to elect officers for the en-
suing year, it was found that Mr.. Bob
Brandow and another gentleman had
set their hearts upon lcIng Master OF
the Foxhounds, and furthermore, it
was discovered that cnchfelt his claim
to be OF such IL nature that in ease of
his opponents election he (thc defeut-
ed candiiate) had but one course to
pnrsue-to resign. The position was
decidedly awkward, especially as the
club was very evenly divided about
the rival candidates. A serious break
was imminent.
Now il so happened that Jack Min
turn arrived home in New York from
his temporary sojourn abroad on the
very day of the Willow Brook elcc-
tlons, and. dropping III Delmonico's
after several Intellectual ballots had
been taken, was bounced uponby con-
tending factions as compromise can
dldate. He admitted that his hunters
were on the way across the ocean and
that he intended to hunt during the
comingyear, protested that he could
not think oisucl an honor as the title
of Il
unanimously elected in the midst OF
his protestations. lie OF course ac-
cepted.
And so it came to pass that when
the frost got out OF the ground Jack
Mlnturn WAS once more not only nn
active member OF the Willow Brook,
but was handling the pack.
Bob ielt not a particle of resent
ment and was glad to see him hunt
ing again. Mrs. Brnnaow WAS de-
lighted to see cher old friend" back.
She chidsd him prettily for having de-
serted Willow Brook for so long, ut
trrly ignoring the commonly conceded
cause OF his desertion, told him with
innocence amlsingly earnest how the
pack chad been too iast nnd too
slow" in his absence, and from he be-
ginning treated him quite as cordially
MS ii she had not been the cause OF his
two years exile.
Jack Minturn became very attcn-
tive to Mrs. Brandow. 1t was quite
natural. lie was Master OF the
hounds; she was probably the best
lady rider in the club facts which in
themselves led to certain courtcsies
on his part. AS time went on, he be-
came quite devoted, and she. to say
the least, did not discourage him.
AS the season advanced. Bob be-
came, not Enthusiastically is Jealous
nowadays-but n little uncomfort-
able. OF course, he cared nothing
about it himself. lie would not have
given it II thought had it not been for
outsiders; he feared they were enjoy
ing mental cnuckles ut his expense.
This was the way Bob argued in the
spring. BY fall he was ready to ad-
NIT that he did care. His views on
the subject had become more and
more positive until he had reached n
state OF mind best described as vol
canic. Mrs. Brandow may or may
not have been aware Of his mental
She paid no attention
to it. She was young, very young,
having been married before She WIS
out OF her teens.
One afternoon late in Oct tobrr, Mr..
and Mrs. Bob l'randow stood ON the
verlnda OF their hunting box waiting
for the horses to be brought around.
Mrs. Brandow's dainty form never
looked dantirr than when
incased in brown habit, her
checks were already colored
by the sharp Autumn air, her deep
blue eyes sparklcd in anticipation OF
the afternoons sport. Anosrincrsh
made a very pretty picture, but Bob
was evidently III no mood TO rrjoy it.
lie paced UP and down withmra~ ~ured
stride and cioSeyknlt brow. ,hnmp.
in. his boot top with his'cropat every
step in total disregard o: he polish so