The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-04-13
RaIuh True turns to her. II d

Daisy looks pity from her eyes, and
Ral lph thinks how rarely pretsy those
same eyes are.
"You do" Gerry says, "come" =.
And they all rise from the table. An
hour later merry group is on the
river. Ralph is awkwardly trying to-
stand OH his skates while his eyes tol-
low q little figure, skating alone, some
distance beyond the others.
Watch your feet! Look out"
Gerry is expostulating, when, with u
cry, her awkward pupil. dashes over
the ice cs only an experienced skater
can, to where little figure is strug-
Cling in the water. Gerry forgets her
vexation in her fright for her sister.
"Oh, N;ssy. darling! Save her! save
her." she cries, Ralph True has sue
ceeded in catching a long braid OF fair
hair. but as willing hands draw
her from the water, he looses his
hold md disappears in the dark
water. Some one dives for him and
saves him, bnt the merry party OF the
morning return to Iazeldene with
two unconscious burdens. Ralph is
none the worse for his ducking the
next morning, but Daisy does not
come down until evening, when even
then she looks pale and languid.
Ralph eazes at her as he turns Gerald.
ines music, and catching her eye he
wonders why she bushes so prcttilv
and why she always turns away SO
quickly.
"Chess?' Gerry rattles on, edo you
ply it, True? let us form % Set.
You and !, and Mr.. Sage, and-and"
"Daisy," Ralph supplies. The party
is soon formed, but some how, Gerry
can never tell how, Daisy is Ralph's
partner, while her lot is cast with
that OF Mr.. Sage. She looks at Daisy's
dropping fnce rather angrily, and
when the game ends declaring Ralph
and Daisy vietors, she rises with a
small grimace and goes over to l.er
mother ut the other side OF the room.
sionately. 81 think that you must
be u wonderful player, Mr. True.
Gerry always wins at any game she
ever tries"
"Docs she?" Ralph quizzes, "Tt will
do her good To Let left sometimes.
Come out, Miss Daisy. and see the
Hudson by moonlight. DO you feel
Hhlrg"
When they return sets are forming
for II dance.
Come" Gerry's clear voice cries,
| want you, True
Ralph crosses to her side. "You
dancc?"
"No. do not"
GLOW am to know but what you
are deceiving me like you did yester.
day?"
"Take my word for it,"
won't you dance this set With
me?"
"I'l walk through it.
W-e-l-l," loubtfully.
Never was Gerry so provoked. New
er was Ralph so delighted. They
managed to get through. somehow,
and when the music ceases, Ralph
pauscs with u laugh.
"Do you like to dance with me, Miss
Gerry?"
"No" she cries. "Go away! hate
you!"
ifn wnlLs away tn a little fnnre nj.
most lost i'll II great chair by the open
CRATE.
"Wlll you dance the next with me?"
he asked.
"Ies."
"Did you see how very awkwardly
l step"
"Yes. But Pm not afraid"
Gcraldene looks after them in
amazement as they float past her.
"Sold again." she murmurs. "What
in the world am to do with such q
man."
The days fled by. Ii person could
have Judged as to the success OF the
wager by the fact that Ralph and
Geraldenc were often together, then. in
deed, Harry is in a fair way to win.
Each excursion plarned; each game
played, each tableau; each theatrical;
these Two are partners. The fact that
quiet Daisy is often with them, too,
does not seem to count. Harry is
puzzled. And Gerry, has to confess
that she has met u man who does not
make love to her after one weeks
acquaintance. The friends who are
in the secret look on with interest. mot
knowing who will win that most I'M
fortunate wager. They are plannin,
Il masquerade ball.
Each guest is to keep his own coun-
sci and not let q person know what
character he intends to personate.
Such mystery, such locked doors, such
secrets, us reign for Il week before the
cventfnl evenin. arrives, is wonderful
to relate. AT lust time brings around
the evening. The house guests have
all managed to glide into tho rooms
with an outsider, so that all identity
is lost, and they mingle together as
one unknown whole.
Geraldene's shril voice would have
betrayed her, even if one long tendril
OF hair had not escaped from it's con-
tincment ard hung almost to her feet.
She is Venus, 90 1dess OF love, and
never has she appeared SO beautiful.
She looks in vain for Ralph True's tall
figure to betray him. She cannot de-
eide whether that tall soldier, or yon-
der Romeo, or the cavalier by her
side. is he. She sees Romeo bending
over II small Juliet all in blue, and she
wonders if Daisy knows who her Ro.
meo is.
Juliet" Romeo is whispering, "fol-
low me. want yon."
Daisy rises and follows his lead.
Does she know him? The little lady
keeps her own counsel, ii she does.
They stand on the terrace. The
stars sparkle overhead; the frozen
lluu>Oh SltaluS III lliC olSldlCG.
"Daisy, | overheard you telling
Gerry oi your costume, and l dress.
ed to match you. Daisy, do you
know me? love you. Will you be
my wiic?"
And Daisy, without IL thought of
her conquest or OF Gerry's anger, looks
up at her tall Romeo answers both
questions with !" happy YES, Ralph"
How surprised they all were when
the announcement is made at the
breakfast table the next morning.
Silence falls at first. and then with
one accord they all roar with laught-
er. "Who has won the wager, old
boy?" Harry asks. "Ot course
meant Gerry. Inever even thonght
OF Dot there. as captivating u great
woman-hater like yon were in the old
college days. But she is my sister
Just the sama.'
"Granlc,l." Ralph replies. prompt
ly, but | said nat could resist
your coqtle.te sisters charms, and 1
dill"
"l'll tell you" Gerry cries. her piqu-,
ant face all smiles, ''put the FIVE
hundred dollars and the one hundred;
dollars in one, and present it to the