The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-06-11
CHAPTER I.
A Wager.

| bic ignorance, or, better, Immediately
convert ignorance into knowledge. In
this case 1t is the latter which brings
the bliss. Not seen Barbara Breton?
Ere the morning dawn, swear you
shall be numbered in the list Of her
adoring and despairing swains!"
So spoke Milton Lennox 10 his
friend, Travis Meredith, as the two sat
together smoking fragrant cigars and
slipping the ruby liquid from their
glasses in the luxurious bachelor
apartments of the first named.
The well-bred valet had retired. OF
the elegant little dinner of which they
had just partaken. the only evidence
remaining was the salver Of dollhouse
fruit in the center OF the table, the
gllttering glass and silver which had
not yet been removed. The room in
which they sat, dining and sitting
room in one, had evidently been fitted
up with lavish hand. Scattered here,
there and everywhere were articles of
vertu and bijoutry one would have sup
posed better fitted to lady's boudoir;
but In spite of all these feminine be-
longings, in spite of the sybaritean at
mosphere In which Milton Lennox
lived and moved and had his being, no
trace of effeminacy existed in the man
himself.
True, the white, elegantly shaped
hand, which now and again toyed with
the long. silken mustache, behind
which the white, even teeth glis-
tened, gave no evidence OF daily toll,
but the dark gray eyes, lighting the
handsome face. the noble head, the
breadth of shoulder, were in strange
contradiction to the sleepy voice, the
Ianguid grace, the seeming laziness
apparent In every movement.
The man whom he addressed was
younger in years by full half score.
A physiognomist would have said
weakness lurked in the corners of the
well-cut mouth the down upon his lip
in vain endeavored to conceal. Dis
sipation had as yet failed to drive the
color from the cheek, fair as a GIFTS.
The figure tall and young and straight,
still lacked something of its full pro-
portions, and almost blush mantled
the face women called beautiful as his
friend ceased speaking.
mo more chaff, Milton. No doubt
am as susceptible as You give me
credit for being, but for all that do
not fear to be put to the test. How in
the name of all that's fair am | to
have seen this goddess when only
two days have elapsed since set foot
once more upon my native heath?"
Two daysl Two centuries, my boy,
inasnuch as in them You had not yet
begun to live"
4 "Bosh. Lennoxl Don't talk non
sense! don't profess to be bullet
/ proof, but for all that I've seen pretty
actresses before, and beyond bouquet
or two, with a jewel hidden in the cen
ter. I have escaped scot-free. Come, !
will wager hundred dollars do DOT
even think her prettyi"
"And / will wager a thousand that
In one weeks time your acts, If not
your confession, proclaim you a votary
at the shrine of her beauty"
"Done! Acknowledged her fascina-
lions to be as great as you picture
them, and (by Jove, Lennox! 1t strikes
me you have been singed yourself)
the amount wagered will be sufficient
TO enable me to Withstand temptation
| for a week, at least. After that, pre-.
sume / am at liberty to place myself
In bondage?"
Certainly. The bet holds good for
n week only. In regard 10 my own
hurts, you are right, but 1t is a burnt
child, you know, who breads the fire,
But come; 1t is now after eight o'clock
My box is standing empty. Fortu-
nately l have 1t for the season, as
there is not seat to be had in the
house, nor at this hour even standing
room"
with these words the two young
men rose from the table; but, as they
turned toward the door, the younger
one paused before a pictured face
which smiled down on him from the
wall.
II was the portrait, seemingly, OF a
Girl of eighteen summers; her large
violet eyes, fringed with long, 1etty
lashes, which Swallowed them like
veil: her nose delicate and straight;
her mouth exquisitely small, with her
rose-red lips half parted In a smile
over the perfect teeth. Above the
low. white brow waved the Titan-tint
ed hair. arranged in careless abandon,
vet perfectly displaying the well
shaped head. set so regally upon the
white. sloping shoulders.
Travis Meredith stood spell-bound
rooted to the spot, his eyes devourine
the picture yet failing to detect the
amused twinkle in those Of his friend,
who at last exclaimed:
"My horses will be impatient
Travis. Rather pretty face that, Is
/ It not?"
"Pretty?" he replied, turning around
"It is the most exquisitely beautiful
face have ever seen! / would stake
my life upon that woman's purity OF
hearth Who is she? would cross
the ocean to meet and know her"
"That will not be necessary" re
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