The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-12-20
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~ ~ ELLEN A1NZ47D

herself precariously on the top step Of
the ladder with the tips Of her fingers
on the bachelors shoulder, while she
surveyed pink and gold angel at the
very apex Of the charity Christmas
tree. 1T looks stunning, doesn't it,"
The bachelor folded his arms and
gazed up at the widow critically.
"stunning!" he agreed. "But why
are the incest things all at the top
where we can't reach themv'
The widow withdrew her fingers
from his shoulder and leaned hurriedly
over to transfix tinsel heart on q
side branch.
They aren't" she said, squirting
one eye to ascertain that the heart
hung straight. '"They only seem the
n1cest-because we can't reach them.
From here" she went on, returning to
her scrutiny Of the pink and gold
angel, "he looks like real angel, but
II we should take him down he'd turn
to paper and wax and paint again."
Il wonder" said the bachelor, study.
Ing the widow thoughtfully, from the
sprig of holly berries in her ruff
fed hair to the bottom of her ruff
fed lace frock, "if should take you
down-what you'd turn to-"
us that butterfly on straight" ask
ed the widow anxiously, bending to re-
adjust gilt clothespin with green
tarlatan wings.
From here" went on the bachelor,
ignoring the DETECTION, you look like
q real"
TITS the Illusion" broke in the wild
ow, which makes anything seem
nice. And it's distance that lends en-
chantment to the Illusion"
I'D rather put up with less en-
chantment," complained the bachelor,
"and less distance, If"
"Of course you would" The widow
jabbed a pin into a paper kitten and
fastened it firmly to the tree by one
eye. That's the trouble with a man.
He always wants to tear down his H.
lusions, and see what they are made
OF. From the time when boy insists
on seeing the wheels go round in his
fathers watch, or on taking his patent
mill to pieces to find out how it works,
to the time when he insists ON know
ing what his wife pays for her hats
and how she gets the blush ON her
cheeks and the curve in her waist line,
he Is forever trying to get behind the
scenes Of life instead of being salts.
fed to sit out in the orchestra chair
and take things-for what they seem
to be. If a woman can possibly ideal
lie husband or lover, she will shut
her eyes and cling to that ideal, like
grim death, even if she may know she
Is being fooled; but man is not hap.
py unless he has the facts; and facts
about anything aren't-very pleasant IS
"Oh, I don't know" the bachelor
squinted up at the widow" there are
facts about your pompadour and the
tilt of your nose
1T was the same way in the Garden
Of Eden" went on the widow, twist.
ing string of popcorn about refrac-
tory branch without noticing the bach.
olor.
Were you there, too?" The bach
elor looked impressed.
1--WE always believed" pursued the
widow, undauntedly, "that the tree of
knowledge was just Christmas tree,
and that all Adam and Eve did was to
take down their illusions and find out
80
"That they were paper and paint and
wax%.
The widow nodded.
EYES," she agreed; "and that's what
always happens at the end of the hon.
eymoon. The moment the holiday of
love Is over married people begin tear
Ing down the trimmings off the tree Of