Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-04-14
HER SURPRISE,
BY THOMAS r. DEAN.

S'S liza !" - LIN So1Ap.
Miss Margaret Storms of st. Louis
was the daughter of an owner of lum-
Der property in Wisconsin. She was
city born and bred and had never been
in a wild country in her life. But one
winter she took it into her head to 60
with her father to his lumber prop
erty, and, although he told her that
the people were very rough and she
would not like to be among them, she
was possessed with Il desire to go. and
she did.
From the moment of her arrival she
seemed to delight in the wild woods
and showed no disinclination for the
rude lumber folk she met there. She
was eager to go about and in order to
be able to travel on the surface of the
snow asked for some one to teach her
to walk in s~nowshoes. A guide named
Jim Hogan, q tall, strapping son of
the woods, was recommended to her
as an expert snowshoe and skee
teacher. Jim had physical beauty
enough to captivate a dozen women.
He had a profusion of curly black
AClAl q - UlO"u ey OS, III oNdl 1dCCs
shaved except for a dropping mus
tache, and the figure of an Apollo
Belvedere. He was perfectly fearless
and thoroughly versed in woodcraft.
But here the guides qualifications
as a lady killer ceased. He could
read and write. but if he had ever
read anything he had no ability to
impart it to others. He had little fan
cy for and was rather annoy
ed at their attentions. Indeed, he kept
himself as much as possible away
from the settlements to avoid them.
Strange as it may appear, Miss
Storms, who had been educated in the
best schools, came under the spell of
this ignorant woodslnan. But it should
not appear so improbable when we re-
member that the early kings Of Eng
land could neither read nor write. True,
their queens were just as ignorant,
but there is ample evidence that they
loved their husbands. At any rate,
the lumber capitalists daughter, skim
ming over the with her teacher,
became bewitched. Possibly she pos
sessed an emotional nature. Possibly
her fancy was fired by seeing his
graceful figure threading it's way be-
fore her through the interminable
woods. Be the cause what it may,
she came to feel that life would be a
wretched existence without her Ho-
gan.
1t happened that the daughter of the
~storekeeper Of the camp found more
favor in Hogan's eyes than Miss
Storms. This girl, Anna Woodson.
was also a city girl. but not Of &c
class of Miss Storms. Perhaps the
fact that she was nearer Hogan's level
gave her his preference. He had be-
come aware that Miss Storms was in
fatuated with him and that Miss
Woodson really loved him. He did
not break with either, fearing trouble
with her he discarded. He disliked
especially to break with Miss Storms,
for her father was paying him a hand
some sum each week for his daugh-
ter'S instruction.
One day Miss Storms was driving
in her fathers buggy when she over
took Jim Hogan and Miss Woodson
walking side by side. Influenced by
a sudden impulse, induced by jealousy.
Miss Storms as she passed the couple
gave her rival a cut with her whip.
leaving a red welt on her cheek.
There was no opportunity to resent
the insult then and there, for in a mo-
ment Miss Storms was beyond reach.
Miss Woodson burned for an Opportu-
nifty to get her fingers in Miss Storms
hair and so expressed herself to Mr..
Hogan. Terrified at being the cause
Of a fracas between the two women.
he told her that If she attacked her
rival he would leave the camp and
neither girl would hear from him
again.
Miss Woodson, fearing that he would
keep his word, yet not being able to
restrain her thirst for revenge, chose
a middle course. She secretly sent a
challenge to Miss Storms to fight a
duel. The feelings that induced this
city girl who had been carefully rear
ed to fight Il duel with another girl in
a lumber camp cannot be analysed.
Was it the influence Of the wild ways
among which she had fallen? Was it
hate for her rival? Was it q return to
the brute instincts which some scien-
lists aver were one common with US
all? Whatever the motives, the chal-
lenge was accepted.
Unfortunately seconds were neces-
sary. Indeed, some one was needed to
bear the challenge. The bearer told
her most intimate friend, who in turn
told her most intimate friend. This
included two intimate friends, besides
the principals, who knew of the af-
fair. But as each intimate friend had
n or more intimate friends within a
few hours after the challenge had
passed the coming duel was known of
all over the camp.
Hogan fled.
One Of Mr.. Storms managing men
informed him of the situation, and
when the next train left Miss Storms
was on it.