The Dickinson press., 1910-04-23
HER SURPRISE,
By THOMAS r. DEAN,

Z. S13SAOusJ H 81. ..r
There is no place wherein men-and
women, too-will sooner sink to the
brute level than in a lumber camp.
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 a desire to 60, 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 snowshoes. A guide named
Jim Hogan, a 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
hair, large brown eyes, an ovsl face.
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. BE 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 women 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 woodsman. 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 snow with her teacher,
became bewitched. Possibly she pos
sessed an emotional nature. Possibly
her fancy vas fred by seeing bis
graceful figure threading its way be.
fore her through the interminable
woods. Be the cause what it may,
she came to feel that life would be 9
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 the
class of Miss Storms. Perhaps the
fact that she was, nearer Hogan's leve
gave her hts preference. He had be
come aware that Miss Storms was in
fatuated with him and that Miss
Woodson really loved him. He die
not break with either, fearing trouble
with her he discarded. He dislikei
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 Woodso1
4 walking side by side. Influenced by
a sudden impulse, induced by jealousy
Miss Storms a. she passed the coupl,
gave her rival a cut with her whip
leaving a red welt on her cheek.
There was no opportunity to resen
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 caus,
Of a fracas between the two women
he told her that If she attacked he
rival he would leave the camp ant
neither girl would hear from hin
again.
Miss Woodson, fearing that he would
keep his word, yet not being able t.
restrain her. thirst for revenge, chose
a middle course. She secretly sent 6
challenge to-. Miss Storms to fight
duel. The feelings that induced thi.
city girl who had been carefully rear
ed to fight a duel with another girl IL
q lumber camp cannot be analysed
Was it the influence Of the wild way.
among which she had fallen? Was i
hate for her rival? Was it a return t.
the brute Instincts which some scien
lists aver. were nee common with III
all? Whatever the motives, the chal
lenge was accepted.
Unfortunately seconds were neces
sary. Indeed, some one was needed. t,
bear the challenge. The bearer toll
her most intimate friend, who in turr
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
one or more intimate friends within 6
few hours after the challenge had
passed the coming duel was known OF
all over the camp. p