The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-08-21

WAGON WHEEL, Idaho, July I6.-A
portion of the recent history of this
camp will give outsiders faint idea of
the demand for women which exists in
parts of the West. A few weeks ago
John Doane, miner here, was taken
sick, and, as he seemed likely to die,
word was sent to his relatives in Mis-
souri,. In ten days his two sisters, both
maiden ladies, reached Wagon Wheel,
but too late to see their brother alive.
He had died few days after the tele-
gram had been sent, and had been
buried in the little cemetery under the
hill, where several men had proceeded
him with their boots on.
The leading men of the town took
the ladies in charge and saw. that they
were properly cared for at the hotel,
where nearly everybody here called on
them. One of the young women was
rather tall and angular, probably thirty
years of age, while the other was much
younger and more prepossessing in ap
pearance. They were we'll nigh ex-
hausted after their long journey, and
the Mayor of the town, Capt. Bowen,
and the Sheriff, Sylvester Ford, insisted
on their taking good rest before at
tempting to transact any business or
thinking of going home. Their brother
had some property, and the girls deci-
ded to remain to settle up his affairs.
About week after their arrival Sher-
iff Ford informed some OF his friends
that he was engaged to Miss Doane,
the elder, and certain actions on the
part of Cap. Bowen led the boys to be-
lieve that he was trying to dazzle the
eyes of the younger lady. That set the
town in an uproar, and from that time
on for several days until the matter was
settled, no young woman in America
was so industriously wooed as was Fanny
Doane. The Mayor had a good start
of the other boys, but he needed it and
more too. He is about 50 years old,
rather portly, with florid face on a
bald head-in fact, he was elected
Mayor because he was bigger around
than any other man in town and for
that reason had more dignity-and he
was not just the person that rather
good-looking girl would pick out for
husband. He had been very kind to
the young women, however, and it took
some finesse to cut him out, but Henry
Bowler, strapping young fellow of 80,
had the requisite amount. When he
had carried the day and the younger
lady had openly shown her preference
for him, the number of callers at the
hotel diminished rapidly, and the Sher-
iff and Bowler were practically left alone
in their glory. The Mayor called oc-
casionally on business and took his de-
feat as philosophically as possible.
In the course of a few days it was ar
ranged that the weddings should take
place here, and that the ladies mother
should be sent for that the thing might
90 off in good style. The girls wrote
home, explaining how the thing happen
ed, how they sought to have the day
postponed, and how ilnportunate their
lovers were, and wound up by saying
that they saw no way out of it but to
remain where they were and settle down.
1t took great deal of writing to ex-
plain the situation of affairs and to i'm
press on their mother the necessity of
getting here as soon as possible, but the
missives were at length prepared and
properly despatched. While waiting
for their mother the girls made prepara-
tions for their wedding, the whole town
taking an active interest in the pro-
ceedings.
Mrs. Doane arrived here last Monday
evening on the warpath, determined
that the marriages should not take place.
She was comely, we'll preserved wo-
man of perhaps SO years, with brisk
way about her. When she saw her
daughters she burst into tears, and up
braided them for their forgetfulness of
their dead brother and their immodest
haste generally, and at length when she
saw the Sheriff and Bowler. she gave
them piece of her mind as well. All
hands were in despair when old Cap.
Brown came along, and both the Sher-
iff and Bowler besought him as Mayor
of the town to intercede in their behalf.
This he did after a while. He called
on Mrs. Doane in the sitting room, and
introduced himself in the most dignified
manner as the Mayor of Wagon Wheel,
man necessarily interested in the well
fare of all its citizens. He began in a
diplomatic way to compliment the
Misses Doane. Lovelier girls he never
saw. He could sympathize with the
Sheriff and Bowler, because his own
heart had been touched. Then he gave
an account of John Doane, and said
that, sad as his death had been, he knew
the poor fellows last hours would have
been frightened if he could have known
that his sisters would find such noble
men for husbands-lnen whom he knew
we'll, and both of whom had done every
thing in their power for him when he
was ill.
Now said Bowen, 'if your husband
was here, madam, could talk to him
more freely, but
Il have no husband said Mrs. Doane
with sigh. Il am widow
sA-a a widow2 No husband7' gasp
ed the old Cap. the idea dawning on
him slowing. 'Yes, yes, very sad.
see. Yes, l see. I'm sorry-that is,
I'm glad you are here. So the consent
depends entirely upon your Of course,
it does. Yes, it does. Suppose you
think this matter over few minutes
and l will call here again in half an
hour. l must see man on important
business and then / will come back
Please do not talk with anybody else
until you see me-
Then he slid out, went home, put or
his boiled shirt, stand-up collar, ano
a white necktie, and long frock Goa