Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-06-17
TOLD BY A PRIEST.

/ ~ JOuihS lAOLu AlClGud W hisopu u
and had stopped for the night at
stage ranch, one of the old-tim
rude wayside hostelries of whicl
to-day, in the changed condition.
wrought by the advent of the rail
roads, but very few remain.
Black, angry clouds had gathered
upon the northern horizon, and a,
evening approached light, feathery
snow began falling, which rapidly
increased in quantity, until air and
earth were blended in blank white
shroud, beneath which surrounding
objects cleaned wierd aud spectral
through the deepening gloom.
We were a motley group as we
gathered around the huge open fire
to enjoy our postprandial pipe,
while the storm beat fiercely with
out, and the fllckerlng red flames
lined the circle Of bronzed and
bearded faces with wierd and fit
tering Rembranlt.like lights and
shades.
In the center sat a hrOad-shOulder-
ed, p0rtly man, Of apparently 90
years of age, whose smoothly shaven
and rubcund face, Us we'll as the
sober cut of his dress. Enthusiastically
proclaimed the priest.
To pleasantly pass the evening
story after story was related by sew
eral of the persons present; and
when the priest announced his will
ingness to entertain his companions
we all attentively listened to the
tale he told. In voice low, musi-
cal and impressive, he thus proceed
ed:
ain 1855 | left Montreal, Canada,
Immediately upon my graduation
from the school in which / had pur-
sued the latter part Of MY theologi.
cal course, having been ordered by
the church directory to report for
service at st. Ignatius' mission, a
distant station in the wilderness at
the headwaters of the Missouri river,
now part Of the modern territory
of Montana.
For number of years following,
my field of operations was confined
to the savage tribes inhabiting the
region within which myself aud CO.
workers were the only white men,
save few traders Of the Northwest
Fur Company, stationed forty miles
distant at Fort Benton.
"The discovery of gold, however,
within the territory in 1862 led to IA
vast influx of Adventures, and the
mountains were soon filled with
seekers for the precious metal, while
little towns here and there began Ia
spring up like mushrooms among
the gulches.
Zone night, after having worked
rather harder than usual with our
Indian school, which had only been
recently organized, retired early to
my apartments. was just in n
doze when rap came Oh my door,
and our superior walked in with a
troubled face.
A man has been shot In a minel IS
camp near Bear Forth mountain,
and is dying he said, and though
1t is II hard ride for a dark and
threatening night, ysur presence is
requested at his bedside. Your
horse will be at the door IN ten
minutes, and a guide is here to ac-
company you. Prepare for the
journey at once
within the time named ! was
in the saddle. My companion
proved to be rough looking indi-
vidual who, during the long ride
which followed did not speak
dozen words in answer to my ques-
tions.
"The night was one of inky dark
ness,and now and then II great drop
of rain fell from the dark vault
above, while the wind swept fiercely
and chillingiy from the river, the
banks of which we were traversing,
sometimes catching up clouds of
spray from the rapids and dashing
them in binding gusts in onr faces.
"Within an hour after leaving the
mission the rain fell In torrents, but
we pursued our way without halting,
1t was well on towards morning
when II few patches of light sud
denly appeared, and in a few mo-
ments we rode into n little village
Of tents, from some OF which came
the sounds of rude music aud rev.
elry, and from Others the shouts
and curses of drunken men.
1--WE rode through a long avenue
of these canvas towns, until we
reached the end of the row, where
we drew rein before n high log BALD
ing, apparently the most pretentious
one in the city
"As We dismounted the door was
ilungopen, aud a bright light stream
ed forth, revealing neatly, almost
luXuriously, furnished interior, with
"A roughly-attired man outlined in
the foreground. a bright fire was
burning at one end of the room,
and, entering, was left aloue to dry
my drenohed garments before It's
cheerful blaze.