The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-27
"Why, it will be five years before the

ed. "Why, it will be five years before the
trees can make any kind of showing"
'"Iime is feeting," said Won Schroeder
..life is brief, and We can't afford to wait.
Don't plant slips, Benton, but buy the trees
already grown. if need be-"
"But the COST
"See that the grove is here-never mind
the details.'' was the baron's concluding re-
quest. In two years grove of trees, rang
ing in height from fifteen to twenty feet,
shaded the area at the rear of the mansion,
and walks and rustic chairs, and everything
else that might conduce to the pleasure con-
templated, was there. The trees were
shipped there at great expense, but never a
word was heard concerning the outlay.
Two hundred and fifty yards from the
mansion, just back of the grove, was hill
of solid rock. A man of moderate means
might have regretted its being there, for it
was not an ornament and could be of no
earthly use to him. To the baron the pres
ence of the hill was source of delight
Just the thing" might be his expression;
oppressive here in summer. This hill
must be followed out and we will have
grotto, where we may sit in comfort when
the sun is raging"
To his superintendent he gave orders to
have grotto blasted out of that hill. The
work was begun without delay and hun
dreds of tons of rock were riven and con-
veyed away to be built into wall to bor-
der the winding road leading to the man
sion on the promontory. Stone walks
were built wherever the require
ments seemed to arise and when the
grotto was completed every ounce of rock
had been devoted to useful purpose. To
ornament the interior of that grotto in
harmony with the surrounding gray stone
was the next thing. The baron sent east to
connoisseurs. and had rare plants and pot
terry of appropriate designs sent on and
placed in the summer house IN the hill.
The baroness is woman OF taste; neither
the rocky walls and they were shipped back
again. Now, dull gray pottery and artificial
plants placed here and there have beauti-
full effect and brilliant lamp hangs from
the center of the wall above and in July
evenings sends its rays down on scene of
royal splendor, for here the baron and his
guests sit and sip the sparkling wine and
life generally.
And to-day people for many miles around
visit the Eagle ranch and view with wonder
the baron's system of water works. which is |
on scale worthy of small city-reser-
voirs in the mountains and water distribu-
ted to every portion of the ranch through |
iron pipes-and drive through the tree
lined ways to an orchard laid out on rolling |
hills. containing 5000 French prune trees
the largest orchard in the world. These
an average profit of Sc or 81, and from this
source the baron expects his remuneration.
d The Eagle ranch is hunters paradise.
Jane of all description abounds. The
baron is great sportsman, and it is on
:ecord at the ranch that when he first as
'umed possession he gave orders to his
that if ever bear track
vas found he should be notified imme-
lately by telegraph. Mr.. Schroeder was
hen living in the city across the bay. A
elegram came one day with the news that ;
grizzly had been seen in the hills, and ,
hat the monster would not be made tar !
get till the baron was heard from. The
aaron reached Templeton, then the termi-
lus of the Southern Pacific, and was con-
eyed to the ranch Immediately. The next
morning he started out with a Mexican ,
,uide to find old bruin. They had Travelled
ar in the hills, when suddenly q cracking
sas heard in the brush amid the trees.
''Ha! senior. the bearr' exclaimed the Mex
can. I'VE shall climba the tree and shoota
town."
Are you afraid?' quickly asked the i
'aron.
He's very mucha dangerous; you missa /,
he bear, he maka the meal admonished
he guide.
Then climb tree. SIR cried the baron. .
he Mexican was not long in Obeying, and Z
waited for the bear. The griz-
ly saw his foe and hurried to embrace |
i'm. The baron stood. cool and collected, I
varned his guide not to shoot. and sent Z
rllet crashing to the center OF thegrizzly'si
cad The great beast rolled over dead. !
That is the story. bnt the Mexican smiles I
whenever he hears it. and listens patiently {
D the laudation on the baron's bravery,
nd that nobleman's rivals are prone to OBJ
erve: The Mexican's paid to keep his /