The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-02-10

The familiar figure ercased in black with
long streaming white hair-with a pleas
ant nod and CHEEKY word to every Passer
by, sill linger a, memories to the frat
s~sttlers OF Mouse River valley.
~
One August day in tho year 1885, there
came riding down from the buttes OF the
Dog Den, a lone horseman. he was cast
ing his eyes wistfullv ON the broad prairies
below him. He was looking for stray
stock. As he rode near the frontier min
~;,ter's residence his eyes danced at the
sivht .of the tasseled corn bearing up
huge roasting cars. Then he Thought OF
his hard dry grub" of doughsods, jack
rabbits and black coffee, at his lonely
shack--for he was the ex-county othcer'
now the hermit ranchman of the Dog Den
range.
At this iuncture' he noticed a woman
hoeinv near by in a garden, SO
ing from his horse, walked up to the
lady, and after passing the compliments
of the morning, asked TO purchase some
corn. Her face was masked in a sun bonnet
he could not see; first a bloodless face then
a flushed ono. She did not heed his ques-
ton but asked one. This after a steady
scanning of the ,.unwashed and unkempt
features before her, and with Il softened
worl rs if in doubt
.A,o ,,on mot Nr T--H
"Possible, possible" he said 'you are
you are
.Oh, no am Mrs. Ii, the min
ister's wife, but you must come to The
house and SEQ your child,
The minister was absent ut this first
visit. He was riding his accustomed cir
chit preaching faith, hope and charity to
his little world of believors.,. sBut he soon
made the strangers acquaintance, for the
hermit of the Dog Den found the minis
t;r md his family a pleasant place TO
while away otherwise, tedious days.
The minister's wife and daughter sud
denly became discontinued. They would
leave these lonesome plains and try their
fortune in a live city in the distant Rocky
Mountains. The ambitions of the young
lady would demand the change. SingurIy
enough, the ran.hman also desired to
close out his interests on thelsrange. The
old gentleman consented to the change
with reluctance. He was contented and
happy where he was, and could n ask
for more. His kind wife planned to soften
the change. This minister was advised to
visit his old far eastern home and during
his absence they would sell, pack up, move
and prepare his future home III tho CITY by
the Mountains.- They would spreparo for
his coming and would the kind angels of
heaven protect him on the way.
vi
The change was made. The minister's
wife and daughter accompanied by MI. I.
prepared a handsome home in the Rocky
Mountain city. The time came around
for the minister to arrive and Mrs. H
and Mr.. t. would meet him.
The long eastern train moved up to the
crowded platform and among the hurrying
passengers that,stepped %nervously from
the car stairway was the tall sombre-clad
minister. Mrs. H. gave him kindly greet
ing but the wifely salutation was wanting.
She lsaned upon the preachers right arm
while Mr. T--escorted his other side,
taking the minister's grip with fei:nod
courtesy, and walking arm in arm.
II may as we'll tell you now," said the
ex-ranchmnn to the minister "that this is
my wife not yours. Now" no continued,
you can have q home witch us Just as be
fore; you can have a room; you will be
welcome at our tablo only r~emember-she
is my wife not yours"
The sudden II entirely unexpected
blow struck the guileless old man to the
heart. No bolt of unclaimed /: lightning
from darkened clouds could have been
more swift or more overwhelming-less
Immediately fatal. His trembling limbs
grow week.-Mrs. palsied tongue refused to
give fourth words, and he.could only turn
and stare appealinglv. to his wife. She
turned her face from him, AZ the tender
hearted child will turn its head from the
dying gasps of some dear pot Of its
childish hours. She would so0the but
could not. She could relent but would
not.
VII
Back on the Mouse River. Back to the
old pioneer farm, the veteran minister
PAGES his way. He stands before strang-
ers. His mind falls.r'in dreaming ways;
feeting shadows reappear again. Back
sixteen years to the days of his happy
pastorate in a far eastern lsnd. Back to
the morning when c%oniding members
of his flock whispered to him the startling
details of a crime and the flight OF, a GRIM
inal; Of 9 abandoned wife and child,
bufeting saves Of reproach, neglect and
poverty. Vt his own plain line of duty
in the premises as q man of God and q
natural sympathetic distsy,ss at the I'M
hidden calamities of thu. nnfortunate.-
One, two, five and even ten years pass
avav md no vord from the recreank Inns.