The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-03-02

partially open space. what was my |
TO suddenly meet face to /
face a woman-a real live woman! !
The apparition was clad in buckslSin |
frock and leggings with high brogans |
buckled over her feet and her head |
covered with a brown SLOUGH hat, from
beneath which streamed her long hair.
She was a blond of the most perfect
type.
She snapped her thumb and finger
and the bear walked to her side. reared
up on his hind feet and licked her
cheek, while she stroked his shaggy
coat.
Now, sir" said the woman, will
YOU walk home with me and see where
live with Dio and his family?"
A 20 minutes walk on a well-beaten
trail brought US to a limestone cliff a
few rods from the stream. This cliff
was nearly perpendicular. 40 or so feet
high, and in it's face on a level with the
bank of the creek there was a broad
opening or cave perhaps 10 feet high
and 30 or 40 feet deep. Just within was
a snugly built log cabin, it's front gable
end extending outside far enough to
catch the sunlight and permit the es-
cape of the smoke from a stick-and-
clay chimney. This retreat was the
home of the women, while a family of
bears occupied their own quarters in
the further end of the cave.
Upon our arrival Mrs. Grizzly Bruin
and her two half-grown cubs made
their appearance, all exhibiting the
same dOcile characteristics which so
distinguished the great Do. big
Newfoundland dog also bounded forth
to greet us. The cabin contained three
airy and well-lighted rooms studio
or parlor, bedroom and kitchen.
HER CABIN.
Retiring to her bedroom a few min
utes the lady reappeared attired in her
reception suit" as she laughingly
called it. While we sat at luncheon
she told me her history, and ! assure
you it was only the old story, with ro-
mantle variations and practical illus
tratiOns The gist of the whole matter
was a love sorrow, caused by the
interference of unwise parents and re-
sulting in the abandonment of a com
Portable home for the precarious life
of a recluse. Only two or three trust
ed friends know the secret of her
whereabouts and mode Of living.
Backwoodsmen built her the cabin
five years ago, and about that time she
bought a pair Of grizzly cubs from the
Indians and reared them on condensed
milk. To this simple diet and the kind
est treatment the philosophical lady at
tributes the wonderful docility of hel
grizzly pets. Frontiersmen hired fOl
the purpose make monthly visits to tn,
cabin, bringing upon pack animals
every needed comfort and many luXur
les.
The hermitess mainraIns that mere,
between man and man. and kindness t
the lower animals must constitute tn
great panacea which is to redeem ami
NAL nature, bring back the golden age
and hasten the millennium. GROWING
enthusiastic she cited many interestin
facts in her own experience. 1t was
2 common thing every summer for hum
ming birds to come through the ope
| windows. build their nests and rea
their young in the evergreen foliag
e that decorated her little parlor. TIL
+ parent birds would come at her cal
e and eat honey from the palm of he
e hand Large birds built their nests III
. der the caves of her humble cabin
l while grouse nestled in the neighbour
g trees and brought their chicks to pic
g up the crumbs that she threw to thel
e from her kitchen window. A couple {
= we'll bred tabby cats share the hou.
y with their mistress. ana keep the stor
s room free from mice. Volumes migl
s be written upon what she has alread
e done with the larger animals. Viii
& she does not believe in a charmed life 81
d declares that there is no creature in II
mountain forests round about Thu
o would harm her