The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1898-02-19
A Dakota Romance.
Bismarck Review

coming to North Dakota to sever the uup.
tlal ties that have grown distasteful to
them there are thousands of masculine
hearts in the fickertail State that yesrll
to sacrifice themselves ut the alter OF by
men. Many of these men are stOckmsn
and farmers in comfortable clrcunstan
ces, and all that they require 20 convert
their ranches into veritable Edens are the
bright eyes and infinite variety of IN
welded Ewes III the populous East.
The great desire among these lonely
isolated meu to secure wives, has led them
to advertise and answer advertisements in
eastern matrimonial papers. There is Il
periodical known as Heart and Hand that
has been success sful medium in securing
wives for many lone rancher in North
Dakota. An advel tisenent in Its col.
umns will always find an applicant. She
may no. satisfy all the requirements, but
there are many others to chose from, and
if man is not too hard to please he can
always succeed in securing some kind of a
female consort If he is persistent adver-
tiser.
Bud BluntOn, of Mclean county had
struggled along for several years cultiva-
ting his claim near Washburn until he at
last had things fixed to suit him. In the
early years of his toll and hardship he
had been satisfied TO lead the existence of
hermit but later on after all the rough
work was accom- plished and Bud began to
put on the finishing touches to his ranch,
thing lacking that he could not supply
After poudering for time, he finally con-
cluded that the one thing to crown his
happiness was wife. When Bud found
out what he wanted de lost no time but
proceeded at once to fnd means to get
spliced.
Acting on the advice of friend, who
had secured wife through the good Off
ces of Heart and Hand, Bud gBlunton in
serted an advertisement in tha5 paper
snd after securing the services of q law
yer at Bismarck, whioh Is the nearest
railroad communication and about fifty
miles away from his ranch, he fettled
down to wait and hope for what. the fates
had in store for him.
1t WIS not long before Bud received q
letter from lady in Minnesota. After
short correspondence she and amorous
Mr.. Bnnton agreed that they we're afini-
ties, and when she wrote for railroad
ticket it was sent without any questions
being asked.
The result was that one day last sum-
mer, year ago, neat looking little wo-
man ot about 40 years arrived in Bis
marck, registered at the Ranner house in
this city aud sent for Mr.. Blunton's agent.
The lawyer whom ;Bnd had retained to
represent him, called upon the lady .and
she was introduced to him as Miss Hoff-
man. She Immediately drew from her
satchel plat of the city of Washburn,
which Bud sent her: It was impossible
to tell from the map whether Wash
burn was city Of $4,000 or $1,000
Inhabitants and she wanted to know. The
property of her prospective husband ad-
joined the city of Wasnburn and she rea-
soned that he must be very rich.
"What is Mr.. Blunton WORTH" inquired
Miss Hoffman.
II can't exactly say, madam" replied
the lawyer.
lis he worth $5o,ooo?"
"No; hardly that"
"Twenty five thousand?"
NO"
"Ten thousand?"
"Well, madam" said the lawyer suavely,
lit is impossible for me to put any correct
on Mr.. Blunton's property, but
perhaps if you would see him you could
easily ascertain"
Miss Hoffman consented and the law
yer sent to Washburn after Mr.. Elunton,
who arrived two days later. But was COW
cred with enthusiasm, perspiratlon aud
dust when he arrived on the stage coach.
He wanted to rush into the presence of
his dulecinea and declare his love at once,
but his lawyer persuaded him to wait un-
til morning when he would have a better
to groom himself down, and
present a more respectable appearance.
The next day the impetuous swain Of
IS years was on hand to lay seige TO the
lady's heart. Buds lawyer wanted him to
put ON store clothes, but he refused to ap-
pear in anything else than his Grand
Army uniform. They at once repaired to
the Banner house and old man Mack, the
proprietor, ushered Bud into the parlor
and introduced him to Miss Hoffman,
who upon hearing Mr.. BIunton's name
and takigg one glance at him, uttered the
single exclamation, @"Oh!' and fed from
the room. The next day she took the
train back east.
This VAS enough to discourage most
men, but Mr.. Blunton only inserted an
other advertisement IN Heart and Hand,
succeeded in attracting the attention of a
little woman iu Minneapolis, who came on
and married him last summer. After a
month she left hi n and returned to MIN
neapolis, but was persuaded to come back
again aid live with him. She left him tho
second time about q month ago, and Mr..
B Blrton was in Bismarck last week seeking
a divorce. Mrs. Blunton says that she
will not contest the suit and the probabil-
tiles are that Bud will be free in short
ime to advertise for another wife.