Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1899-01-24

~tNtf'ltt- ~ fcitS ~ t3oA ~ a WY "a
tent Of the wiie-selliag traffic Of ths
! klondiAe country i the sensation cI
| Vancouver That a man can get q
| buxom, dark-eyed wife FOR 50 blanket:
! would seem a sort Of fairy story were
mot the facts so serious.
| Robert Stead Dun, a graduate oi
| Harvard, and formerly editor OF tie
| Harvard Monthly. has Just returned
| to civilization after a 300 miletrip
| by the Edmonton overland trail to
the Klondike
lsa44iis hs.sre as7'ort Graham that Mr.
! Dun discovered the polygamous con-
Idition of society and the widespread
trafiicking in young women He
found that nearly al the clerks and
employees had no difficulty in buying
wives. And they bought Them
Sparkling Eyes, a noted Indian
belle and the daughter of prominent
chief, was considered the prize of the
northwest. From far and near came
offers for her hand. Ponies, guns,
trinkets, brass watches, yards of tin
foil and bales Of copper wire were Of
fered for a quit claim deed TO the
maiden's heart.
But the grim old warrior was not
to be caught by any ordinary pur-
chaser. He wanted something be-
sides personal property He was am
bilious for family alliance with some
man Of social standing and influence
in the community.
Thus it was that when Factor Fox.
a big medicine man, a superintendent
of white-faced employees, made over
lures, with due ceremony and elab-
crate array of techniealities, involv-
ing the highest etiquette of the land.
the coppor-colored chieftain imme-
diately became an eager party to the
negotiations,
Then Factor Fox took the girl 10
his cabin, decked her out in beads and
gorgeous trappings, with yellow hand.
kerchief for her head, purple scarfs
for her neck, resplendent brass rings
for her ears and fingers and a peck of
flashy big-beaded pins for other
features of her adornment.
She modestly appreciated her ex-
alted position in the new life, and al
though she did not seek to ostenta-
tiously queen it over the employees of
the factory, yet she had an air of au-
thority and self-possession that wen
her the respect of the boys Of the set
tlement.
The old Indian chief must have
picked up some new points from the
whites, for when he found that his
daughter was jewel of wife. about
the finest thing on ice in the west, be
demanded a codicil to be inserted in
the deed.
He struck for more blankets. II
Factor Fox had no blankets to spare
the chief would take dogs, brass
watches or money, but he preferred
guns if he could get them.
Mr.. Fox refused to be blackmailed.
1t should be explained that the cop
per-colored father had threatened to
give low whistle from the parGpet of
the fort that the girl would under |
stand and she would run away. But
the factor had treated her too well and |
she knew a good thing when she had
it. She refused to leave home: she
said she liked the white mans tents
and his children, and for The first
time daring her painted career she |
had found domestic happinc,>,
The old chief was furious and made
wild threats Of vengeance. But the |
girl was true to her last love. When |
She looked into the big warehouses
and saw great boxes Of bia,, witches |
and barrels Of copper bcaI>. rratc, Of |
hardtack and, best Of all. several bar
rels of 4O-rod whisky, she remarked
to her oldest <tepson: "Whitc daddy. |
heap good" The boy gave an Ihdian
grunt, acquired only after long prac
tice and said his father was the best
man he had ever known. The wife
then sent a clerk to warn her father
to keep away from the fort until he
could behave himself -Philadelphia
Times