Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-12
THE CATTLE QUEEN OF TEXAS.
Devotes Her Time to Looking After
Her Vast Possessions.

! Eight years ago an invalid woman
came TO Texas seeking health. and
with her was pretty and modest girl
serving in the capacity of companion.
, writes San Antonio (Tex) cores
spondent OF the St. Louis Republic
The sick woman was the wife OF a
wealthy Toledo tO) merchant named
! Payne, and the girl was Miss Nadine
Farmer, who had accepted the posi-
| ton as travelling companion because
| she was tired OF the drudgery OF
teaching music in small town, and
wanted TO rest from this sort of work
awhile and look up a better location
where She might establish herself
should she wish 10 take up music
| teaching again.
| Mrs. Payne died. and her husband
| Telegram hed directions for having her
remains shipped home. but no provis-
/ ion was made for the return of the girl
| sad at heart and among strangers. the
! lonely young companion sat in one of
the hotel parlors. She had become
very fond Of her invalid friend and
| she was grieved at her death as well
as worried about her own predica-
ment Bravely she had kept her dis
tress to herself, but finally, as is a
womans way, she fell to crying. Very
| quietly, to be sure, her grief found
expression, but the tears were noticed
| by a kind hearted Texan, and what
then seem to Nadine Farmer the most
| dreary day OF her life turned to enc Of
| the brightest.
! The man who found the lonely girl
I -, -
| guson," one OF the most noted cattle
men in the Lone Star state. With his
! characteristic boldness and usual
! kindness, he addressed Miss Farmer as
little girl" and asked her what was
the matter. A glance at the rugged
! features assured the girl that she had
/ found a friend. and between sobs she
| told him OF her misfortunes. The old
| man drew chair up beside hers, and
| said, when she had finished her little
| tale Of woe:
Well. now, if that's all, you haven't
/ a thing In the world 10 cry about.
| can easily fix things for you. l have
! three big girls Just dyin' for some nice
Y young lady Ike you to come and learn
! EN- how to read and write and play the
p-1nner. You just get your clothes to-
gether. and wen go out 10 Broad AK
ranch on the Rio Grande. and there
you'll find a welcome waiIin' you from
three of the fines: girls in Texas"
Miss Farmer did not have to inquire
far az to who her benefactor might be.
Three Or four women came crOwding
about them. ard when they had heard
the old Texans plan they said Miss
Farmer was q lucky girl for odd Bill
Ferguson" was one Of the best and
richest men in the state.
The newly appointed goyerness and
her friend went out then 10 DO some
shopping. There We're silk dress pat
terms" enough bought that day to
stock a store. and the old man sug-
gested that four pianos had better be
bought as there are four of you now.
The young goVeTaess was very hap
by in her ranch home, and the wages
paid her We're so liberal that she was
astonish ~ and refused TO accept 50
much money. But the family laughed
at her. and what she did not spend
Bill Ferguson put away for her. One
day he suggested that he buy a few
. COWS" at bargain with the reserve
fund. The girl told him to do SO if he
pleased. and later learned that the
few COWS" numbered 700 head Of cat
\ tie.
After learning the extent Of her pur-
chase Miss Farmer said il occurred 70
Her that it would not be a bad idea 70
: take Some interest in her cattle. and to
add to them from time to time.
In the course OF time the Ferguson
family found itself in poor financial
circumstances. old Bill Ferguson"
had died. ana there had come great
losses through the sale of cattle. Miss
\ Farmer had been wonderfully success
full with her Investments. buying and
selling just at the right time, and she
came readily 10 the aid Of her friends.
Now she has cattle lands in Mexico
as well as Texas and is known as
I Miss Million. the Cattle Queen"