The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-07-09

MI RUTHvEN, tall, brilliantly
IVl dark, with the breath of the prai-
ries in her carriage, swept out of the
dining-room, and her husband, George
Ruthven, and turned to our coffee and
cigars.
George, how did you gain that mag
nincent woman for wife?"
Not at all discomposed at the broad
ness of my compliment TO his wife,
George smilingly responded:
"You remember the great blizzard
which swept over the western, prairie
states, particularly Nebraska, during
January of 1887? Yes? Well, it was
from that blizzard that / was rescued
by the most beautiful woman IL has
ever been the happy lot of man to pos
sess.
II was at that time, as you know,
embarking in the practice of law, and
had, to use an old-time phrase, 'arti-
cled' myself to one of the most prom
inent legal firms in this city. ] grew
steadily in favor of my superiors, who
are now my partners, SO it happened
that when an occasion arose in an inn
portant land suit, requiring that a man
be sept 10 Ainsworth, Neb., TO obtain
necessary information from the rec
ords, was selected for the duty.
Il reached Ainsworth without Incl
dent and spent couple of days there
examining the court records, until |
discovered that one link of evidence
was missing. / shortly learned that II
could be replaced by certain affidavits
which banker at Atkinson, IS miles
down the road could give, il he should
be go disposed. Unfortunately only
one passenger a day was then
running and ! found that had just left
and that no other train would start I'M
till late in the night. That would be a
slow freight, which would not get me
in Atkinson much before the passenger
the next morning. So concluded TO
drive the IS miles.
''Hurrying 10 the livery stable in
duced the proprietor to take me as far
as Long Pine. the next station, where
could and did obtain a relay of bron
! chos and another driver to Bassett
/ There | obtained another relay anc
/ started for Newport. the next stop
/ and by the time we reached there. thu
! snow was falling quite fast, but sti.
there was no indication of the horrible
storm in which so many lives wer'
lost and in which the cattle rancho
suffered almost 10 bankruptcy by thou
sands OF head of cattle being destroyed
| As we proceeded, the storm Increase
in virulence and ! was glad, indeed
when | could toast my chilled feet a
the blazing hearth in the small hote
the place afforded. while my driver wa
seeing about an exchange of horses.
The l;veryman returned and in
formed me that he had not been abb
to induce the local stable keeper I
undertake journey, even to the mex
town, Stuart, though he said, if tn
case was very urgent, he would lie
me have a team to drive through my
self. provided l would assure hir
against loss. Unaccustomed as | wa
70 western billiards.. jumped at thi
chance, and quickly closed deal wit
him.
He produced the serawniest-lool
ing team of bronchos one ever say
and hitched them to ramshackl
sort of slat-bottomed buckboar
buggy and bid me godspeed with a
expression on his face clearly SHOW
ing he never again expected to 81
either his team or myself alive 4
10 the team. he never did see il,
both the animals gave up the ghost
but / am anticipating.
"By this time the storm had a
sumed terrific proportions. The sno'
which had been falling softly and la
lily, now pelted down in solid masse
mixed with fakes of ice, cutting wit
biting force against my face, viii
the soughing of. the wind had risen
shrieks and bowls and came with
force that at times seemed powerf
enough to lift bronchos, buggy ar
driver into the next county.
: course lay along the railroad trac
There was no road worthy of Il
name to follow, as the level charact
of the country and entire absence
fences permitted one taking a'straig
shoot from one point to anothe
y with only the possibility OF meetii
4 with some small slough that would T
z quire little careful driving to eros
y Driving along with my head dow
N wards to shelter my face from Il
q pelting sleet and ice, quite forgot
z look for my landmarks. the TELEGRAM
D poles, but more ugly blast than al
ii | had experienced caused me TO tai
q quick glance about over my muffis
Y Instantly / awoke to my danger. n
81 telegraph poles had disappeared
& had turned from my road and w
Y driving across the wild. desolate, uni
~ habited prairies, on which a hou
81 was not to be met for miles.
81 1.-The storm now swirled and poun
= ed and roared with ferocious pow
y about me. Already / was passil
81 through drifts so deep as TO comp
s. my small bronchos to tug and snort
Y the effort required to pull the bugl
~ through them. Heavy darkness W
IN rapidly taking the place of the gra
q ish light, the dull. whirling SNOWMAN