The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-12
ROMANCE OF MoNTANAN IN THE
kLONDIkE.
HAPPY DREAMS SAD END
Deserted by Her for Whom He Strug-
giles for Fortune and
Wealth.
From Saturdays Daily Gazette.

Not every man who went to the
Klondike and buried himself there.
undergoing hardships. hunger and pri-
vations, not to say anything of the
dangers which the hrstcomers had to
face, is there for the purpose Of gain
ing wealth, pr for the excitement to
be had in a new country. Many went
and remain because they want to get
away from former scene and asso-
ciates. They want to forget the past
ana have selected that isolated, drcary
and God forsaken place SO that they
may never see 0 hear from some Of
those left behind-to be buried, to be
alive and yet dead"
Thus mournfully unused a man who
shall remain nameless, himself All
argonaut Of that far distant place Ut
which he spoke SO sadly, as he I'M
burdened himself to a friend a day or
two ago while in the city on his way
back to the ''land of the midnight
sun" The man spoke knowingly and
his own sad experience added bitter
ness to his words, for like many an
other who is plodding and toiling
there he has his romance, not a pleas
ant me-, as it involves the breaking
up of a home, the loss of wife and the
wearing away of heart and soul in
useless longing for the one he still
loves, although she deserted him for
another. Fortune has smiled upon
him and reckoning in the worlds way
he should be content, for he has riches
and is honored and respected by those
among whom he has cast his lot.
When the first news of fabulously
rich discoveries of gold in that in
hospitable cline electrified the world
and caused a flood of dissatisfied, am
bilious men to set their faces in that
direction, determined to wrest fortune
and riches from the frozen soil, the
subject of this story was living
in that part Of Custer county
now embraced in the newer county
uf Rosebud. He had a ranch and like
many Of his neighbors was gaining y
modest living by honest toll, content
to accept what fortune had to bestow.
His wife, young and handsome, was
not satisfied with her surroundings.
To her life on a ranch with no more
comforts and Injuries than her hus-
band could afford was uncomfortable.
She aspired to better things and long
ed for the power that money gives.
To her the news of a and where gold
as an inspiration and at nee she be-
gan to importune her husband to go to
that tabled place, to avail himself of
the opportunity to acquire riches with
a rush and then return to her and
spend the remainder of their lives in
ease and luxury. For a while he with
stood her ~pleadings and opportunities,
but finally yielded. Gathering what
money he could q very modest sum,
he set his face toward the coast and
then took ship for the north.
OF the toilsome journey over frozen
rivers, snow covered mountains and
the dangers of crossing swollen and
turbulent streams nothing need be
said. Suffice it to say that he arriv-
ed at his goal and at once set about
to accumulate the wealth for which he
had risked so much. Almost from the
first fortune smiled upon him and he
had the satisfaction of seeing the o
ey of which he had dreamed come to
him in quantities that staggered him.
The one for whom he had made the
terrible sacrifices was kept informed
of the new turn things had taken and
every mail took out a letter bidding
her to hope and be patient, the ambi-
ton of her life was to- be gratified.
In turn letters came to him from
her, letters full of love and affection
and urging him on to greater Ind re-
newed effort. At last came a letter,
but from another, a friend, which
told him that the wife whom he had
left behind and whose letters he treas
ured had tired of waiting n had TAX
en- advantage Of the law to secure a
release from him. She had obtained
a divorce and was about to be married
to another, one who could give her
the things she longed for and whose
wealth was supposed to be great
enough to satisfy the ambition of the
most aspiring woman. Racked by
doubt and fears, the husband waited
for another mail. It brought news
that he had feared to receive and yet
knew would come. The woman whom
he supposed to be still his wife wrote
to him that she had divorced him;
that she had met one whom h could
love more and had decided to cast her