The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-09-15

1t is now five weeks since / came to
this place to satisfy what I am begin
ming to believe is nothing more han a
mere whim. My friends thought 1t a
strange freak for a man engaged to n
of the reigning bellies of the city to
leave suddenly in the height of the sea-
son for an extended hunting trip in the
heart of the mountains.
1 have been here five weeks, hunting
a little, and wandering around a great
deal more. I found this little cabin in
the raytne a few rods from the old
stage trail. There was another, a larg-
er house, built OF logs also. but I
night I camped here, building a fire
of it's logs each night as 1 returned
from my trips oyer the mountains.
Last week, the last log of the other
having been consumed, 1 began on this,
n tonight, when I came in, I found
more night, gathering it to-
gether set fire to it. Tomorrow l will
pack up and go back to civilization and
my bride.
Tonight, as I raked the Goals togeth-
er, a stranger came over The top of the
ledge abov, the fire and, after standing
looking at me for a moment, i1mbed
down h I3cky path to my camp.
1 knew him in an instant, but felt
safe in my disguise of Fashionable
clothes n smooth face. He could not
recognize me now!
After he had shared my supper we
pulled out pipes from our pockets and
smoked. I had him at a disadvantage,
for l knew him. and could study the
emotions that ssrep. over mis- face as
the freight ilirai;1ed 1T. He was ten
yerrs older tilsiN when l saw him last,
and h. was thinner and more laggard.
I led TIE way, and after a time he be-
gan talking about this odd evidence
of human life out in the wilds of the
Rockies.
i assented and he went on.
Twelve years ago this was probably
the most God-forsaken mining camp in
the world. A rougher set of men it
would be hard to find. But it all
changed for the better. and then for the
worse again. You would hardly guess
1t. but even nut here, hcmmed in by the
Rockies, h course of this reformation
and OF 1.-THE relapse Was-Woman, and
the same woman.
"One day there was an accident to
the stage up on the trail n a woman.
wha vas the only passenger, was
brought down by the driver to be kept
ever night while he went back for help.
She was a sort of Presbyterian mis-
sionary on her way out to some Indian
tribe or other. She stayed that day
and the next, and by the time the driv-
er returned the man a induced her to
promise to remain for a few weeks as
She said. Nothing would induce her to
stay permanently, although the leader
of the camp told her they needed
preaching as much as any one-of
which there could be no doubt-and
promised all Of reforms II she
would stay.
"She did work a rapid change in
those men. They built her this log
house we are using as irewood, and
she lived In II. Then they built her a
church, and on Sundays they all gath.
cred in 1t while she preached to them.
They gave up gambling and they gave
up drinking. 1t was getting to be a
model community. For every man in
that camp was madly in love with her
unless it vas one but he was Of no
account.
".AM of 2 sudden it changed. The wo-
man going through The camp n even
ing at sunset heard the old-time oaths
and saw the old-time drinking and
gambling. She went into one OF the
tents and the men shamefacedly put
away h cards. But her power over
them was gone and She realized it.
THAT night the woman was awaken
ed ron her sleep by a mob of men at
her door, which up to that time had
been sacred She asked what was
wanted and they told her to dress and
come out; they wanted her at the
church.