The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-06-01

IfCopyright. 1904. by w. r. HearstD
There was to be a wedding In town that
night at my boarding house and the entire
white population of the place had been
invited. That didn't mean an overcrowded
house. for, aside from mine hosts family
circle, of which the contracting parties
and two boarders (the schoolmistress and
y were a part, there was only Mac" the
-saloonkeeper;: Bob" the stage driver, and
Bill" a prospector; and as these three
took occasional meals at our boarding
house. they might be classed with the rest
OF the family.
Inc place was a run down mining camp.
once busy and prosperous, on the bank OF
the Colorado river, in the borders of the
desert and miles away from railroad com
inunicatlon. There was a small colony of
MeNicans living in their little abode shan
ties a short distance up the river from the
large building which served as store, post
office and boarding house.
A good sized adobe schoolhousc, built
when the camp was thriving and prosper
Gus, gave the place an added air of civili-
cation; and a school was regularly main
tanned. attended by mine hosts children
and those of the MeXicans who could be
persuaded to he taught the despised Ian
guage of the ''gringo.'
The saloon was a building just across
che way from the store. 1t was a very
quiet place. for 1T had been opened on the
strength of a rumors that the mines were
about to be worked again with a large
force of men; but the rumor had proven
fallacious.
When the stage came in that afternoon
I was expecting the arrival of a parson
to perform the marriage ceremony. but
the sole passenger was a mining expert
from the city, whose errand here at this
time was a cause OF some speculation to
those who were not ION the inside"
Mine host was the Justice of the peace
for that locality, and the bride was his
sister. The groom was a young man who
had been living there for some time and
assisting in keeping store. In response to
an Inquiry, 1 was informed that no min
lister was expected, for min host himself
would perform the ceremony in his official
capacity.
AS the hour approached the wedding
guests assembled in the sitting ROOM,
where the Squire sat awaiting the we'd
ding party. Mac" although he had been
at considerable pains to get shaved and
nave his hair cut that afternoon, backed
out at the last moment and refused to
come, not considering his attire sufficient
ly respectable to be clasSed as wedding
garments" and not being able to find
blacking for his boots. BILL" who was
popularity supposed to be Unmarried be-
cause of his extreme susceptibility and,
great gallantry toward the fair sex, had.
with the limited equipment at his disposal.
made himself quite ~presentable. Bob
the stage driver. had his personal effects
ut the other end of the line, and con-
tented himself with a little extra groom
ing. Bob was suspected of having mat
rimontal intentions, as he was frequently
seen perusing in a matrimonial paper the
alluring advertisements OF wealthy, mar
riagcable females. "Old Cy," the 'squire's
mining partner, got into a suit of store
clothes early in the afternoon and came
upon US as if in a disguise. SO completely
had he changed his usual appearance.
In saying there were no other whites In
town 1 overlooked the Widow Hewitt. who
got her mail at our postofice. but who
lived about twenty-five miles up the river
on the other side. Except for her dogs
and horses she lived for years entirely
alone on her little ranch, carefully farm
ing those favored parts that could get a
big enough drink at the time of the June
rise to enable the soil to mature a quick
growing crop. Much of her time was oc-
cupied in overseeing the performance of
assessment work on a number of mining
claims in which she was heavily interest
ed. and which she was pluckily Staying
with in hopes that some would turn out
q bonanza. She was spare built, OF med
ium height, and despite the solitude in
which she lived. bright. laxative, CHEEKY
and energetic. Her face was pleasing and
her checks showed a rudy glow even UNI
der the heavy bronZing the sun and desert
winds had given her complexion. Accord
Ing to current report she was a paragon.
When working about her ranch she wore
boomers and a blouse and accomplished
az much work as any man; when returned
to her house she donned the habillments of
her sex, with a bow of bright rtbbon at her
fn vpnf oYt6 thu dnft ~ 5n}-k., 1860.
With which she prepared a meal was the
admiration OF the beholder. She thought
nothing of making the trip down and
back on horseback for her mail and prov.-
sions, and SO was easily on hand for the
wedding.
Although the squire had a deep rooted
aversion to fixing up in honor of this occa-
sion, he had put IN his good clothes and
attempted to comb his hair, which last
operation was one of considerable diff
Guilty, for he had formed the habit of going
bareheaded most Of the time. and his wiry
hair vas almost a stranger to the Offices
of brush and comb.
The wedding guests being all assembled
and seated back against the wall, we'll out
of the way, the squire %nounc ..all
ready and the wedding party entered.
Then the reason of the mining experts
presence was disclosed, as lie appeared as
, best man for the groom.
Inc DTlde ana groom made a line appear
ance as they stepped in, accompanied by
bridesmaid, groomsman and three little
flower girls. The space was too contracted
for a march, so the party was arranged at
the upper end of the. room.
The bride was modestly and tastefully
dressed and looked charming, as brides al
ways do. The groom. a tall, stalwart
young man, bore himself with dignity and
composure. The bride and her followers
carried large bouquets of roses and car
nations with sprays of green. Flowers in
the desert! The petals OF the roses were
dropping, but they had come 800 miles by
rail and stage to grace the OCCASION.
The schoolmistress was bridesmaid. and
looked prettier than usual In her white
dress and ribbons. The flower maidens
were the little daughters OF the Squire,
and it was difficult to recognize in the
demure, white robed little creatures the
children l had seen tearing around, bare
legged, in the dust only a short time
before.
The surprise at the style of the wedding
party, with it's rarities of cut flowers and
pretty costumes, was so great that L found
myself wondering now the Squire was go