The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1907-11-22
MARRYING 4 man
A SEDGWICk COUNTY RO.
NANCE FOR A THANKS.
GIVING STORY

Probably one of the most romantic
love affairs in Colorado's history is
that of John Swan, Sedgwick county's
hDnored coroner.
1t is story of fact with lots of
fancy. no blood, and a climax as full of
satisfaction and surprise as one of
Dickens novels.
Once rejected, Coroner Swans per
sstency in sitting upon his own case
brings life to cruel rejection and
throws Cupid and several hundred dol
lars to the ST. Joe market and adds a
bride to Sedgwick county.
But here's the story as taken from
the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of October
27:
John b. Swan, farmer and coroner
Of Sedgwick county, Colorado, has re-
turned home without his intended
bride, and $40 has been credited to
the account of Cupid. He isn't exactly
mad, but he says that hereafter he
wants to be identified only with the
confirmed bachelors.
II all came about through Swan buy
ing a box of hardware last winter In
the box was a card. On the card was
written:
Miss Bessie Keyes, COS North Sixth
street, ST. Joseph, Mo. Please write"
Swan did write. That was the begin
ming of a rOmance-by-mail The answer
was of The pleasant and rather encour-
aging sort and Swan wrote again. He
was lonely on his Colorado farm and
letter writing was not only a diversion
but held possibilities. AS an aid to
Cupid, Swan showed he was not stingy
! by renting money now and then to
purchase things that appeal to the FEM
mine kind. All of which was gracious
| ly accepted.
Finally Swan got around to the
point. He spoiled reams of stationery
to do it and the labor was harder than
any he had ever done in the field. But
he finally popped" the question, he
| says. in black and white. That letter
he carried to the postoffice himself.
j. was too important to intrust to the
hired man.
| Then Swan took a good brace and
| began his wait From an Industrious
farmer Swan became suapiciousiy like
a loafer around the postofce. Every
/ time he heard train whistle for the
i town, he hiked to the pOstofice.
! Finally he was rewarded.
| She would, II was not an openly EN-
; phatic declaration OF heart sworn
away, but still Swan saw that he had
won. He Immediately sent his fiancee
| $25 with which to make the trip to
! ScdgwiCk county. Then there were
| busy days about the farm. The hired
man was called from the field, an
apron was tied around him, broom
was thrust in his hands and he was
told to go to work. Corners that had
been immune against the invasion of
! dust remover for months were now
sought cut and cleaned. Carpets were
taken up and beaten and the family
album had its plush rubbed the right
way and put up in conspicuous place.
But the day of arrival brought no
bride-tO-be. Swan hurried to the post
office. He grabbed the pro!fcred let
ter even before the postmaster had had
time to read the postal cards of the
mail. The girls mother was sick and
she had to use the money to buy medi-
cine.
Then Swan sat down on a box to
think it over. The decision was soon
reached The mother phase was a
new one t. him. He would come TO St.
Joseph and marry the girl.
I've lived on a farm a long time"
Swan said, but | saw in a minute how
the land lay when ! got there. The
girl wasn't twenty years old. as she
had told me in her letters, but II. and
she tried TO push her mother off on me.
| don't mean TO compare women TO
horses or COWS. but when | set ont TO
get a certain horse or a certain COW,
want just the horse or COW I've picked
and no substitute.
The girl said she didn't want to
live N farm, but the mother said she
would enjoy farm life. ana that she is
a good cook. Then the girl said she
would 20 wherever her mother went
/ enjoy good cooking, but ! don't have
10 marry a cook. This all happened
the night | took the mother and the
girl and her little sister to the theater,
and | have not been near them since.
~ sister Of mine warned me She
told me to leave well enough alone and
to stay single, but ! told her, Missouri
is the place TO he shown.
"Wcll. was sha wn. all right I'm
not Kicking, though. I'm a Woodman.
and Woodmcn take an obligation to
help the window and the orphan.
helped the widow.