Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-01-23
An Adventure
with Squaws
4 UvvyVJyyvWVv vVV'7VvIyv' ~.
Nv GERTRUDE NORTON
(copyright.)

(COpyflent.)
When my brother Frank drew
lucky number emitting him to claim
in the Ell Reno land district. he IN
sisted that | should go and keep house
for him while he was holding II
down."
But you have not got any house te
keep as yet" objected; but Franz
only smiled.
II shall have house inside of two
weeks" he announced; so you may
as we'll pack up and get ready.
He was as good as his word. In
side of two weeks his house was
completed-if "dug-out" in the side
Of hill. with sod annex, was worthy
OF the name.
You see" lie explained, Il got rid
of the lob of hauling lumber 20 miles
by simply using what nature had pro
vided and placed at ha:.d. didn't
need anything from the carpenter shop
bat window and door and a few
boards; these took with me. Oh, we
shall be as snug as bug in rug. and
will need only few articles OF furnl-
ture. 1t is only the Imagination that
suggests the necessity of such trum-
perry as this" he went on with de-
predatory gesture toward the furniture
in our parlor.
l was not surprised at Franks out
burst. He had spent three years on
the range and had imbibed much of
the spirit of the wild life.
But my piano. must have that"
Ireplied.
Frank looked at the ceiling and
gave vent to a prolonged whistle. "a
pianoforte in dug-out!" he said. But
of course you are only Joking"
assured him that was not.
"But-what would the boys think of
u.s." he asked.
What boys?"
"-rhe boys off the range that got
claims down in the Wolf Greek val
ley"
do you think it necessary to con-
suit them about our household af-
fairs?"
But the absurdity of the PROPOSE.
ton; how are we to ignore that?" he
asked.
Never mind" replied. I'VE shall
manage that all right | know it must
be very lonely On claim, and l know
you would not want ME to Go without
tie comfort of my piano"
"Of course not, Sissy: but you must
know that in a sodhouse the acoustics
would naturally be abominable," and
he laughed softly. But if you are
bound to introduce pianoforte into
Wolf Creek valley for the benefit of its
society, suppose you'll have to have
your way So the matter was settled,
and when my goods were packed my
piano was among them.
Franks shack stood on the side of
little elevation overlooking Wolf creek,
and it was beautiful place; but the
fact that not a sign Of human habita.
ton was in sight gave it an aspect of
loneliness and desolation that was al
most oppressive at first AS the DAYS
went by and as became accustomed
to the isolation l grew to like It. I
busted myself in doing what could to
make the interior of our home more
attractive. We had but two rooms.
separated by partition of roofing
paper, and as these were very small
soon had the walls covered with
paper and the few pictures l had
brought.
used the boxes our household goods
had been packed in to make various
articles of furniture. The smaller
ones constructed into stools. which
covered with colored prints. The
larger ones used to make couch
and this | covered with cretonne O,
fanciful design, stufing it with the
feather-like prairie grass. Fashioned
some sofa pillows cut of the same ma
terial used in upholstering the couch
and these l placed in one corner
draping it with dimity curtains.
When Frank saw what | had bee,
doing he laughed. Il suppose YOU mns
have something to do to while ava,
the time he commented. What
pity you did not bring a chatting dish
a samovar and five-o'clock tea ont
ut! The leaders of the social set q
Wolf Creek valley may take it int,
the!r heads to pay US their respects"
Then there is social set in VOL
Creek valley?'
i suppose so" he replied. Most q
our nelghbors, find, are Kiowas. VIII
LOOK allotments in the valley. l thin
Lame Dog. the Kiowa, might be co,
sldered as the leader of the fashio,
able set. He is very dissipated, drink
and CANDLES and has three wiye
Lame Dog usually makes his calls III
oer cover of darkness, invariably ca
ry1ng away with him-unl,nown to h
host-some little souvenir of the v,si
such as pony or other detached nro
erty. But the three Mrs. Lame Do
we may expect, will use more ;orma
ty In their calls, and should NOT
surprised to see them drop in a,
day."
~~~~~~~>~~.