Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-01

condition or barbartSm was Dut lapse
from responsibility.
Do you know that some matches
were made on the road before reach
ing the town? But 1 had cautioned
the girls to go slow and not marry
any man without at least two days
courtship. They all agreed to this,
and there was not a wedding until
forty-eight hours after our arrival
That time was scarcely up when there
were a dozen. The truth is there were
no villains in my town, because as
soon as I had discovered that a man
was inherently bad had fired him. I
was surprised to see that as soon as
the women arrived the men began to
slick up. Razors made their appear
ance, and the long. scraggly locks were
cut down. The second day after the
women's coming I noticed several men
in boiled shirts.
On the night of the feminine entry
not gambling shanty was doing any
business, and, although their earnings
picked up later on, they received their
deathblow. On the evening Of the
women's arrival the men were all Wis
iting and mating and from that time
forward continued their visits till all
the women had left the cabins and
they were as deserted as the gambling
holes.
The Swedish woman. Lena Erickson,
either was not chosen or had declined
any offer she might have received She
was but twenty eight and good Look
ing, and don't doubt it was her own
fault that she did not become q wife.
She busted herself in helping the
young wives make their homes, many
of whom were very young and had
little idea of fixing up house. Lena
would take hold of a brides residence
and in half a day transform it from
bare walls and floors into a human
habitation. The floor would be at least
in part covered and the windows
would be draped. Some Of these things
Lena did herself, others she showed
the young wives how to do. Then she
would have the husband digging In the
yard and flowers would be set out.
We were all so busy that took no
thought for my intention OF bringing
my man Hendrickson and Lena Eric
son together. Indeed, she was serving
so valuable a purpose as a single won1-
an that I abandoned my plan. As,soon
as the women arrived sent Hendrfck
son away to stock up TN lot of
articles that their presence rendered
requisite. 1t was my intention to set
him up as proprietor Of a dry goods
store. Then it struck me that as such
be would need a woman's assistance
badly, If indeed she would not be the
real manager. So as soon as he re-
turned 1 told him I had a wife for
him, and since he had lost the girl he
had loved he would better marry the
one had selected. He sighed and said
that if 1 thought best he would con-
sent, though il was evident he did so
reluctantly left him to propose my
plan to Lena. She positively declined.
/ argued with her for awhile, but
finding / could not move her l told
her that wished her to become one
of the managers of the dry goods store,
and to this she gladly consented.
The next morning 1 summoned Hen
erickson and Lena to meet me at my
house that we might together lay
plars FOR the establishment of the
store. Hendrickson arrived first and
l was discussing the business matter
with him when the door opened and
Lena Ericsson came in.
The two stood looking at each other
as if wonder stricken for moment.
then rushed into each others arms.
'Lena!'
"Olafw
AS soon as they were quieted down
they explained to me that Lena was
IL At hod Of in
den. She had saved some money, just !
enough to take her to New York, and,
knowing that her lover was some
where IN the west, had availed herself
of my transportation to get farther in
her quest.
That's the end of my story, gentle
men, except to add that the rascally
civil engineers of the two railroads
had staked them out where they were
not intended to cross for the purpose
of secretly buying up the property
where they were intended to cross.
But our town was not left out in
the cold. The power of the softer
sex having been demonstrated, I made
up my mind to find out what the wom-
en- OF Nelson could do in saving us
from that fate picked out several of
the best of them and sent them, head
ed by Mrs. Hendrickson, to the gen.
eral Offices of the roads to tell the
story of the salvation of the men of
Nelson. / sent by them a letter cor
roborat ting any statement they might
make, giving a picture OF what the
town was before they came and what
it was later. inviting the railroad Off.
GERS to send some one to make an in
spection and report. The women made
a deep impression, and the vice presi-
dents Of both roads came to see Neil
son. The result was that the roads
were crossed FIVE miles west Of where
the engineers had intended and in.
sured the prosperity of our city"