The daily Alaskan., 1911-06-12

oN5crjy. she would not likely be chosen Cor a wife. Indeed. she did not care Co marry: she hoped Co make hcrseH useful in some particular way it wasn't best she said, that ali thc wo- men should be married What would lbe world do without the old maid aunuesg l told her that ] had a hus. band one of her own countrymen, picked out for her but she declared that must permit Der 10 remain sin gle
 or course the day of our arrival was a gala day at Nelson was obliged Co transport my cargo some twenty miles from the railroad and hired all manucr or vehicles for the purpose The population met us a mile from the town and escorted us. marching beside tho wagons, 10 the recently erected cabins The men behaved themselves much better than could have been expected indeed. 'heir condition of barharism WIS but a lapse . from responsibility.
 Do you know that some matches were made on the road before re0ch Ing thc towul But ! had cautioned the girls to go slow and not marry any man without at least two days courtshfn. They nll agreed Co this. and there was not a wedding uutil fartv-elcht hours after our arrival . That time was scarcely up when there were a dozen. The truth ls there were no villains in my town. because as soon as I had discovered that a man was inherently bad ! had fired him. ] was surprised to see that as soon as inc women arrived the men began to slick un. Razors made their appear ancc. and the long. scraEEly locks were cut down. The second day after ihe ] women's coming | noticed several men in boiled shirts
 On the night Of the feminine entry not a gambling shauty was doing any ! business. and. although their earnings picked up later on, they received their ] deathb'ow. On The evening of the women's arrival the men were an riS- itinr and mating and from that time ! forward continued their visits till all ] thc women had left the cabins and ! they were as deserted as the gambling holes
 The Swedish woman, Lena Erickson. l either was not chosen or had declined ! any offer she might have received. She was but twenty-ciEht and good look ing. and I don't doubt it was her own fault that she did not become a wife ] She husled herself i0 helping the young wives make their homes. many of whom were very young md had little idea Of fixing up a house. Lena l would take hold Of a brides residcrce and In half d8y transform it from ha~e walls and floors Into a human . habftation. The Goor would he at least fin part covered and the windows would be drapcd. Some Of these things Tena dId herself. others she showed the young wives how to do Then she would have Che husband digging in Che yard and flowers would be set out
 We were all so busy that l took no thought for my intention of bringing my man Ucudrickson and Lena Eric. son together. Indeed. she was serving l SO valuable a purpose as a single wom- m that | abandoned my plan. As soon as the women arrived | sent Hendrick- son away Co stock up in lot of articles that their presence rendered r,aulsite It was my intention to set . him mp as proprietor of a dry goods store. Then it struck me that as such he would need woman's assistance had1v. if indeed she would not be Che rent manager So as soon as he re turned | told him had n wife for ] him. and since he had lost the girl he had loved he would better marry the one I had selected He sighed and said that If ! thought best be would con sent. though it wns evident be did go rcruetantIy l left bIm to propose my rlan to Lena. She positively declined ! arupd with her for awhile, but finding | could not move her ] told her that ! wished her to become one of f5e managers of the dry goods store, and Co this she gladly consented.
 The next morning ! summoned Hen drfckson and Lena to meet me at my house that we might together lay rrans for the establishment of the store Hendrickson arrived first and I was discussing the business matter with him when the door opened and . Lena Erlcson came in
 The two stood looking at each other as if wonder stricken for a moment then rushed into each others arms.
 "Icnar
 "OIafr
 As soon as they were quieted down they explained to me that Lena was the girl Hendrickson had left in swe- den. She had saved some money, just enough Co 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 rascaily . civil engineers of the two railroads had staked them out where they were