Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-07-16
DRAW j FOR BRIDES
Cowboy Brothers Wed Sisters
After CourtShip by Mail.
All Started by Pictures Sent by the
Boys From the Canadian North
west to Their Sister in
Brussels.

New York-Introduced by mail,
paired by a draw Of straws, ana
welded by the same ceremony, by the
same pastor, in the same church and
on the same night, Messrs. and Mes
danes CASTOR and George Pootmans,
newly wed brothers and sisters, re-
spectively, who arrived on the Red
Star liner Vaderland from Antwerp,
told friends who came to the pier to
meet them that they had had quite
enough of romance for four and they
were going back to Regina, Canada,
and go into the cattle-raising business.
Up to last week the brides and bride
grooms had never seen each other, al
though they felt that they had estab-
lished somewhat of an intimacy
through the mails.
The brothers came over from Brus-
sells three years ago and worked as
cowboys on a cattle ranch in Saskat-
chewan, Canada.
Before they had ridden the range
long they had their pictures taken in
their western garb and mailed back to
their sister, Mile, in Brussels.
Now, Miss Mile Pootmans had two
dear friends in Brussels. Their names
were Georgette and Lea Terwagne.
Nothing was more natural, therefore
than that she should exhibit the pic
lures Of her brothers in their pioneer
roles to the friends.
Lets write to them just for fun"
| offered Miss Georgette, after she had
perused the pictures in company with
her sister Lea for a bit,
The bargain was struck. The re-
turn mail brought two letters in the
same delicately perfumed envelope, ad-
dressed to the "Pootmans Brothers
The next east-bound mail carried let
ters to the sisters.
The pairs had been introduced by
Miss Mile Pootmans, the sister of the
cowboys, and so all parties to the
transaction felt that the proceeding
was sanctioned by the strictest rules
of etiquette Besides, it was such
great fun. 1t was, for a fact.
A few weeks ago the cowboys de-
cided to take a little vacation and
drop back home" Before boarding
the train for New York, where they
had engaged passage, CASTOR called
his brother to one side and suggested
that he might have other company on
the homeward trip.
THAT'S nothing to noe" returned the
other. 81 have had similar thoughts
myself%
"But which one are you going to
take?" asked the other.
whichever one will accept me"
was Gastons reply.
After more of this sort Of parley
the boys agreed to leave their fates
to straws The one that drew the
long straw was to propose to Miss
Georgette and the other was to seek
| the hand of Miss Lea. AS it hap
pened CASTOR drew The long straw and
that is one reason why he g the hus-
band of Miss Georgette The other
said at the pier that he was eminently
satisfied with having drawn the short
er straw
The wedding was arranged for in
short order upon the arrival of the
cowboys on the other side and the
two brides declared themselves highly
pleased at the pier.
The Pootmases are going to estab-
| lish ranches of their own upon their
return to the Canadian province. Gas
| ton Pootmaps Is twenty-eight years
old His brother is three years his
junior Gaston's wife is twenty, and
her sister two years younger