The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-01-08
How They Got
Rid Of Him
By MARJORIE COUGH

The village Of Bubbling Rock-named
for a spring from which gushed an
abundance Of pure WATERWAYS a very
quiet community. There were q cou'
pie of dozen married couples with
children-some grown to manhood n
womanhood, but most of them still
children. For Bubbling Rock was q
new settlement in the new colony OF
Virginia. and old persons are seldom
pioneers. The inhabitants cultivated
the tobacco plant, at which they made
a good living. and so long as they
were free to worship God in their own
way they were content.
But the peace of Bubbling Rock was
destined to be Interrupted. A man
an unmarried man-came there from
Jamestown. who taught the men OF
the town to which he came games OF
chance. He not only won their o
ey. but set them to gambling among
themselves. This interchange of their
funds with one another would not
have been Objectionable II it had not
set them to quarreling. For there is
nothing that will 80 soon make enc
mics Of friends as winning each 9TH
er's money. Instead Of working the
men were constantly gambling. and
0 only a the tobacco neglected.
but not u day passed but there was
a fracas.
When a number Of men who had
previously beep fast friends, had
bloodied one another's noses and: one
man had been killed, the wives and
mothers of Bubbling Rock put their
heads together with a view to getting
rid Of the instigator Of the trouble.
The deliberations were behind closed
doors, and the women were pledged
not to reveal the plan adopted.
Those were the days when the pop,
ulation Of Virginia was kept up and
increased by shipments Of persons Of
all grades. from the younger SON of
noblemen to the most hardened crimi-
nal. The highest and the lowest met
on shipboard and on arrival scattered
themselves w the new country.
To the surprise of the husbands OF
Bubbling Rock their wives suddenly
seemed to take a fancy to the gam
bier who had made all the trouble
They invited him to their houses. and
one or two Of those having the most
seductive tongues held up before him
the advantages Of matrim0ny.
"Get married." said Mrs. Ralston.
land become M Of us. 1t is only us a
husband that you can achieve real hap
piness. This is a lonely country. and
its loneliness q only be done away
with by the companionship that is to
be found in wedlock."
Where shall l find u wife?" asked
the gambler. "There are five men to
one woman in the colony"
Leave that to me-" replied the lady
Ill find you a wife who | will guar
antee will change your life completely.
She is coming out from England and
is due to arrive within a fortnight"
The gambler seemed grateful for the
kindly interest the lady took in his
welfare and expressed himself glad at
the prospect of meeting her friend.
Ten days later a ship arrived from
England. bringing q cargo of women
sent out to be wives for the single
men Of the colony. Mrs. Ralston
boarded the vessel and was closeted
with the captain for q few minutes. at
the end Of which time he summoned q
young woman. to whom he said:
"You need not be put up with the
rest for a husband. This lady will
provide for you" Then he left the
two women together.
Eunice Dargan. the young woman
who had Just arrived. was rather small
and had mild blue eyes and golden
tresses. She was the comeliest Of all
the women on the ship. Mrs. Ralston
took her ashore with her and d0miciled
her under her. own roof. That night
she sent for the gambler and intro
duced him to her friend.
The next day the man for whom this
gentle lass was intended discharged
the cost Of her transportation in to-
baccO and there was a wedding at the
house of Mrs. Ralston.
That night the stiffness of the settle.
ment was broken by voices raised in
anger emanating from the home of
the man the lady had arranged to
make happy. A man and a woman's
voice were raised alternately in Gre
scendo. the woman's constantly gaining
the ascendancy till the sound Of some
heavy weight striking against the wall
of the house put an end to the mans
side Of the argument. Then the slam.
ming Of q door was heard and all was
still.
The next morning all the men In
Bubbllng Rock peeped from their win
dows to see what had been the end Of
the previous bridal night amenities.
Not 10 the women. They were all
posted. When the door Of the gam.
bler's home opened the meek looking
bride stepped forth: Then every wo-
man in Bubbling Rock knew that the
gambler had vanished.
When the plan adopted BY the wives
to get rid Of the gambler leaked out II
was learned that on the arrival Of the
cargo Of women sent over for wives
Mrs. Ralston had asked the captain for
II n 49, IL