Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-01-03


partners on Confederate bar for
season in search Of auriferous
metals. having met with fair sue
cess in days when IS TO the pan
was considered pay dirt" aban-
doncd their claim and pulled up
stakes for the Big Hole basin.
high upland on the eastern water
shed OF the Rockies, its uplist $3.50
feet above the sea. Dry land il is,
wrung out from an inland sea in
prehistoric times 50 remote the
mind Staggers in an attempt TO
reckon il.
Through this land runs 4 clear
mountain stream. daShing and splash
ing over boulderS on its way TO Join
the opaque waters o! the Big Muddy,
This virgin soil was untrod save by
the mOCCaSin foot o! the redman, until
the placer digg!ngS were worked out
20 n great extent and the placer miner
turned his attention 10 agricultural
pursuits.
Miners Go Farming
Two miners. Harris and Bolt, squat
ted on 100 acres, built comfortable log
cabins. were the first pre-cmptOrS and
had the choice of land 10 select from.
They grew in opulence rs the wheels
of time revOlved and the yearly ad-
dendum OF young stock grew into
many herds on many hills. These min
erS were boon companions and were
in the habit OF taking turns staying
n part OF the time at each others
cabin in order to comply with the law
when 1t came time TO prove up title
to their lands. to keep one another
company and to break the bloody
monotoly" of the Semi-Arctic stiffness,
as Harris was wont to say.
The Ideal Life
When discussing other things. one
October night, the question arose
whether it was the ideal life for
man to live alone. and be exempt from
the visiting Stork or to have guard
ian angel preside over the household
affairs: and after thorough argu-
ment pro and con, Bolt chung with
tenacity to the affirmative side Of the
question and resolved to take unto
himself helpmate.
He would rush into the matrimonial
state, providing he could induce some
unsuspecting female 10 share with him
the viciSSitudes OF ranch life in the
west. Harris suggested that as neither
he nor his partner had left behind
sweetheart when they started west,
an advertisement in some eastern
newspaper was likely TO bring about
the desired results. and wrote the fol-
lowing notice. posting It TO an eastern
paper for insertion:
pondence desired with lady. not over
80 years OF age, must have some
knowledge OF farm life and capable
Of attending TO the duties on ranch.
Object, matrimony. Photographs to be
exchanged. Bolt"
A short time passed when letter
was received addressed 10 Bolt calig-
raphy. punctuation and orthographv
rs correct as 4 young lady'S applica-
sn., ia +sa Wit q
photograph incloSed. After reading it,
Bolt turned 10 his partner and hold
ing up the counterfeit preSentment.
remarked TO Harris that she looked
like -four time winner" Why
shouldn't he write and tell the lady
10 stand not upon the order OF COM
ing. but come at once? This course
was sent 10 ascertain II bargain
could be struck and contract entered
into for better or for worse, sight
unseen.
In due course reply came announc-
ing that the writer would depart the
following week. destination the Big
Hole basin, with instructions 70 have
someone meet her at the stage station.
some two miles distant from Harris
ranch, upon the arrival Of the stage
coach. Harris made all necessary prep
arStions 20 meet the coming bride. II
had been SO long since he had had
the exquisite pleasure OF converSing.
as he termed K, with real lady. tina.
his expectations As 10 this particular
ore were pitched 10 the highest key.
and he pictured in his minds eye
what the prospective future wife Of
his bosom friend and mining partner
would be.
Making all haste 70 meet her az the
station a. the time when she would
arrive, he struck out on pair OF skis
OF his own make, across the snow to
the station, carrying on his back an .
extra pair Of web shoes for the lady,
FOX the snow had fallen 10 a depth 4
OF three feet on the level and had
formed crust, making skiing the
only way OF travelling on foot.
The suns rays were dipping behind
the mountains when he reached the
station. but the lingering twilight of
this northern latitude glows far into
the night, and he had no fear OF los I
ing the tral on his return.
Her Arrival
The stage driver had changed horses .
on The divide and from a wheeled
When the Overland" pulled up 1t
the station. the Pilgrim Lady alighted
and made inquiries for Mr. Bolt. Harris .
alighted and introduced himself as
Mr.. Bolts partner, telling her that he
was waiting for her coming and WAS
ready to pilot her to Bolts cabin. |
about two miles up the river beyond
his own.
Y am pleased to meet you and ac-
oepe with pleasure your kind offer"
said the lady. How far IS 1t to the /
ranch? Mr.. Bolt has written 70 me
he would have Q minister here tonight /
to perform the ceremony but no doubt |
yop have been Informed all about the
matter. Had ~ not better 60 on TO-
night
'Yes, II Ne can make It." replied
1AxS1a Z hrought along . pair Of
vso shoes for you It requires no sk1n
10 vak With than On The lsvel. I yin