Sunday,” he said.
chapter Four
Letty Has A Plan
The following Sunday, Case was at church as ordered. “I’ve given this a good bit of thought this past week.” Letty announced at dinner. “Another one of our members was looking for a wife, and as you said, there are virtually no single women in Helena, since so many of the people here came out in the gold rush after the war. When mining didn’t work, they turned to ranching or farming. Others moved on. Anyway, he put an ad in the paper for a wife.”
“If there are no unmarried females in Helena, what good would that do?” Case asked.
“It wasn’t a Helena paper. There’s a paper that only contains ads for men or women looking for mates. It’s published in Kansas City, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. If you see an ad describing someone you might be interested in, you write the editor of the paper and describe yourself and the number of the ad you liked. He sends your letter to the other person, and if they are interested, they answer the editor. The paper doesn’t give out your name or address until you say so. After you correspond with those interested, you can ask them to meet you. If they accept, the man usually pays for the woman’s travel. If they like each other, they usually marry. The paper says they have sponsored several hundred marriages.
“What kind of woman would go halfway across the country to marry a man she had never met? That seems about the same as the fancy girls at the Last Chance. It sounds dangerous to me,” Case said.
“A desperate woman would do it. Or a man wanting a family and having no other alternative. There is risk to it, I guess. This couple I’m talking about has been married—how long, Jack?”
“I guess nearly two years now,” Jack said. “They have a little girl, and they seem happy. There are probably others in the territory, but I don’t know of any. I talked to them and borrowed an old copy of the paper. If you are interested, you could write and get an ad published. They’ll send you a copy of the paper. It used to cost a penny per word for the ad. It may still be the same.”
“Thanks, Letty. That’s another star in your crown. I really appreciate what you’ve done.”
“That’s what friends do; help each other in times of need. It’s up to you, now.”
‘I’ve never written a letter before. I don’t have any idea how to start.”
“I’ll help if you like, but the words have to be yours. Most women can spot a fake a mile off.”
Later that evening…
Case read the paper, looking at the ads. Many of them hinted at the loneliness of the man or woman. Others were downright ludicrous, obviously from fortune hunters. I had no idea this sort of thing went on. I guess I’ve led a sheltered life.
He decided to compose an ad, just for the heck of it. After several efforts, he came up with an ad that read:
Twenty-five year old rancher in the Montana Territory would like to correspond with a lady of same approximate age with marriage a possibility. I am slender in build, honest and a hard worker.
After services, he showed it to Letty. “What do you think?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said. “It’s forthright, and to the point. It doesn’t reveal too much, but it identifies your situation. Are you going to mail it?”
“I might as well,” he said. It will only cost a dollar, and will be interesting to see what happens.”
“Don’t get impatient,” she said. “Remember your letter has to get to Kansas City, and then put into the paper, which is published. Anyone interested will have to write to the paper, and then it has to be sent to you. You’re talking about a month at least for a return.”
“I guess you’re right. Somehow, I thought it might be quicker.”
“If we ever get the railroad in here, it will sure speed things up,” she said.
“I’ll see you next week,” he said. He tipped his hat to Letty and
chapter Four
Letty Has A Plan
The following Sunday, Case was at church as ordered. “I’ve given this a good bit of thought this past week.” Letty announced at dinner. “Another one of our members was looking for a wife, and as you said, there are virtually no single women in Helena, since so many of the people here came out in the gold rush after the war. When mining didn’t work, they turned to ranching or farming. Others moved on. Anyway, he put an ad in the paper for a wife.”
“If there are no unmarried females in Helena, what good would that do?” Case asked.
“It wasn’t a Helena paper. There’s a paper that only contains ads for men or women looking for mates. It’s published in Kansas City, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. If you see an ad describing someone you might be interested in, you write the editor of the paper and describe yourself and the number of the ad you liked. He sends your letter to the other person, and if they are interested, they answer the editor. The paper doesn’t give out your name or address until you say so. After you correspond with those interested, you can ask them to meet you. If they accept, the man usually pays for the woman’s travel. If they like each other, they usually marry. The paper says they have sponsored several hundred marriages.
“What kind of woman would go halfway across the country to marry a man she had never met? That seems about the same as the fancy girls at the Last Chance. It sounds dangerous to me,” Case said.
“A desperate woman would do it. Or a man wanting a family and having no other alternative. There is risk to it, I guess. This couple I’m talking about has been married—how long, Jack?”
“I guess nearly two years now,” Jack said. “They have a little girl, and they seem happy. There are probably others in the territory, but I don’t know of any. I talked to them and borrowed an old copy of the paper. If you are interested, you could write and get an ad published. They’ll send you a copy of the paper. It used to cost a penny per word for the ad. It may still be the same.”
“Thanks, Letty. That’s another star in your crown. I really appreciate what you’ve done.”
“That’s what friends do; help each other in times of need. It’s up to you, now.”
‘I’ve never written a letter before. I don’t have any idea how to start.”
“I’ll help if you like, but the words have to be yours. Most women can spot a fake a mile off.”
Later that evening…
Case read the paper, looking at the ads. Many of them hinted at the loneliness of the man or woman. Others were downright ludicrous, obviously from fortune hunters. I had no idea this sort of thing went on. I guess I’ve led a sheltered life.
He decided to compose an ad, just for the heck of it. After several efforts, he came up with an ad that read:
Twenty-five year old rancher in the Montana Territory would like to correspond with a lady of same approximate age with marriage a possibility. I am slender in build, honest and a hard worker.
After services, he showed it to Letty. “What do you think?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said. “It’s forthright, and to the point. It doesn’t reveal too much, but it identifies your situation. Are you going to mail it?”
“I might as well,” he said. It will only cost a dollar, and will be interesting to see what happens.”
“Don’t get impatient,” she said. “Remember your letter has to get to Kansas City, and then put into the paper, which is published. Anyone interested will have to write to the paper, and then it has to be sent to you. You’re talking about a month at least for a return.”
“I guess you’re right. Somehow, I thought it might be quicker.”
“If we ever get the railroad in here, it will sure speed things up,” she said.
“I’ll see you next week,” he said. He tipped his hat to Letty and
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