The Bachelor, the Rancher, and the $5,000 Mail-Order Bride

Sumas furnishes the latest 'Heart and Hand' romance, a veritable matrimonial sensation, which has set the denizens of the boundary city all agog. Some months since a rancher owning 320 acres of land just adjoining the corporation, becoming weary of living alone and dieting seven days in the week on cold 'spuds' and sour biscuits, conceived the idea of advertising for a partner. He wanted a cook and a companion, but more especially a woman who had several thousand dollars, more or less. Love wasn't 'in it' particularly except for incidental protection. He had done his 'billing and cooing' in his earlier years; now it was strictly business. Land he had plenty of, but no funds to improve it. He reasoned that while the Eastern market was overstocked with unmarried women, this country was literally an untamed forest from lack of them. Accordingly, this appeal was made through 'Heart and Hand': 'A rancher of Washington has a prosperous home and wants a queen to come and take care of it.' It took. Responses and photographs began pouring in upon him until the number of candidates reached 180. He answered every one, carefully stating his needs and demands. He wanted affidavits and certificates as to character and amount of ready money. Those without money need not apply. Had intelligence and beauty been his only aim he could have married scores of times, and in one instance he came near yielding to the earnest solicitation of $20,000, but when he read in the description, 'weight 325 pounds,' he was out on first base. At length $5,000 and with it an intelligent schoolmarm appeared on the scene. As he closely read over the credentials he sprang from his chair shouting 'Eureka, E pluribus unum!' Negotiations followed, and last week the lady put in an appearance. She saw in the union a home and a half interest in a ranch in the garden spot of Washington, while he saw $5,000 ready money and a bright, good-looking wife. Sunday afternoon last, Rev. Mr. Vail united in marriage Mr. Bowen, of Sumas, and Mrs. Lord, of Chicago, and a happier couple of well-advanced turtle doves you never saw.