A Montana Millionaire's Secret Seattle Wedding

Hugh F. Galen, the Helena millionaire mine owner and politician, and Miss Laura B. Tague, one of the most popular of Helena's school teachers, were secretly married in this city by Father F. X. Prefontaine of the Church of Our Lady of Good Help, January [date]. After the ceremony was performed the happy couple left for Tacoma and from there went to California, where they are now spending their honeymoon, while their anxious friends are waiting to give them a rousing reception on their return to Montana. The story from beginning to end is very romantic and special interest is added from the fact that Mr. Galen is the father-in-law of Thomas H. Carter, who conducted the last presidential campaign of ex-President Benjamin F. Harrison, and who is now United States senator from Montana.

Few if any men are better known in Montana than Hugh F. Galen, the old stage line owner, miner and real estate holder. He is now about 80 years old, but to look at his giant frame and see him move about a person would be inclined to think he was nearer 40. He is fully six feet one inch tall, broad in proportion to his height, and wears a full black beard to conceal a chin that denotes strength and determination. His eyes are bright, and twinkle in true Irish style. For over thirty years he has made Helena his home and what with success in stage lines of the old days, increased values in real estate and successful mining ventures his fortune is said to be well on to $1,500,000. He has also been a prominent figure in politics and, peculiar as it may seem, he is an ardent Democrat while his son-in-law, Thomas Carter, is an equally strong Republican.

Three years ago or thereabouts Mr. Galen became a widower and his magnificent mansion at Helena was closed. The old saying that no matter how desolate a soul may be, there is some heart, even though unknown, that beats responsive to its own, apparently applies in this case.

Fortune has ordered it that Miss Laura B. Tague, a woman of great culture, pleasing manners and intellectually handsome face, should come to Helena and become a teacher in the public schools. Miss Tague may be 30 years old, certainly she is not older, but the matter of her years counts for little when she is known personally. It was no wonder that she soon became a prime favorite in the school world, and with her vivacious manners and conversation in the drawing room soon created a position for herself in the social circle in which she moved. Of course it was by chance that she met Mr. Galen. If it had not been by chance there would not have been any romance in it. They became friends and then one or the other began to experience a warmer sentiment. Fully a year ago Mr. Galen confided to Miss Tague the secret of his love and it does not require much of an imagination to picture his gratification at learning that his feelings were reciprocated. The day of the wedding was set, but for various reasons was postponed from time to time.

When the political fight for the location of the capital broke out between Anaconda, which is Millionaire Daly's favorite town, and Helena, of course Mr. Galen took off his coat and went to work for the latter place. It seems that about this time Miss Tague decided to make a trip to the coast and visit friends in Seattle. Mr. Galen was to follow in course of time and the nuptials would be celebrated without the knowledge of their many Helena friends.

It is understood that Mr. Galen desired the marriage to be secret for the time being for family and political reasons. After Miss Tague came to Seattle Mr. Galen was taken ill with the grip and did not arrive in the city until the latter part of December. He took apartments at the Stevens hotel on Front street and lost no time in calling on his betrothed. Several days passed and finally Mr. Galen evidently saw that, if he desired to have the marriage performed quietly, he would have to call in a friend to help him out. That friend appeared in the person of C. W. Turner, who used to be a partner of Mr. Galen in Helena real estate matters. Mr. Turner found that the first obstacle to overcome was to get the permission of the vicar general for the marriage to take place in Seattle, the contracting parties being members of the diocese of which Helena is a part. This having been successfully accomplished, Mr. Turner went to the court house and, watching his opportunity when no one was around, made application for the license, insisting that strict silence was necessary. Mr. Turner's hypnotic influence on the county officials may be imagined when it is known that the license numbered [unclear] marked "void" on January 1, 1895, but a day or so ago suddenly appeared with the names Hugh F. Galen and Miss Laura B. Tague, both of Helena, Mont., entered upon it.

There was no blowing of trumpets to herald Mr. Turner's success. He simply took the license to Mr. Galen, who in turn pocketed it until the following day, when he appeared at the Church of Our Lady of Good Help and asked Father Prefontaine to confirm the marriage ceremony. A few minutes passed and the momentous event was over. Father J. P. Pauden, of Portage du Rat, Manitoba, friend of Mr. Galen, and Miss Mary P. Ty, a domestic, witnessed the proceedings.

Quietly did the happy couple leave the church and, as near as can be learned, proceeded to Tacoma, where they took steamer for San Francisco. It was their intention to spend several months in California, expecting that their marriage would not be known until they appeared in Helena. They are still in California, but will probably return to Helena within a short time to reopen the Galen mansion.