Creating Fiction From History: 3/30/2022

The year was 1915. Louisa Jane had just celebrated her eighteenth birthday. Being the only child of Sir Robert and Dalriadan Flockheart, she, of course, had not celebrated in any ordinary way. No, for this daughter of the Lord and Lady, nothing but an all-out ball would do, complete with orchestral music and dancing.

The guests included everyone from the lowest denizens of Waukon to the Chinese ambassador (Viceroy, actually), Li Hung Chang, whom they had shared an ocean voyage with almost 19 years ago. Li's wife Ah Lam (which means Peace) had stayed at home in China. She had been pregnant at roughly the same time as Dalriadan, so this had engendered a quick and fast friendship between them. Fast forward 18 years and their son, Bingwen, was enrolled at Iowa State University, where he played basketball for the Cyclones.

Even though his wife remained a staunch Catholic Sir Robert, having been raised in a good Scottish Protestant household, remained a good Protestant, if in word only. For instance, Louisa Jane had received First Communion at eight years old at St. Patrick's, however, Sir Robert & Dalriadan were members in good standing at First Presbyterian.

The Changs and the Flockhearts had remained in contact throughout the years. When Bingwen elected to attend college overseas, the Changs relocated their hectic life in China to settle in Smalltown, USA. Therefore, when the Changs accepted the invitation to the ball, they of course brought their only son.

Louisa Jane had become friends of sorts with Bingwen over the years, but it was not until the night of her 18th birthday party that her eyes perceived him in a whole different light.

And that, my friends, as they say, is all she wrote!

If you would like to create fiction from history with one of the museum's photos, please contact the Ledger at (406) 287-5301 or email whledger@gmail.com.