The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-05-07
WALTER BERGER,
a Story Of Salt Lake City.
BY wALLA WALLA,
CHATTER I.


ta'hs, on towards the setting sun, on, over
broad, rivers and fertile prairics, on, on,
during days and weeks, and months ol
weary travel, We journey, and at last we
look for the first time upon the Paradise Of
the Mormons, upon the far famed city OF
the Salt Lake.
The day is drawing towards its close, as
ayoung man of about twenty-five or three
years of age might be seen, leaving one OF
the larger houses in the outskirts Of the
city. and slowly taking his way towards the
Lake shore. 1t WAS a fine evening, and, al.
though in the middle Of winter, the atrnos-
phere was mild and pleasent, and the sun,
before sinking in the west, cast soft mel
low tint over the landscape. Still The young
man walked on needless Of the beauties OF
nature, and seemingly sunk in deep, and to
judge hy tie compressed brows, not over
pleasant thoughts.
Walter Berger had in childhood follow
cd parents in their emigration to Utah. but
being naturally Of a strong mind, lie had
soon. notwithstanding the influence o. early
training, seen through the shallow mockery
Of the Mormon religion, and would long
since have left their modern pandemonium
if love for his misguided parents bad no,
staid his steps. But his hostility to the
Mormon religion was we'll known, and by
the Prophet and Elders he was looked upon
with dis.rust, and nothing but his popnlari-
ty with the poor, whose love he had won by
repeated acts of kinlness had hitherto
saved him. As it is, Brigham Young had to
he satisfied with putting spies upon his FOO
steps, hoping thereby to find some pre,ex,
to rid himself Of person, who, he well
knows, looked with contempt upon his
Walters parents had now been dead ior
nearly year, and still he fingered, bound
by love, for one Of those fairheings of which
poets dream, and mother nature sometimes
sends us poor fellows in commiseration Of
our chcerless condition.
Fanny Langhy, had, about two years ago
then girl Of about fourteen, followed her
parents from their English home to Utah,
and since then, anger, at her fathers un
princip!ed conduct, and commisera,ion for
her mothers many sorrows, had matured
her mind, and at sixteen she was less Of II
child, and more Of woman than girls ut
that age in general are.
Walter had known her since her arrival,
and had leaned to love her, not so much for
the beauty Of her face, as for the more solid
and enduring qualities Of her mind. Fan
ny on her side had within the last year Of.
ten found herself thinking of the kind
pleasant youth, whose praises every one
sounded. Such stood the case TO within a
short time Of the opening ofour story, when
Walter confessed his love and received the
assurance Of hers in return.
About week be fore the evening on
which our story commences, Brigham Young
had one day nnccrcmoniously entered Mr..
Langby's residence. 1t was the first time
lie had crossed their treslihold, and also the
first time he had come in such close contact
with Fanny, whose beauty he seemed par
ticularly struck, and often during his some
what lengthy visits she had TO veil her eyes
from the bold gaze Of the lbcr,ne. Since
then, she had often with terror thought on
his parting words, which seemed TO imply
more than a mere wish to be better ncquain-
ted with the Langhy family.
We now return 10 Walter Berger, who
we left walking along the Lake shore. He
had gone about two or three miles from the
city brforc lie came to n small cabin, built
by the margin Of the Lake and occupied by
a person called Tom Bulley, q Mountain
hunter, who as lie was rather n strange spe-
cimen fine genus homo, we will describe.
Short and thickcst he looked literally as
broad as long. This strange body was sup,
piled with arms Of nearly Sinian length,
and n head very small and covered with
bushy black hair from under his over hang.
ing brow shown pair Of eyes Of almos,
super.human brightness. add to this, that
lie was dressed in a suit Of tight fitting
hucksin clothes, which set off his powerfully
built frame to the greatest advantage, as he
would himself have ssid-Tom Burley all
over.
Walter found Tom Burley ready to launch
a canoe, SO stepping on board they piled
their paddles for sometime. in silence. A,
last Tom said laushingly.
"spose you didn't come here to paddle
a canoe7 I"
mol wished to have a .palayor' witt
you. As you call it, about Brigham Young
and things in general"
swell 60 ahead" s