Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-12-22

divorced i'm the Desert.

One OF the pioneers IN California emil
grafton, who went across the plains in 1919,
tells this story, that began on the journey
and has Just ended in San Francisco -
While the train of which the narrator, now
| in Nevada. was member, was encamped
at a point on the Humboldt where the
Lessen trail interseets the Carson track Of
travel, he visited the tent of q family con-
sisting of an elderly couple and one child,
daughter of Ia or Is. The old lady
was sitting on pile of blankets under the
canvass, encouraging a most determined
attack of the ''sulks," while the masculine
head of affairs had planted himself on the
wooden tongue, and was sucking his pipe as
though he expected to remain there for
ever.
A single glance developed the difficulty
in that little train of one wagon and three
persons, and that it had attained a point
of quiet desperation beyond the reach of
peaceful adjustment. Three days before
they had pitched their tent at the forks of
the road, and as they could not agree upon
the route by which to enter California,
there they had remained. The husband
had expressed preference for the Carson
road, and the wife for the Lessen, and
neither would yield. The wife declared
she would remain all winter: the husband
said he would be pleased to prolong the
soiourn through the summer following.
On the morning of the fourth day the
wife broke a sudden silence of 36 hours
by proposing a division Of the property,
which consisted of two yoke of oxen, one
wagon, camp furniture. small quantity of
provisions, and $12 in silver. The propos-
al was accepted; and forthwith the ''plun-
der" was divided, leaving the wagon to the
old man, and the daughter to the mother.
The latter exchanged with a neighboring
train the cattle belonging to her for pony
and pack-saddle, and. piling her daugh-
ter and her portion of the divided spoil
upon the animal, she resolutely started
across the desert by the Lessen trail, while
the old man silently yoked his cattle and
took the other route.
OF course both parties reached Califor-
MIA in safety We say ''of course for it
is scarcely possible that any obstacle, death
included, could have interfered with stub
borness so sublime Arriving in Sacra-
mento. with her daughter, the old lady
readily found cmployment-for women
we're less plentiful than now--and subse-
quently opened boarding house, and in 4
| few wears amasscd handsome fortune.-
| Two years ago she went to San francisco,
and the daughter, whose education had not
been neglected, was married to one of the
most substantial citizens.
And what had become Of the old man !.
! The wife had not seen or heard of him
since they parted on the Humboldt. They
had lived happily together for years and
she sometimes reproached herself for the
wilfulness that separated them after so
long pilgrimage together. But he was
not dead. We cannot trace his course In
California, however. All that We know of
him is, that fortune had not smiled upon
him, and that for years be had toiled with
out hope. Finally, feeling unable longer
to WELD the pick and shovel, he visited
San Francisco in the hope of obtaining
employment better adapted to his wasted
strength.
For three months he remained idle after
arriving there, and then, for want of occu-
patton. became the humble retailer of pea
nuts and oranges, with his entire traffic up
on his arm. This was six months ago
! A few weeks since, in passing the open door
of cottage in the southern part of the
city, he observed lady in the hall, and
stopped to offer his merchandise. As lie
stepped upon the threshold the lady ap-
preached, and the old man raised his eyes
and dropped his basket; and no wonder,
either, for she was his wife, his sold wo-
man l'' She recognized him, and throw
ing up her arms in amazement. exclaimed :
"Great God John, is that you" "All
that is left of me-" replied the old man.
With extended arms they approached
Suddenly the old lady's countenancc
changed and she stepped back. John
said she, with alook which might have been
construed into earnestness, "how did you
find the Carson road p miserable, Sukey,
miserable" replied the old man full OF
sand and alkali." "Then l was right,
John ?" she continued inquiringly. "Yo ou
were, Sukey." That's enough " said
she throwing her arms around the old mans
neck; "That's enough, john" and the
old couple, strangely sundered. were re-
united.