The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-23
Divorced fn the Desert-An Obstinate
Couples Quarrel ON the Journey to
the Land OF cold.
tFrom the Springfield Mass Republic,

SAc LssHA VA asOlus
(From the Springfield tMass.) Republican,
One Of the pioneers in California emigra-
tion, who went across the plains in S49,
tells this story, that began on the journey
! and has just ended in San Francisco I:
While the train Of which the narrator, now
| in Nevada. was member, was encamped
at point on the Humboldt where the Les
sen trail fntersects the Carson track of
| travel, be visited the tent Of family con-
sistlng OF an elderly couple and one child,
| daughteriof IA or Is. The old lady was
sitting on pile Of blankets under the can.
vas, encouraging. most determined at
TACK 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 proong the sojourn
through the summer following.
On the morning Of the fourth day the
wife broke sullen silence of tweuty-six
hours by proposing division of the pro-
perty, which consisted of two yoke of oxen,
one wagon, camp furniture, a small ouan,
tlty OF provisions, and $12 In silver. The
proposal was accepted, and forthwith the
"plunder" was divided, leaving the wagon
to the old man, and the daughter to the
mother. The latter exchanged with neigh
boring train the cattle belonging to her for
pony and pack-saddle, and, piling her
daughter and her portion of The divided
spolls upon the animal, she reso1utely
started across the desert by the Lessen trail,
while the old man silently. yoked his cattle
and took the other route.
or course both parties reached California
in safety. We say fof course" for it is
scarcely possible that any obstacle, death
included, could have interfered with stub
bornness so sublime. Arriving in Sacra-
mento with her daughter, the old lady
readily found employment-for women
were less plentiful than noW-and subse-
qucntly opened clearinghouse, and in a
few years amassed q 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 will
| fulness that separated them after so long a
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 he had toiled without hope. FL
nally, 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
| upon his arm. This was six months ago.
A few weeks since, in passing the open door
| he observed lady in the hall, and stopped
to offer his merchandise. AS he stepped
upon the threshold the lady approached,
| and the old man raised his eyes and dropped
| his basket. And no wonder, either for
she was his wife-his cold woman!" She
| recognized him, and, throwing up her arms
| in amazement, exclaimed:
"Great God John, is this you?" "All
that is left of me-" replied the old man.
suddenly the old lady's countenance
changed, and she stepped back. "John,"
said She, with look which might have
been construed into earnestness, chow did
you find the Carson road?" Miserable,
Sukey, mserable," replied the old man !;
'full of sand and alkali." "Then I was
right, John,' she continued inquiringly.
"Iou 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 rennited .'.-... - lt#..-