The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-12-01
DIVORCED IN THE Desert.
An Obstinate Compile Quarrel on the J om-
ney TO the Land of Coda Wonian's Luck
"A Meeting After Twenty Ycnrs.

ney to the Land of Gold-A Wonan's Luck
A Meeting After Twenty Years.
One Of the pioneers in California emf
grafton, who went across the plains in
40, tells this story that began on the
journey and has just ended in San Fran
cisco: While the train of which the
narrator, now in Nevada, was mem
Der, was encamped at point on the
Humboldt where the Lessen trail inter
sects the Carson track of travel, he VS.
ited the tent of family consisting of
an elderly couple and one child, q
daughter of ii or Is. The old lady was
sitting on pile of blankets, under the
canvas, encouraging most determined
attack of the "sulks," while the mascu-
line head Of affairs had planted himself
on the wooden tongue, and was sucking
his pipe as though he expected to re-
main there forever.
A single glance developed the diff
Guilty in that little train of one wagon
and three persons, and that it had at
tanned Il point Of quiet desperation be-
yond 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 ex-
pressed 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
sojourn through the summer following.
On the morning of the fourth day the
wife broke sullen silence Of thirty-six
hours by proposing division OF the
property, which consisted of two yoke Of
oxen, one wagon, camp furniture, o
small quantity of provisions, and $l2 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 neighboring train the
cattle belonging to her for a pony and
pack-saddle, and, piling her daughter
and her portion Of the divided spoils
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 Cali
fornia in safety. We say "of course"
for it is scarcely possible that any OBJ
stacle, death included, could have inter
fered with stubbornness so sublime. Ar
irving in Sacramento with her daugh-
ter, the old lady readily found employ
mentor women were less plentiful
then than now-and subsequently
opened boarding house, and in few
years amassed 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 her.
self 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 he had toiled without hope
Finally, feeling unable longer to WELD
the pick and shovel, he visited San
Francisco, in the hope of obtaining en-
ployment better adapted to his wasted
strength.
For three months he remained idle
after arriving there, and then, for want
Of occupation, became the humble re-
taller Of peanuts and oranges, with his
entire traffic upon his arm. This was
six months ago. A few weeks since, in
passing the open door Of q cottage in the
southern part of the city, he observed u
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 old woman." She
recognized him, and, throwing up her
arms i'll amazement, exclaimed: .
"Great God John, is that you z"
"All that is left of me-" replied the old
man. With extended arms they ap-
preached. Suddenly the old lady's
countenance changed, and she stepped
back. "John," said she, with a look
which might have been construed into
earnestness, show did you find the Car
son road 7" Miserable, Sukey, mis-
erable," replied the old man "full of
sand and alkali." "Then was right,
john" she continued inquiringly. "You
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
reunited.-SDrinatieM Republican.