The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-01-15
RESCUED FROM CAPTIVITY.

Without exception Mark IraitOn was the
handsomest man | ever saw. lie joined our
party at Council Bluffs on our overland
journey to California, in the Spring Of 1851. |
There were seven Of MS, all told, and three
horses and five mules made up the sum total
our, animals, with the exception of a long,
4, hungry-looking wolfdog, the property
G pecial layori;e Of Zebulon Jinks, the
lie.
wo Of the mules were driven in harness,
nd were attached to light wagon, built
nigh in the body, and made water-tight by
caulking. In this we conveyed our pro-
visions, trunks, and a shelter-tent large
enough to accommodate our entire party.
On our arrival in Salt Lake we camped
for week in an open field just outside the
limits Of the city After our tent was pitched
and everything arranged for our comfort,
Trafton proposed that we should take q
cruise through the city.
Weaccordingly had recourse to our trunks,
and each playing the part of barber for the
other, we soon succeeded in making up an
unexceptionable toilet. 1t was little after
noon when we started on our expedition, and
half-an-hour later found US promenading
arm-in-arm through the principal street of
the Mormon capital
Trafton was attired in fashiouably-cut
frock-coat Of the finest German texture, with
white duck pants and vest to match. Each
article of his apparel fitted him like ducks
foot in the mud. A neat Panama hat and
patent leather shoes, with profusion of
costly jewery to match, completed his neat
and somewhat snowy attire. His exquisite
makeup attracted universal attention. Slip
shod women and slatternly girls-for we'll
dressed female wns of rare occurrence in the
sanity city-rarely failed to turn and gaze
with admiring eyes at the stranger. knew
it was my companion who claimed their
attention, for was always a very ordinary,
plain-lookug man, with not the slightest
pretension to beauty. There are some people
so attractive in their appearance as to cause
Others to tarn in order to obtain a second
look at them, 1t is the universal tribute
that beauty eSacts everywhere, and Mark
Trafton was ~ no means insensible to the
admiration to which his fine personal ap-
pearance excited.
As we sauu,ceed along through the princi-
pal street of the town, we noticed two female
equestriau,, who seemed just then to divide
public attention about equally with the gay
Lothario at my side. The eldest was hard
featured rather good-looking duenna, of per-
haps forty or forty-fye, mounted ON q
beautiful darkroom mare, with coat 50
smooth and Glossy that you could almost see
your face in it She was attired in black
serge riding-dress, with white under~kirts,
and she managed the efne-ooking animal she
rode with thut graceful ease and perfec; self
possession, which is acquired only through
long experience. in equestrian exercises.
Her companion was young, and one of
the most bewitchingly lovely creatures it had
ever been my lot to encounter. The skirts
of her riGing-dress were Of .ilac-colored silk
with waist or bodice of orange-cooreC
satin. Her hat was dark-purple velvet
studded in front with a variety of brillian
gems, and ornamented with a collection of
dropping white ostrich plumes. Her jettl
hair fell in graceful ringlets over her ex
quisite neck and shoulders. A more fault
less face it would have been difficult to con
ceive, or form more luscious and inviting
She was mounted on a beautiful cream
colored Spanish genet, and as they drew
nearer, her large, languishing orbs suddenly
rested upon Trafton with undisguised ad
miration.
He had chained her with one of those mes
meric looks, which would now and auol
dart like flashes of summer lightning from
the depths of his dark eyes, adding a transi
tory charm to his marvellous beauty, whie
was quite intoxicating to the senses. In he
extreme confusion at the moment she drppe
her handkerchief, and with that gailanr
which was leading characteristic Of Tral
toms, he sprang gracefully forward, and wit
a bow and smile that made his conquest
certainty, he picked up and handed her tn
exquisitely embroidered article in question.
81 am most happy to be Of service to you
beautiful lady, he said in ducet tones, an
bestowng upon her parting smile whic
was perfectly rayishing.
The fair eqnesTienne acknowledged th
favor with genuine look Of pleasure. whil
the hald-ieatured duenna looked on with
froWn.
oIsn't she a beautyf' cried Mark. as }
Joined me, on the departure Of tine ladie
81 wonder who she is ?"
'That,n said bystander, in answer
the inquiry, sis Belle Alderman, Eli'
Acherman's daughter from Illinois, and vii
is said to be already selected by the gre
Brigham for his forty-iourth wife"
"Aud the other ladyP' / enquired, car
Iessly.
"Oh. she is the senior stepmother of t
young lady, and the director-general Of o
Alderman S harem Of seventeen wives.
isa rich old mob, and bestows upon Old Brig
with his daughter, marriage-portion
five thousand dollars. lie is isfshing, you Sc
for an appointment to the Council Of Ter
next year"
We saw that our informant was naiC
in his ideas, and We took him to neig
boring saloon and treated him. lie told
=. - Al IN