The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-11-12

is said TO be already selected by the great
Brigham for his forty-fsurth wife"
And the other ladyf' 1 enquired, care
iessly.
''Oh. she is the senior stepmother of the
young lady. and the director-general of old
Acherman' 3 harem of seventeen wives. He
is rich old mob land bestows upon old Brig,
: with his daughter, marriage-portion of
| FIVE thousand dollars. He is fishing, you see,
for an appo:nt1 aent to the Council of Ten $
next year.
We saw that our informant was radical
in his ideas. and We took him to a neigh
boring saloon al nd treated him. He told us
great many novel things about the sanity
city before we separated, and walked with
US to the street where Acherman's residence
was situated.
Betimes the next morning, Mark Trafton
cleaned up his saddle and bride, and after
currying down the splendid black stallion he
had ridden all the way from Council Bluffs,
till not speck of dirt could be found upon
his highly-pnlished coat, he mounted him
and rode forth into the city. lie was absent
till nearly noon. and after dinner he sailed
out again. This he repeated the next day.
and for the -four days following; but from
our conversations in the evening found out
what he was up to.
He had already met Miss Alderman three
or four times clandestinely, and she had ex-
pressed her repugnance of Brigham in no
very guarded or respectful language. She
pronounced him an old beast without hesi-
tation, and declared she would die sooner
than she would be his iorty-fourth wife, and
Traiton eagerly encouraged her in this re-
solution.
The last time they had met he proposed
an elopement, and she had given her consent.
She was ready to accompany her handsome
lover to California, or anywhere else, to
avoid the cruel fate that awaited her at
home. They had laid all their plans for de-
parture that night, intending to make their
way beyond Bear River to the foot of the
mountains, where they proposed to remain
concealed till our party came up.
Their plan was to meet somewhere be-
tween ten and midnight, just beyond the
northern limits of the city proper, where
they were to take the travelled road leading
~ hiNtI, anu dil night
Now, what l want, Sil,'' said Mark, in
an elated tone, is to borrow your mare for
Belle. Trough you might rideas far as the
mountains in the mule-team with Jaggers,
and then when you Ovcrtake Us you might
exchange places"
! gave my consent, and in order to cover
up suspicion even from our own party, l
rode into the city with Mark in the afternoon,
and left my mare at a ivery-stable, to be
called for by Trafton at nine O'Clock that
evening. We then visited a saddlers s and
purchased sde-sadde and small panier
suitable to be attached to his own saddle.
In this he intended t o stow away provisions
enough to last three or four days, and such
selections from the young lady's ample
wardrobe az would be absolutely necessary
in the undertaking of so long journey. l
was to call for the side-saddle and panier in
the evening and transfer them to the place
of meeting, which we had driven to before
stabling my horse.
On our return to camp we gave out the
story to our companions that | had sold my
horse for a round sum to a Mormon. This
was satisfactory to our fcllows, who had no
particularly good reason for disbelieving the
story when they saw that we had not brought
the animal back with us.
little after dark | started into the city
IN advance of Trafton, and securing the side
saddle and panier, | made my way to the
point previously designated ] had not long
to wait before Mark appeared. mounted on
his own horse, with mine in lead.
It was little past nine O'Clock at this
time, and a beautiful starlight night We
exchanged the saddles and attached the panicr
l had brought TO Marks. The provisions
which he had brought in bag thus far
were carefully transferred to the panier,
so as to make room for the reception OF such
articles as the young lady might think proper
to take along with her.
1t was understood that she was to slip out
of the house the ne1ncnt the family had re-
tired and everything was quiet about the
premises, and meet Mark. who was to await
her near at hand, while remained as senti-
mel over the horses, which were concealed
from observation by clump of bushes not
far from the roadside.
How long should ne required TO walt was
uncertain. for no one could tell how long the
flmily might remain up Time always seem
long to those who are awaiting an expected
event.
The two hours and half that | remained
behind that clump of bushes, holding the
two horses by the bride, before the arrival
of the fugitives, seemed to me. III my i'm
patient mood, to be fully double that length
of time But they came at last, and the
small bundle of things which the beautiful
/ girl had smuggled from the house, were
slowed snugy away in the opposite side OF
/ the paner from where the provisions had
been placed. When all were ready, Mark
vaulted into the saddle, while | assisted his
companion to hers.
% In few moments they were galioping
along side by side over the northern road,