The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-22
CHATTER vii

CHAPTER VIII
And now the last goodbye was spoken
and the young couple who had made
life's bitterest mistake were marching
on in their weary way across the Cont
nent.
Aunt Judy, strong in her will power,
earnest and conscientious in purpose,
and executive in all things, directed the
incidents of the journey in her own pc
culiar way.
Edna had underrated Johns ability
as an ox-driver when she had taunteu
him with deficiency in that peculiar
business; and she was compelled to adj
mire the intuitive skill with which h,
managed the patient brutes under hi.
care
"My old notion that nothing wa,
made in vain has received adde'
strength since l discovered that JOhI
was really good for something" she sai'
to Aunt Judy, as she watched her hus
band while he slowly trudged along
whip in hand, ever jourueyiug westwar'
and yet never getting nearer the setting
sun.
al never saw a man or woman yer
who hadn't useful niche in the worl,
somewhere" was Aunt Judy's reply
"and 1 really believe that were it no
for the abomin ltiou of the law, whicl
gives the husband an undue advantag,
in all things, when he is disposed to ar
cept and use it, that you an1 JOIN
might get along in the world first rate
Edna curled her lip scOrnfulIy.
"If it hadn't been for me-" continue,
Aunt Judy, "you would have been 4;
grass aOidOIO! Think of it! And now
you have so far conquered yourself"
''That l am out here in the wide vii
derness, fleeing from myself, from M!
mother, my home, and everything eX
cept John Smith, to whom this sell
same law you speak of has bound ne
and from whom, rather than all Sc il
the world, would gladly flee ="
"HuSh, Edna! Don't talk so loud
John will hear you and his feelings viii
be hurt. You have no right to thiul
and talk and act as you do. You ar,
very wicked. He's as good as you are
and is just as much disappointed in hi
marriage as you can be-"
"Then, why wasn't he willing to ge
out of it when left him at the hotel .
Pm sure was ready to release him from
all obligations on my part"
"Edna, could you give him back hi
heart ,"
al suppose nOU," was the meditativ'
reply. THAT is, supposing he had one
which 1 very much doubt. He love
himself and his own ease, admit that
but it's mOOushine to imagine that Ia,
loves me. You are welcome to all tn
glory which you arrOgate to yourself fo
having prevented rupture between u
that would have made me that thin
you so detest-a grass aOidoW; but
lOathe myself as L am far more than
could if were forty grass widows. Fo
whole month we have been journey
ing on. Day after day we toll an
struggle, cooking our food in the mu
and drizzle, or blistering our faces in tn
scorching sunshine; nothing to be see
but sage and sand hills; nothing at a
to be enjoyed, not even the congenis
company of wise young man."
"Edna, you are morbid, and you dis
gust mew
az know it, and don't care. ws
brought up in morbid condition.
detest John Smith. l abhor myself"
Here was problem beyond the ski
of Aunt Judy's brain to solve. She ha,
through all her life, dreamed upon
beautiful conjugal theory, akin to thi
which Edna had imagined In the boar,
ing school; and here was Edna, who
she had fondly looked upOu as the eu
bodiment of all things lovely, with
husband who was evidently striving
the utmost of whatever skill he had
make her paths pleasant, and she w
as ACGblNC eAo do q iANAf "
under the halter of its master.
But what could Aunt JUDY do?
act as go-between with two such u
congenial yOke-fellows was to keep be
self constantly between two fires.
And thus the days and weeks al
months rolled on, bringing no satisfa
tion of soul to any one of the traveller
who might, in other conditions and be
ter moods, have viewed with a joy
unbounded as the atmosphere tn,
breathed the diversity of hill and pla
and mountain range and mighty cata
act through which they slowly wa
dered.
"Behold me, Aunt Judy" said Edn
one day, after they had wandered for
long time beside the waters of Gre
Salt Lake. az am Edna Rutlerfu
that was, but now Mrs. John SmiI