Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-13
HIS SECOND WIFE.


the plains stretched north and east as far
as the eye could reach. Away to the south
west the Jagged peaks of the Wasstch were
sharply defined against a background of
dazzling blue. The long train of canvas
covered wagons that toiled slowly forward
upon the dusty trail might camp in the
shadow of those peaks at sunset; SO it
seemed, at least, to the inexperienced eyes
that hailed the first sight of the range as a
token that their journey was nearly ended.
"We are surely within ten miles of the
mountains now. Is it not so, Captain? %
The person addressed refined his horse
beside the questioner, who appeared to be
in charge of an ambulance that had fallen
in the rear of the train.
"When you have crossed the plains as
often as have, Brother Sleldoa," he said,
"you won't trust to your eyes to measure
distances, especially on day like this.
When it seems to you that you could al
most touch the mountains with your hand,
you may calculate that they are a good
twenty miles away"
That is discouraging."
"On your wife's account you mean
Take my word for it, she will DO better
here than in velvet carpeted chamber at
home. I've seen such cases scores OF
times"
A call for the Captain from some parties
ahead interrupted the conversation, and as
he rode away the driver of the ambulance
lifted one of the curtains, letting in little
of the binding sunlight, but admitting
with it the fresh breeze that blew from the
peaks.
I" Is mamma asleep?" he asked.
The question was addressed to little
girl who, with an expression of the gravest
solicitude upon her round, dimpled face,
was watching the other occupants of the
wagon-a frail, pallid woman, lying on a
bed improvised with blankets and pillows,
with tiny baby nestled close to her breast
and pretty two year old child fast asleep.
At the sound of voice the woman IN
closed her eyes and beautiful eyes they
were-large, black and full of liquid light.
g have not slept, she said, land the
day has seemed very long. Is it near suR-
set ?"
1t was hard to answer her question,
asked with such pathetic WEAKNESS. The
husband and father looked from the sick
wife to the children walking behind the
wagon, and sighed as he thought of the
long miles that stretched between them
and the camping. ground they hoped to
reach at sunset. The wife's quick ear
caught the sigh.
"Do not mind me, George" she said, in
a voice meant to be cheerful. " / am very
comfortable, and the children can ride by
turns."
"Yes, mamma" interposed the little
watcher, II will get out now and let Susy
ride. She has been walking since morn.
ing"
But Susy, the motherly, thoughtful eld-
est sister, protested that she was not tired,
and that she liked walking above every.
thing, and the second girl, whose white
face showed that she was ready to sink
from exhaustion, was lifted into the over
loaded ambulance.
"You can ride, too, Charlie" the father
said, addressing sturdy youngster who
had broken from his sisters OBTAINING
grasp, and was making path for himself
in the sage-brush.
"Don't want ter. Guess I'm big enough
to walk. Men allus walk sides, l see a
deer while ago, and when he comes round
next time Pm goin' to shoot him."
He means rabbit" Susy said.
"No, don't, nuther. l see lot Of
deers and rabbits too, yist day. Girls
don't know nothin' about shootin' deers.
The mother on her sick bed listened aud
smiled.
"What boy !" she said, with the proud
motherly-ligh in her eyes. Then she
spread her tiny baby's pink fingers upon
her open palm, and touched her lips to its
silken hair. She felt no WEAKNESS now.
She had the children and their father.
What she did want beside ?"
The next day and the next were but
repetitions of many that had preceded
them, since the march across the plains be-
gan but on the third day they entered
the mountain passes, and at the end of q
week the train emerged from Emigration
Canyon and halted upon a plateau over
looking great Salt Lake valley.
And this is Zion God help US all !"
George Sheldon turned his head to look
at the speaker, and his wife, now SO far
recovered as to be able to sit up in the
wagon, glanced in the same direction. A
young girl, bareheaded, her face Drowned
by exposure to the sun and wind, and her
dress soiled and travel.stained, stood near
them, her eyes fixed on the prospect be-
yond, To most overland travellers the
sight of this valley was as welcome as the
first glimpse of Canaan to the lsraelites,
but to-day scorching south wind wilted
every green thing. and filled the atmos.
phere with binding cloud of dust.
Doubtless others of the company echoed
the girls words in their hearts, but they
did not utter their thoughts aloud. Mrs.
Sheldon beckoned the stranger to place
beside her.
You are disappointed, she said, "and
homesick too, perhaps but you will get
over that"
az am disappointed" the girl answered
bitterly, "but not homesick. / have no
home. My stepmother always hated me-
and she turned my father against me-"
And you ran away"
Yes, but l would have run somewhere
else, if 1 had known all that know now.
Why, they told me this place was like the
Garden of Eden. 1t looks that way, don't
it? And l haven't penny nor friend"
Suppose you stay with me, then, until
you find better place.
The girls face frightened until her new.
found friend thought her beautiful in spite
of her sunburnt tints.
"Do you really mean it - she cried. ''If
you Will let me stay with you snail De SO
thankful, and you will never be sorry for
giving me home.
Mrs. Sheldon assured her of the sin.
certify of her offer, and asked her few
more questions but beyond eliciting the
information that her name was Nora Bur-
ton, and that she had joined the company
of English emigrants at Liverpool, she
learned little of her history. That night
the whole family slept under 8 roof for the
FIRST time in months, and in the morning
their new home certainly looked muoh
more inviting.
owe NAV find the Garden of Eden here
after ali, Mrs. Sheldon said to her hand
maiden, especially if we carry little bit
of it in our hearts. We came to this val
ley for the Gospels sake, you know"
4" didn't, the girl answered promptly.
81 / would have gone anywhere to get away