The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-12-15

| ptsir was aHeady belnB made Iast 70 inc
huge cottonwood stufnps that hung over
the water. She was loaded down 50
that tho water had washed her deck and
sidea q griny mud color Her mixed
and indescribable freight was piled high
on every side in anything but shiPshape.
Her passengers were all crowded for
ward, anxious to get ashore, and their
faces were Of every color and type.
Miners, soldiers, Yankees, traders, gam
blers, adventurous, negroes, army OH,
GERS, emigrants and few women came
over tho gang plank in a motley process
sion. Greetings were exchanged by
some with men in the crowd on the
bank; others stood aside and looked on,
stretching themselves as II just re-
leased from a cramped position, and
then looking about for the settlement
Many Of the passengers Of the Polar
Star chose to walk out to Wostport; some
hired Mexican ponies and mounted them
cautiously, having heard Of the bucking
brOncho afar of; others took passage in
the schooner" drawn by six creeping
oxen, and all started over the hills to the
trading post, except those who were to
help unload tho cargo and bring up the
supplies for Westport.
The Mexican buyers ordered the wagon
trains down in haste, the boats long de-
lay making them impatient to start out.
The captain had been ordered to wait for
United States troops bound to Fort
Leavenworth; then tho Polar Star had
grounded on a sand bar when she was
six days out from st. Louis; her supply
Of fuel at certain landing was not
ready, aud she was obliged to wait while
cord wood from three miles inland was
hauled to her. One detention after an
other, together with her heavy cargo,
made her trip q slow one, but no serious
accident had befallen her and the freight
for the overland trains was landed IN
good condition.
As the struggling procession was
about to start up the hill the captain Of
the Polar Star noticed q woman stand
ing alone and looking in a dazed and
frightened way, first at the boot and
then ut the caravan. He remembered
her we'll, for, to use the phrase Of his
own thoughts, he. had "had his eye on
her" throughout tho voyage from st,
Louis
She had come aboard late at that city
with her passage paid to Westport Land.
ing. There, she had aftorward explained,
she would be met by friend. Being q
quiet, modest, plain little body, the off,
Gers wives who were aboard tho boat
took kindly to hor and bafriended her
throughout the trip. They were some
what curious, TO be sure, concerning the
friend" who would meet her; very rea-
sonably, too, since it was an almost un-
heard Of and certainly q venturcsome
thing for q woman TO start up country
on Missouri river steamboat in those
early days. But her manner, and per-
hap0 what she did not say more than
anything she said, prevented close in
Quiry. The wife Of captain Of artil-
lery, who ranked" all the others, gave
It out rs her opinion that one Of two
things must DO the trne explanation.
Either the lone woman had been de
serted by her husband and was not quite
sure that he would keep his promise to
meet her ct Westport Landing, or she
expected TO join az old lover and be
married there.
Moro than once, whsn the woman sat
on tho deck Of the Polar Star and gazed
across the muddy waters OF the river
into the yOung cottonwood groves be-
yond, pathetic look crept into her face
that warranted tho first theory. Again
q trustful hope would shine through her
gray eyes and convince her new friends
Of the latter explanation.
Tho captains attention had been cspe-
cially attracted to her by little scene
Of which no believed himself to be the
only witness. Soon after she came aboard
his boat at St Louis, and while he was
watching her with some suspicion and
wondering that woman OF hor appear
ance should start upon such journey
alone. no saw her face grow suddenly
white. They were both well forward at
the time, but the woman was walking
toward the stern Of the vessel, and it was
evident to the captain that she was star
tied by something she saw there amid the
crowd Of passcngers-deckhands and
Boldiers-an engaged in asserting and
arranging the staclSs Of freight and lug
gage. This keen observer Of strange
people turned quickly and looked in the
came direction with the woman's eyes,
but he could not determine what it was
that had caused the blood to leave her
fnco. She made no attempt at conceal
ment md was plainly in no way dis
guised. Of these things the old captain
made mental note and then wisely de.
cided to hide his time.
But a. the voyage progressed and the
woman gave no sign, the captain was
puzzled, Ho said 10 himself: "She knows
where she Is going and what she Is
about and she intends to keep her own
counsel. It's wonderful what quiet bit
Of o woman win undertake when she
makes up her mind to it. Her courage
Is like the patient mans anger when ct
last aroused" And the old captain
sighed long, deep sigh and kept his own
counsel
Although he, too, had been curious
concerning her "fricad," he was not
greatly SURPRISED to SEQ her standing
alone after tho passengers were oil land
ed from the Polar Star. He approach.
cd her just as the officers wives, who
were in the great wagon ready to ascend
tho hill, cspied her. and called to her Ia
Join them.
Nobody met me-" she said 70 the
captain as no came up, and, though the
words had q lonely sound, he wa
puzzled anew at tho tone, and the ex.
preston he fancied he detected for on