Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-24

GcOfHe flcmlnB with MS InOtner anu
sister badc adicu to the homestead and
went out to face adventure In what
was then the wild west; the journey
was not disagreeahle and though hea-
vy-hearted at first the time passed
quickly; reaching the Mississippi valley
they purchased large tract of land
and provided the necessary equip
ments for farming on rather a large
scale. gradually. however. disposing
of few acres Mt n time they found
themselves surrounded by neishbors.
who. though strangers TO them, soon
became Ike old friends, such are ex-
periences in new localities where people
are more or less dependent upon each
other for the little amenities and cour-
tesies of life In neighborhood. 1t soon
became apparent to thoae IN the vicin-.
ity that George Fleming was q natural
leader of mon. and all the honors of this
small settlement were thrust upon MN.
He gave advice about everything that
was undertaken. and all his aifairs
prospcred wonderfully. Letters We're
not so common then as now ana there
was no teleeraphlc communication
but irtuitions and presentiments some
times seemed to take the place of later
methods OF transferencp, and Mrs.
Fleming was one who had dreams
and knew things beforehand. one
morning. after a year or two residence
In the new state, where they had es-
tablished themselves, Mrs. Fleming
surprised George by saying, I'VE are
going to have change In our family
here, l know 1t from n dream, and
have felt 1t, too, for some time past"
Elsie. who had watched things closely
while her mother had been busy with
household duties. (for help was scarce
and ague prevalent, many We're sick).
said: Yes. ! believe some of the folks
are coming out from York state for
George has had so many letters lately
though he never tells us what is in
them.
Hearing o Elsie's remark George
felt called upon to speak and said.
We'll. mother, we shall have visitors
very soon, in n few days at least per-
haps by the next steamer up the river;
but there Is no need OF worrying, who
ever comes as our guests, VIII have to
accommodate themselves to our condi-
tons here, until they can do better.
There's no other way at present"
Evidently he was not sure just what
was in store himself and therefore
could not explain, but before many
days, Mr.. Russell and Wealthy ar
rived from the East. Mrs. Fleming
declared she knew without being tcld
of their coming, and Elsie. who had
been so long without n companion
suited TO her taste. was overjoyed to
see cousin Wealthy as they called her.
Mr.. Russell told Mrs. Fleming that
after his wifes death (of which they
had been apprised) that Wealthy could
not content herself. and he had sold out
to his boys and come to see the country,
and of course must bring his daughter
along, ard added, cousin Rachel. she's
never been like herself since we put
off that marriage. though 1t was her
own doings. and she would never say
she was sorry. / hope now she'll
brighten up and that we shall have a
wedding soon"
Mrs. Fleming replied. II sincerely
hope so. too. / realize how much George
needs wife, cannot leave him, as he
is situated, and l feel / would like to
go back to the home and end my days
there; Elsie is to be married soon to
a young lawyer, who has bright pros
poets and to see them both comfortably
settled is what most desire now"
Wealthy Russell was. indeed, much
changed; in her mourning dress she
seemd older by several years, and
though her manner was much the same.
dignihed and distant, yet II was easy
to perceive she was in earnest about
keeping her engagement.
Not very long after the arrival of
Mr.. Russell and his daughter from the
East, the marriage of George Fleming
and Wealthy Russell was consum-
mated. George was not a member of
any church but he had been raised an
Episcopal, and Wealthy was particular
| about having that service, as she was
| n devoted church woman. 1t was a
very simple wedding lin the log house
for there was no church there) COM
| pared to what had been expected when
the bridegroom and his mother went
| on to Newburgh two years before.
even the minister had to come from
a neighborlng town. The bride was
| in mourning. too, which is said to be
"unlucky." but no one thought of that
| except the mother and she was care
full not to draw attention to the fact.
| And yet, Notwithstanding all the lack
| of worldly goods and social customs, the
bride had once anticipated as essen
| tial parts of marriage, everything
| passed off pleasantly and she made no
demur neither then nor ever after
wards, in regard to temporalties. but
was in the main perfectly satisfied. She
| noticed that her husband was growing
| in favor not only there with the best
| people, but in state affairs, and she saw
| bright future opening for them BOTH
The elder Mrs. Fleming lived to see
Elsie settled In life, and to all appear
| ance happy and prosperous. and son
born TO George to perpetuate the name
of Fleming There was great JOY in
| the family on the occasion of the ad-
| vent of this the first-bofn, and much
consultation over the name; the
| mother insisted on naming him her
|
name, of which she was very
proud, Russell. She had always
| felt that the name Wealthy
was Puritanical and determined
her children should have aristocrauc
names. She had her own way, for all
the family were willing to submit to
her realizing the great change in her
| life from what she once expected. In
time, however,a better house was built,
and many improver ents made, and
George (who was now dubbed ESQUIRE
as his grandfather Fleming had been
before HIND was the most indulgent of
husbands. Wealthy was always con-
sidered first In everything. a year or
more after Mrs. Fleming died and was
buried in the new burylng ground
fenced in after she came there to live;
died suddenly away from her old home,
where she had passed so many happy
years. George and Elsie were both
very fond OF their mother but not more
SO than the other daughters, who had
not the privilege of being with her at
the last: and who had sometimes felt
that they were not quite the same to
her as the Fleming children; although
they knew she had only done what she
/ hat "a In, mi uaG