The San Francisco call., 1899-02-05

Now for the strangest and most dra-
matte career that ever befell Cali
fornia girl, the history of a woman who
followed her husband into exile; pur-
sued night and day; banished from
home by her fidelity to the bonds that
no man can put asunder; fleeing from
justice that knows but one end, the
price of a human life-this, and more,
Mrs. Dalton experienced because of
love.
Something Of her unusual life is best
told by the woman who suffered 1t.
IF 1 had but known the life he in
tended to follow when he sent for me
to join him 1 would have remained
here, not because 1 did not love him,
but because of that love, which 1 knew
would have brought him back to US
some day. He was devoted to the chill
dren, kind and indulgent, and I shall
always believe that this love would
have redeemed him from the past If
had refused to leave California; but. Of
course, l did not know.
Il joined him at his mothers home
in Kingfisher, Oklahoma Territory. 1t
was here that 1 first learned of his in
tention to lead an outlaws life. When
the trouble began 1 think l suffered
most. l was unacquainted with grief
then, and for the first time in my mar
ried life 1 was left alone with the chill
dren-left alone, while Mr.. Dalton set
out upon the uncertain journey to help
his brothers to escape from the State.
He was gone two weeks, and it seemed
two years to me. 1 walked the floor
night and day in the anguish Of antici-
patton. Perhaps he was dead, perhaps
wounded or taken prisoner along with
his brothers.
when the neighbors called I had to
entertain them with smiles and light
words while my heart was breaking.
They were not to know why he was alb
sent. l could not write home about my
trouble, for / had not pleased my
parents in my choice of husband, and
my pride kept me from seeking their
consolation.
Misery needs no calendar, but dur
ing the last year of my married life I
measured time by heart-throbs.
I'VE started on our journey from
civilization at Kingfisher, a party of
seven adults and four children. Three
of the men had their wives with them.
We Travelled in two covered wagons
through the trackless wilderness of
Oklahoma and Indian Territories, our
destination nowhere and our desire
anywhere to avoid the man-hunters,
for each man in our party had price
upon his head.
Sometimes we pushed on and on,
travelling night and day and in fear
of pursuit. o. God! the eternal memory
u
The wretchedness of the first nights
camp is thing apart in its intensity
from all my other trials. We suspected
that we were being followed, and so
camped that night without a fire and
without sleep. The plaintive cries of
the wildcat, the rafting leaves stirred
by lizards or snakes, would have been
enough to dispel all thoughts of slum-
Der; but the soul-stirring fear that the
sun might rise over the dead bodies of
our loved ones kept US awake.
After that night we women took
turns as sentinels, for the men always
returned at evening exhausted from
their long days tramp, hunting for
game and new roads that were safe to
travel. The first time 1 took my turn
in guarding the sleepers I was nearly
wild with apprehension. / had been
staring into the deep forest until
imagined every light spot a human face
and every tree trunk body. If a twig
broke or leaf fell my ears magnified
the sound and my eyes were constantly
on the alert for some treacherouS foe.
The moon was full and the shadows
from the pines played CHASTITY tricks
with my Imagination.
II was very nearly distracted with
nervous fears, and with no intention of
firing 1 reached for my gun, thinking
to while away a moment in taking a
away. / raised my gun to take aim
and saw what made my blood curdle
in my veins; the figure of an Indian
at whom l had unconsciously leveed
my gun. / was dumb with terror and
the Indian gave the first alarm by a
peculiar cry that awakened my hus-
band.
I'm an instant he was by the Indian 8
side. 1t was Indian Jake a friend.
who brought us news that we were pur-
sued by party not seven miles away.
We broke camp Immediately in the
dead of night and resumed our tiresome
journey, broken of rest and disturbed
by dangers. This Indian had warned
Mr.. Dalton time after time, because he
had once saved his life when dying
from starvation.
1T was a terrible life, this rowing,
fleeing existence. The men themselves
felt no safety, but tried to keep their
fears from the women. / never knew
one of them to have a sound nights
sleep during the whole of that madden
ing career.
Occasionally We came across a lone
ly hut, q rendezvous for highwaymen.
- hna ardi i,,cr he Al