Evening star., 1942-12-13

u)G93sUtoo b
|mvE could have had any Of the girls back in Dakota
but he wanted no one but Cathie. Cathie, who had
- tawny curling hair soft brown and happy heart
Steve De Haven was tall and ideshoudered. with keen
blue eyes forever fixed dstances For Steve had the Ore
gon fever They had been married about year when Steve
made known his plans He organizing wagon train to go
to the Oregon territory From the first moment he talked of it.
tight band had drawn round Cathies heart She wanted
none of it.
But Steve went right on planning "Weu outfit our wagon
right Wen not be caught shorTationed on the trip he
said. We'll take a COW. and four horses"
'How long on the road?" Cathie had asked
Leave in May. Get there in October"
MAY asl Osobe Cathie echoed eyes black in her white
face NO Stevc No! don't want to 60. don't want that
country. want this Steve Here we have friends The
home we've lived in. My my mother and father, Steve
She didn't want to tell him how afraid she was Since she
was child sed heard of the smgs and mseries of pio-
neers on that western trail.
"Are you child?" Steve half shouted. "Or woman
grown? married woman You'll 60 where your husband
goesl" And he stalked out.
The iron had gone deep into Cathe yet se said no more
For days she worked evershly packing, discardng The
morning Of departure came Twentyeg wagons Everyone
was up long before dawn
Cathe climbed into their Conestoga wagon. Old Matt
Wilkins was driving for them Most of the time Steve would
be searching out the road ahead on horseback
Cathe ipped small bundle of her belongings with white
hands She stared her parents her friends Choked back
her sobs waved resolutey. and smiled She
own wife of the captain She nineteen
Inn first days the easiest Cathe could pretend they'd
20 only short way and then turn back. The farms they
passed beautiful the scenery But the hills grew
sleeper hills long and high she walked miles in pity
for the hoges Day followed day. The wagons went
rutted roads, ferries wadng through sreams The grass
disappeared Animals thinner There wrangling.
contrary views of the emigrants- And now dust
There were moments when Cathe wanted to scream,
'Dus Dust Won't stop choking me?" Other moments
WHEN ste 6ercely accused hersef of failure wife.
Old Matt Wilkins, wise and mdestmdng, put his finger
the trouble you amt took Oregon fever, Cathie he
explained, while Steve's il plumb beyond cure
'You either catch diseases like smallpox Oregon fever
or you DON'T" s1e said For the life of me can't why
man in his senses would want either
1T amt of my business of course, but what you want
does Steve when be looks ahead? What do when
look back? Then ask yourself DO folks build nations
lookin back?"
AFTER that, vhat?" che asked.
Then it was me, and loved Steve the way you d.
and vas loved much by him, I'd look ahead hardezn
he'll And while was lookn I'd say prayer askin God to
rive me wee mite O Steve's vision
She knew what Steve He had painted IN eloquent
pictuea Wide Meadow thick ham, bawlng creeks empty
ing into lazy river trees feet thick and hundred
high no more dougts; all the game and fish needed
for his family chance trail-baze for weaker
When Cathe looked ahead she dust picked up by the