Their answer was to drive up faster and stir up a powerful lot of dust. They kept pretty well ahead after that, but at sundown we came up with them at the well where we were to camp. This well had been sunk by the county for the convenience of travelers, and we were mighty thankful to find it. It came out that our young couple were bride and groom. They had never seen each other until the night before, having met through a matrimonial paper. They had met in Green River and were married that morning, and the young husband was taking her away up to Pinedale to his ranch.
They must have been ideally happy, for they had forgotten their mess-box, and had only a light lunch. They had only their lap-robe for bedding. They were in a predicament; but the girl’s chief concern was lest “Honey-bug” should let the wolves get her. Though it is scorching hot on the desert by day, the nights are keenly cool, and I was wondering how they would manage with only their lap-robe, when Mrs. O’Shaughnessy, who cannot hold malice, made a round of the camp, getting a blanket here and a coat there, until she had enough to make them comfortable. Then she invited them to take their meals with us until they could get to where they could help themselves.
I think we all enjoyed camp that night, for we were all tired. We were in a shallow little cañon,—not a tree, not even a bush except sage-brush. Luckily, there was plenty of that, so we had roaring fires. We sat around the fire talking as the blue shadows faded into gray dusk and the big stars came out. The newly-weds were, as the bride put it, “so full of happiness they had nothing to put it in.” Certainly their spirits overflowed. They were eager to talk of themselves and we didn’t mind listening.
They are Mr. and Mrs. Tom Burney. She is the oldest of a large family of children and has had to “work out ever since she was big enough to get a job.” The people she had worked for rather frowned upon any matrimonial ventures, and as no provision was made for “help” entertaining company, she had never had a “beau.” One day she got hold of a matrimonial paper and saw Mr. Burney’s ad. She answered and they corresponded for several months. We were just in time to “catch it,” as Mr. Haynes—who is a confirmed bachelor—disgustedly remarked. Personally, I am glad; I like them much better than I thought I should when they were raising so much dust so unnecessarily.
I must close this letter, as I see the men are about ready to start. The children are standing the trip well, except that Robert is a little sun-blistered. Did I tell you we left Junior with his grandmother? Even though I have the other three, my heart is hungry for my “big boy,” who is only a baby, too. He is such a precious little man. I wish you could see him!
With a heart very full of love for you,
E. R. S.