Monday, July 24.
We passed the summit of the Rockies to-day, and are camping on the
western or Pacific slope to-night. The ascent has been so gradual
we should not have known when we reached the top but for the little
rivulets running in different directions. Quite on the summit and
very near to each other we saw two little rivulets starting on their
way; one to meander toward the Pacific, while the other will empty
its confluence into the Mississippi, and thence on to the Gulf. Just
a scoopful of earth could change the course of either where they
started--from the same spring really. As it is, how widely different
the scenes through which they will pass. So it is with human lives--a
crisis is reached, a decision is made, and in one short hour the
whole trend of our life is changed with regard to our surroundings,
associates, environments, etc.
We came through Bridger’s Pass to-day, crossed a toll bridge near
Sulphur Springs, and had to pay fifty cents toll for each wagon. The
streams are all muddy that we have crossed to-day. We saw two beaver
dams; they look like the work of man with shovel and trowel. We are
camping two miles west of Sulphur Springs.
* * * * *
Tuesday, July 25.
We are camping near another muddy creek near a station that was
attacked by Indians ten days ago; they wounded one soldier very
severely and ran off with nine horses.
After we were in corral, while waiting for the stove to be set up and
the fire to be made, I was sitting in mother’s camp-chair idling and
thinking, when Neelie came to me. She dropped upon the grass beside me
and, laying her head in my lap, said, “Oh, Miss Sallie, I am afraid I
am going to be sick in spite of everything, and I have tried so hard to
get well without sending for the doctor.”
Dr. Fletcher is desperately in love with her and tried to tell her
so one day not long ago, catching her hands while talking, which she
resented as a familiarity, and has not spoken to him since. She told me
about it the evening after. It happened at noon. I told her I believed
he was sincerely in earnest and that she had wounded him deeply.
She told me what she had done to try to cure herself; the medicine she
has taken is enough to kill her. I called mother and told her what
Neelie had told me. Mother said, “You poor child, you do look sick,
indeed; you must go to bed and send for the doctor right away.” I went
with her to the wagon, helped her to get ready for bed, and told Cash
to send for Dr. Fletcher. She said she would as soon as Bush--her
brother--came.
After dinner I went again to see Neelie; the doctor had not yet come,
but Bush had gone for him. I stepped upon the tongue of the wagon and
could, with difficulty, restrain an exclamation of disgust. Neelie
interpreted my expression and said, “Cash just would do it; said I was
looking so like a fright.”
Cash had powdered and painted Neelie’s pale face and crimped and curled
her hair--and made her look ridiculous--trying to hide the sick look
from the doctor. I did not answer Neelie, but went and scolded Cash; in
a low tone she said, “She was so dark around the eyes, her lips blue,
and her cheeks so pale I could not bear to have Dr. Fletcher see her
looking so homely. She has told you about their little love-tiff?”
“Yes, but don’t you suppose he can see through that paint and powder? I
am afraid he will think Neelie did it, and she will appear ridiculous
in his eyes.” I saw the doctor coming, so came away. As I was sitting
here writing, he came a while ago and said, “Miss Raymond, will you sit
with Miss Kerfoot to-night and see that she has her medicine strictly
at the right time?”
“Certainly I will. Is she very sick, doctor?”
“She is in a much more serious condition than she or the family
realize. It would not be wise to alarm her, but the family ought to
know she will need very careful attention. I will tell them to-morrow.
You need not sit up after the last dose of medicine is given, which
will be at midnight. I think she will rest better if everything is
quiet, and the lights out.”
I know from the doctor’s tone and manner he thinks Neelie dangerously
ill. The doctor gave me directions about her medicine, and I went
immediately to her wagon.