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one way or another； the smoke of that ill…omened furnace
protected the first steps of my escape； and led me unobserved
to the canyon。
There； sure enough； I found a taciturn and sombre man beside
a pair of saddle…horses； and thenceforward； all night long；
we wandered in silence by the most occult and dangerous paths
among the mountains。 A little before the dayspring we took
refuge in a wet and gusty cavern at the bottom of a gorge；
lay there all day concealed； and the next night； before the
glow had faded out of the west； resumed our wanderings。
About noon we stopped again； in a lawn upon a little river；
where was a screen of bushes； and here my guide； handing me a
bundle from his pack； bade me change my dress once more。 The
bundle contained clothing of my own； taken from our house；
with such necessaries as a comb and soap。 I made my toilet
by the mirror of a quiet pool； and as I was so doing； and
smiling with some complacency to see myself restored to my
own image； the mountains rang with a scream of far more than
human piercingness； and while I still stood astonished； there
sprang up and swiftly increased a storm of the most awful and
earth…rending sounds。 Shall I own to you； that I fell upon
my face and shrieked？ And yet this was but the overland
train winding among the near mountains： the very means of my
salvation： the strong wings that were to carry me from Utah！
When I was dressed； the guide gave me a bag； which contained；
he said； both money and papers； and telling me that I was
already over the borders in the territory of Wyoming； bade me
follow the stream until I reached the railway station； half a
mile below。 'Here；' he added； 'is your ticket as far as
Council Bluffs。 The East express will pass in a few hours。'
With that； he took both horses； and； without further words or
any salutation； rode off by the way that we had come。
Three hours afterwards； I was seated on the end platform of
the train as it swept eastward through the gorges and
thundered in tunnels of the mountain。 The change of scene；
the sense of escape； the still throbbing terror of pursuit …
above all； the astounding magic of my new conveyance； kept me
from any logical or melancholy thought。 I had gone to the
doctor's house two nights before prepared to die； prepared
for worse than death； what had passed； terrible although it
was； looked almost bright compared to my anticipations； and
it was not till I had slept a full night in the flying palace
car； that I awoke to the sense of my irreparable loss and to
some reasonable alarm about the future。 In this mood； I
examined the contents of the bag。 It was well supplied with
gold； it contained tickets and complete directions for my
journey as far as Liverpool； and a long letter from the
doctor； supplying me with a fictitious name and story；
recommending the most guarded silence； and bidding me to
await faithfully the coming of his son。 All then had been
arranged beforehand： he had counted upon my consent； and
what was tenfold worse； upon my mother's voluntary death。 My
horror of my only friend； my aversion for this son who was to
marry me； my revolt against the whole current and conditions
of my life； were now complete。 I was sitting stupefied by my
distress and helplessness； when； to my joy； a very pleasant
lady offered me her conversation。 I clutched at the relief；
and I was soon glibly telling her the story in the doctor's
letter： how I was a Miss Gould； of Nevada City； going to
England to an uncle； what money I had； what family； my age；
and so forth； until I had exhausted my instructions； and； as
the lady still continued to ply me with questions； began to
embroider on my own account。 This soon carried one of my
inexperience beyond her depth； and I had already remarked a
shadow on the lady's face； when a gentleman drew near and
very civilly addressed me。
'Miss Gould； I believe？' said he； and then； excusing himself
to the lady by the authority of my guardian； drew me to the
fore platform of the Pullman car。 'Miss Gould；' he said in
my ear； 'is it possible that you suppose yourself in safety？
Let me completely undeceive you。 One more such indiscretion
and you return to Utah。 And； in the meanwhile； if this woman
should again address you； you are to reply with these words：
〃Madam； I do not like you； and I will be obliged if you will
suffer me to choose my own associates。〃'
Alas； I had to do as I was bid； this lady； to whom I already
felt myself drawn with the strongest cords of sympathy； I
dismissed with insult； and thenceforward； through all that
day； I sat in silence； gazing on the bare plains and
swallowing my tears。 Let that suffice： it was the pattern
of my journey。 Whether on the train； at the hotels； or on
board the ocean steamer； I never exchanged a friendly word
with any fellow…traveller but I was certain to be
interrupted。 In every place； on every side； the most
unlikely persons； man or woman； rich or poor； became
protectors to forward me upon my journey； or spies to observe
and regulate my conduct。 Thus I crossed the States； thus
passed the ocean； the Mormon Eye still following my
movements； and when at length a cab had set me down before
that London lodging…house from which you saw me flee this
morning； I had already ceased to struggle and ceased to hope。
The landlady； like every one else through all that journey；
was expecting my arrival。 A fire was lighted in my room；
which looked upon the garden； there were books on the table；
clothes in the drawers； and there （I had almost said with
contentment； and certainly with resignation） I saw month
follow month over my head。 At times my landlady took me for
a walk or an excursion； but she would never suffer me to
leave the house alone； and I； seeing that she also lived
under the shadow of that widespread Mormon terror； felt too
much pity to resist。 To the child born on Mormon soil； as to
the man who accepts the engagements of a secret order； no
escape is possible； so I had clearly read； and I was thankful
even for this respite。 Meanwhile； I tried honestly to
prepare my mind for my approaching nuptials。 The day drew
near when my bridegroom was to visit me； and gratitude and
fear alike obliged me to consent。 A son of Doctor
Grierson's； be he what he pleased； must still be young； and
it was even probable he should be handsome； on more than
that； I felt I dared not reckon； and in moulding my mind
towards consent I dwelt the more carefully on these physical
attractions which I felt I might expect； and averted my eyes
from moral or intellectual considerations。 We have a great
power upon our spirits； and as time passed I worked myself
into a frame of acquiescence； nay； and I began to grow
impatient for the hour。 At night sleep forsook me； I sat all
day by the fire； absorbed in dreams； conjuring up the
features of my husband； and anticipating in fancy the touch
of his hand and the sound of his voice。 In the dead level
and solitude of my existence； this was the one eastern window
and th