Mr. Lawrence's Journal

(Word count: 900)

May 19:  There are three others in the coach on my journey to Berkley, a middle aged couple, trying to look as if they have more money than they do, she has an ample bosom, but an ample belly to match.  I suspect her behind is more than sufficient also.  The man is of slight build, and hen-pecked I would conjecture.  Merchants or proprietors of some sort I would surmise.  The fourth occupant of the coach is also middle aged, a woman.  I would think she has some form of income, like me she is not wealthy but neither is she destitute.  She is an attractive and very sensual woman.  I dare not guess at her source of income.

May 20:  The married pair are indeed proprietors and plan to set up a general merchandise store somewhere along the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, they are not yet sure of their final destination.  But think that Carson City will be a good place to begin their search.  The unaccompanied woman is a seamstress, and goes by Miss Casper.  She has a beautiful, melodious voice that is quite pleasing to the ear.  She has a barely discernable trace of a Boston high-brow accent.  She plans to open a dressmaker’s shop in San Francisco

May 21:  Mrs. Crantree is beginning to look tatty; clearly she is unaccustomed to spending any amount of time being anything but pampered.  Mr. Crantree is no doubt a henpecked man, he spent this evening’s supper complaining to the innkeeper about the meal at his fat wife’s request; nothing at the establishment suited her.  I don’t think the poor man achieved a wink of rest last night, his wife must have complained to him all night.  There were noticeable dark circles beneath his eyes today.

Miss Casper has turned out to be a quite pleasant traveling companion.  She seems agreeable to most whatever is required of her, she is somewhat versed in the arts and sciences, but her knowledge contains the gaps of the self-educated.  Clearly she is of above average intelligence.

May 22:  That fat witch Mrs. Crantree was a thorough bore today, I find it amazing that her husband has withstood her verbal and physical onslaught for the past 22 years they claim to have been married.  It is beyond me how anyone could spend two weeks with that woman.  I would think prison preferable to her presence for another minute.  Mr. Crantree is an agreeable man when away from Mrs. Crantree.  Evidently, he would prefer to run a saloon rather than the general merchandise store his odiferous wife is set upon.

Miss Casper has become of some interest to me.  I may be falling under her feminine spell.  She is coy and bold in the same instant, her intelligence continues to intrigue me.  She is well versed in Newtonian physics and we spent several hours today discussing the works of the Curie’s.  She is of an average height for a woman, perhaps five, or six inches shorter than I.  Her skin is healthy and clear, her hair is the color of golden wheat and shows no grey.  Her eyes, which are steely blue, show a painful but full past.  She is of slender build with small breasts, a larger than average nose that is not offensive, but makes her all the more unique and attractive.  She was suitably impressed when she discovered my ultimate destination as the University of California at Berkley.  I fear that I am becoming quite attached to her.

May 23:  Mr. Crantree is a completely lost man; he sat in a daze all day while his wife complained unremittingly, eventually Miss Casper asked if perhaps she wouldn’t be more comfortable with the horses pulling the stagecoach, as their patience and intelligence seemed well suited to hers.  Mrs. Crantree turned a bright vermillion, and the smallest trace of a smile fleetingly crossed Mr. Crantree’s face.  Thankfully Mrs. Crantree was quiet the remainder of the day, though she did issue many heavy sighs.  It is a wonder that that foul, bitch of a woman is still breathing.  The proprietor at this evening’s establishment dearly wanted to choke her with his bare hands.  As it was he had to restrain his wife from attacking the woman. 

Miss Casper has again become more intriguing.  She claims to have no education past the sixth grade, but says she reads quite a bit as she is a very curious individual, which I can well believe.  There are some gaps in her knowledge common to the self educated.  She is an extremely inquisitive woman.  I find myself becoming very attracted to her.  They are expecting a single man to arrive at the University, but I dare say Miss Casper seems equally attracted to me.

May 24:  Miss Casper and I where the only travelers today.  It seems Mr. Crantree has had his fill of Mrs. Crantree.  Mrs. Crantree was found in twelve pieces last night.  Mr. Crantree confessed to the deputy sheriff and is currently being detained by the county sheriff.

Mrs. Casper agreed to proceed onto Berkley, where we are to be wed at the first opportunity.  She says a dressmaker’s shop will do just as well in Berkeley as in San Francisco.  She is to become Mrs. Lawrence as soon as we can arrange for a minister in Berkeley.  Her skin is quite soft.

(Word count: 900)