Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-04-21
A Scene In a Mormon Home.

Some months since Mr.. II. brought
tho beautiful Miss Finnell home to be
our ncighbor-a plural Mrs II. To
my surprise I was the recipient OF an
invitation to attend tho supper given
in celebration OF this event. Mrs. Il.
(thc frst) received me kindly, for
away down deep in her life this wo'
man aud I have qualities iu kinship,
We sat down to supper at six o'clock.
Mr.. II. and his wife sat at opposite
ends Of the table. Tho new Mrs. X.
sat by "Sstcr Julia l had the post
of honor at the right Of tho BRIDE
groom. This now benedict wore m
almost shcepish air and was i'll at case
throughout.
Supper over, we stood round the
bright fire in the cosy littlo sitting
room. Mr.. r. had planned to take
his bride to tho theater, and so prep.
arations in tho way OF gloves, cloaks
and bonnets began. The late Miss
Flnnell was soon toileted for the
opera in most fashionable ATTIRE
Mrs. r., my old friend, stood half re-
cllning against the piano. We had
beon silent for moment, and, to re-
lieve the embarrassment taking pos.
session of us, l said: "Mrs. r., 1t
almost makes one wish to be BRIDE
again." Mrs. r. laughed, accom-.
modatingly. Just then Mr.. r. plac.
cd his arm gently around the slender
waist of his new bride, folded her
handsome opera cloak close to her
form and drew her towards him.
She responded TO this caress oy q
tender upward glance Of her beautiful
eyes. Then l looked towards my
friend to find her face pallid as death,
while a look of agonizing endurance,
mingled with devilish malignity. al
most troze my blood. ( had said
aloud in actual surprise before turn
ing towards her, GAS live, he actual
ly loves this girl" Mrs. RS look
met mine squarely. That fact told
me all. No lies now with ready lips
at the bidding Of fealty to religion
That agonized, refined, sensitive face
proclaimed the system damned A
woman's natural love rose grandly in
the awfnl denunclation of those fierce
eyes. A great throb of pity filled my
own woman's heart. I saw all the
torture and the noble rage Of self
restraint. l stepped towards her, as
if to hold her in pity to my heart.
My Mormon lady friend took me by
the arm with almost rude force and
whispered warninglN "Mrs. Castine,
for Gods sake, remember where you
are." did remember and, discomtt-
ed, returned to my place near the
mantel.
Amid this little furry the bridal
party took their departure. We wo-
men were a silent party at first. Mrs.
r. still stood leaning on the piano
with her look bent on me almost re-
senttully.
"You don't think yourself called
upon to pity me, Mrs. Castine = she
said, with an almost quarrelsome
tone.
81 do pity you, Mrs. R., and I have
right to-
"You think me jealous Of my new
sister, then"
"Mrs. r. we are both proud wo-
men. We only need to look into our
own hearts to learn what real wo-
man must feel under the ordeal thro'
which you are passing"
"I am not jealous, Mrs. Castine.
Not only not jealous, but happy in
this new love Of my husband. Our
faith teaches us to love these sisters in
marriage as our own flesh. This mar
rage is not an estraDgement OF my
husbands love as it would be in an
unsanctified Gentle, but remarriage
to myself. in this marriage l live
over again my own espousal, my own
bridal, and renew again the fret
sweets of married love.
We were all decidedly uncomforta-
ble, and our two lady companions
took their leave together. But my
impulse Of pity had not been lost. and
without a word having beer spoken
between us after our friends retired
she sank into a chair and covering her
face with her hands cried out in bit.
terness, "Oh, Mrs. Castine, ! am most