San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-07-20

teen years before, he gave Madame La |
Tour the choice of alternatives which |
brought her to the valley, the prophet |
pointed at the door. Phillip CROPPED
his way out blindly. The sun was shin !
ing, but he saw nothing. When he
reached the street he stopped and tried
to think. He could not go home-he
could not face Jessie, who sat even now
with her baby in her arms, singing a
soft lullaby, while the blue-veined lids
dropped gently over the bright eyes.
The baby! What stab went through
his heart us he recalled the prophets
words. t''ty .F't w +'i.'
Do you, whose lot has been cast else
where, scofr at him because he believed
what had been said to himp Remem-
Der, that since his childhood he had
heard nothing except Mormonism-
that all his life, almost, the word OF the
prophet had been, to him and all around
him, the voice OF the Almighty. Re-
member, also, how in every age, creeds
which have been handed down from the
father to the son have dominated the
intellect and the will, no matter how
false and Monstrous they may have
been in themselves. Phillip La Tour,
in accepting the dictum of the Mormon
prophet as absolute truth, did only what
you and have done in receiving with
out question the belief which our par
ents bequeathed us. He did not use
his reason in the matter, simply be-
cause he regarded everything connect
ed with religion as above the domain of
reason. He was called now to pass
through an experience more bitter than
death. But if the call was indeed from
above he might not disregard it. Was
it true that the judgments OF God had
rested upon him and his wife because
of their disobedience? Over and over
again he asked himself this question,
during the wretched day that followed
his interview with the prophet. Hour
after hour passed. It was almost night
and Jessie would be anxious and dis
turbed if he stayed away longer, so at
last, with the courage of desperation,
he turned his face homeward, resolved
to speak out at once and come to de-
cision before another sun rose. Poor
Jessiel Was it for this won your
heart ?" he said to himself as he came
in sight of his own house.
His wife was at the door, holding up
the baby to welcome him. Both faces
were bright with smiles, and one was as
unconscious as the other Of the coming
evil. aHow can I ever tell herr" he
thought, and for moment wild wish
to seize wife and child and fly far from
the cruel fate that threatened them all
possessed him, but only for moment.
II cannot fly from Gods" this was
his next thought, and the deity OF the
Mormon faith-remorseless, cruel, I'M.
relenting-s seemed to his excited mag
nation to stand ins the, way with a
drawn sword, barring all escape and
driving him forward to the destiny ne
dreaded.
"Phillip, what is the matter, you are
surely ILL.," ,.,.,:.
It was the sweet voice Of his wife
that fell on his ear, but the words smote
him like a blow. How could he bear
her tenderness, her wifely solicitude,
when he was about to strike her to the
heart :? With mighty effort he con-
trolled face and voice, and answered
her calmly. She must not suspect any
thing yet. Let her have another hap
py hour the last she would ever know
on earth. The minutes of reprleve
which the wretched man had allowed
himself flew rapidly. Supper was
placed on the table and he went through
the form of eating and drinking. The
baby was rocked to sleep and tucked IN
his downy nest for the night. His
wife. came and - seated herself on
his knee, asking again if he was i'll. For
minute he strained her to his heart
covering her face with passionate kiss,
es, then putting her away from him and
pointing to chair, he said in strange
hoarse voice: ...
"Sit down Jessie; I have something
to tell you"
CT. .Lo.-a5 NTH an amazed look on