Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-06-28
The Test OF the Second Wife.

It has always been Brigham Youngs
policy to outlaw his followers, and thus
prevent the possibility Of their return to
civilized society. This policy he now pur-
sued with more intentness than ever before,
and those who were untitled by nature for
deeds of violence were compelled to take
plural wives, in face of a recent act of con-
gress which was designed especially to reach
and punish such offenses in Utah. Philip
La Tour was among the number of those
who fell under the prophets displeasure on
account of his refusal to comply with what
the Mormon leaders designated as "the
higher law" He had no leanings toward
polygamy. He loved his wife devotedly,
and his home was the dearest spot on earth
to him-dearer now than ever for with
the earliest flowers of spring a tiny guest
had come under their roof-a dark-eyed
baby boy, so like the lost first-born that it
seemed almost as though he had returned
to them. For months the prophet counseled
Philip, sometimes sffectionately, sometimes
sternly, to take another wife, but in vain.
At last when, as he said himself, the utmost
limit of forbearance had been reached, he
summoned his disobedient follower to a
private conference.
1t was evident to Philip as soon as he
ldCtu tuo icduci VI tuC PccPIc 0uaI VIC liO-
phet was very angry-too angry indeed to
waste any words-and in the most concise
terms possible he was informed that he
would be allowed Just one week to choose
whether he would take another wife or be
cut off from the church and delivered over
to the buffetings of Satan. Philip sat as if
stunned. To be cut off from the church. !
For him who had never known any other
faith, this was equivalent to sentence of
eternal death. And then he was to be de-
liyered over to the buffetings of Satan. He
knew very well what that meant His prop
erty and his life would thenceforth be at the
mercy of the Danites-and their tender
mercies were very cruel. He was incapable
of uttering single word in reply to the
question thrust upon him, and the prophet
continued -
al know what is keeping you back. 1t is
the fear of what your wife will say or do ;
and want you to tell her from me, that the
judgments of God have rested on her these
many years because of her rebellion against
his will. Every child that has been given
her has been taken away again, because she
would not hearken to counsel; and mark my
words here the prophets face grew terri
ble-" the child that she holds in her arms
to-day will lie in the grave month hence if
she does not submit to the law that has been
given to this people"
"You will give me week to decide 2"
Philip hardly knew his own voice as he pro-
nounced the words.
ayes, Just one week, and not day over.
You may go now have said all that | had
| to say" and, with look on his face as hard
and cruel as when, fifteen years before, he
gave Madam La Tour the choice of alterna-
tives which brought her to the valley, the
prophet pointed to the door. Philip groped
his way out blindly. The sun was shining,
but he saw nothing. When he reached the
street he stopped and tried to think lie
could not go home-could not face Jessie,
who sat even now with her baby in her arms
singing a soft lullaby, while the blue-veined
baby What stab went through his heart
as he recalled the prophets words.
Do you, whose lot has been cast else
where, scoff at him because he believed
what had been said to him Remember
that since his childhood he had heard moth
ing except Mormonism-that all his life, al
most, the word of the prophet had been to
him, and all around him, the voice Of the
Almighty. Remember also how in every
age creeds which have been handed down
from father to son have dominated the in
tellect and the will, no matter how false and
monstrous they may have been in them
selves. Philip La Tour in accepting the
dictum of the Mormon prophet as abso-
lutte truth, did only what you and ! have
done in receiving without question the be-
liefs which our parents bequeathed us, He
did not use his reason in the matter, simply
because he regarded everything connected
with religion az above the domain of reason.
He was called now to pass through an ex-
perence more bitter than death, but If the
call was indeed from above he might not
disregard it. Was it true that the judg-
ments of God had rested upon him and his
wife because of their disobedience Over
and over he asked himself this question
during the wretched day that followed his
interview with the prophet. Hour after
hour passed. 1t was almost night, and
Jessie would be anxious and disturbed il
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 decision before another sun
rose. :" Poor Jessie Was IL 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