The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1884-04-11

led her to the water, the men with tho horses
rising in their places and uncovering their heads
Others did the same
Whether the Mormon missionary impr0vised
his brief ceremony and action, or followed the
prescribed forms, 1t Is not important to say,
But he led her back soon to where all stood
waiting, respectful, silent Us before.
The girl seemed bit refreshed, hopeful
| What had he said to herr What would he do
now Hand her over to one of the bloody men
there as a bride Keep her for himself' No,
not this last. There was not a shadow OF in
terest in her in any of the hard and very deep
lines of that massive and monk-like face. He
stopped still moment and prayed.
How new, strange, awful, wierd all this was
in the dim twilight by the darkening lake OF
death Some birds flew into camp from the
hills. 1t was strange thing, and the first time
| in q thousand years, that man had come to
pitch tent in their resting place.
The moon reund-faced and full, leaned out
of heaven and looked straight down, close
down, calm and plying, like the sorrowful face
of q nm at prayer.
Surely in scene like this, now at last, after
all this suffering, this suspense surely, surely
after prayer and baptism in the name of the
Most High God-she would be saved; ayed in
body and in mind; saved in all her purity, and
peace of mind, and love, and sympathy, and
sad memories of her dear dead who lay buried
out yonder in the lake in chains.
The horsemen stood waiting orders. They
had not tasted foodsor water all that time they
waited there in the grass. These poor, deluded
men believed they were listening to the voice of
God. They were men who could not read their
names. Never had Mahomet such blind, faith
full, devoted following as these bloody men here
waiting to do the work ofdeath.
1t is notable that all false religions, all relig
ions save the one religion of Christ, have had
their cornerstone laid and cemented down in
blood. They have been built up by ignorance
and maintained in impurty.
The giant missionary came forward up the
bank, leading the girl by the hand. He was
evidently worn and weak, but he was as full of
mad zeal for his mad work as ever before.
He again appealed for proselytes. No one came
forward. Then his fu1Towed brow grew dark
and reyengeful.
He beckoned for his followers to get ready.
In moment more they were ready to spring
into the saddle. In the mean time he had mo-
toned to our party to lay in key of water,
iouoO up 1CopiiD ciAo "hu Siiiiip
the hill on our journey west. Our party obeyed
this last injunction with alacrity. They could
hardly conceal their pleasure. Yet a nights
persistent travel and days dreadful anxiety
on its heels are hardly calculated to
charge anyone with superabundance of spirits.
In little time the cattle were once more in
line under the yoke and standing with nose
lifted to the hill before them. The horsemen
held tightly to their horses, one foot in the
stirrup. The poor horses paved the ground in
impotence to reach the water that gurgled and
talked on as it gded to the sea in the full-faced
moon.
Suddenly some wolves howled from the hill
a little way I'D the stream, and in spite of all
their tranquility the men were startled a little,
and fell to jerking and fretting their impatient
horses. They knew what those wolves meant.
1t was the smell of blood from the scene of
murder on this same little stream only few
rods away. The memory of it was not pleas
ant one to these men. The wolves were too
eloquent entirely. They annoyed the old mis-
sionary Also who stood still there holding the
girls hand, still hoping for one more convert
possibly, before these Gentiles should leave his
presence and pass away inpeace
The wolves redoubled their cries and came
nearer each moment. This seemed to hasten
matters. Turning his deep, hollow eyes to the
girl and inclining his head little for her to an
swer, he asked her il she believed.
The girl hesitated, looked up, dropped her
dark, sad eyes, looked up again, and again tried
to answer.
The suspense was terrible. Every one leaned
forward, The very stars up in heaven stopped
their merry twinkle. The moon leaned low and
large, and looked with patient, sympathizing
face down into her sisters face upon earth.
The man was angered at her hesitation. He
asked her again and savagely. AT last she
eyes"
What was our horror to hear him calmly, al
most bitterly, answer:
"Then God be praised You shall die in the
Faith, my wife. And so we shall meet again"