Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-02-20
AN AGENT OF M0RM0NS.
INDUCING A HANDSOME GIRL TO
FLEE WITH HIM.
Salt Lakes New Missionary Methods
The story a New Hampshire
Physician Told His Friend.

shire Unexpectedly met former school
day chum, now physician. The news
paper man accompanied his friend, the
doctor, to his Office, and continues his
story as follows:
/ was soon made acquainted with my
genial friends history since our parting.
He told briefly of his success and his
manly ambitions. During our converse
tion-he was always a close observer of
events and something of philosopher
he happened to run his eye along the
columns of the weekly local sheet. He
read out few sentences of lively edi-
torial on Mormonism, and then threw
the paper aside in manifest disgust.
"Pshawp said he, "that man knows
no more about the Mormon church than
the unborn babe. This popular idea
that Mormonism is on the decline, and
that its apostles and emissaries-mis
sionaries they call them-are brutal,
degraded set of men, is all bosh. Some
six years ago | spent four months in Salt
Lake City, and had good chance to no.
tice some of the practical workings of
the system built up by Joe Smith and
Brigham Young. OF course l detest
that system, and believe it to be unut-
terably bad; but these loud-mouthed
goody- -goody people who are continually
dinning into our ears their scarlet cries
of Mormon atrocities become simply
sickening. l tell you that Mormonism
will become big factor in the land un-
less it meets with more skilful opposition
than it has encountered.
"Do you see that house yonder over
the way2" We had been standing in
window recess, and he drew my atten-
ton to an attractive frame house, with
old-fashioned bay windows bulging from
its sides, just across the bare January ex
panse Of village green. "Well, there's
sort of latter day story attached to that
home. 1t has come within my personal
knowledge since 1 settled down here.
Perhaps you'd like to be bored with it."
replied that was wholly at his dispo-
sal, and the physician, sinking back into
an easy chair, lazily swung his right leg
over one of the rests, and looked toward
expectant me with a rather solemn ex-
preston upon his usually jovial counte-
nance.
zone family" he slowly began, "has
lived in that house for three or four
generations. They used to point with
some pride to long list of English yeo
manry who had handed down their
name. They weren't rich, they weren't
poor, but exceedingly good representa-
tives of that class which snobs call mid
dle.' When first came here the old
gentleman called frequently upon me for
professional advice, and before long l
became rather intimate with the house
hold. | have seen some pretty women,
my boy, but | doubtif lever came across
such a beautiful specimen of femininity
as Susie, his daughter. She was an ex-
ceptional type of the New England girl.
Hazel eyes, looking out with innocent
surprise under well archei brows, rip
pling chestnut hair clustered over the
whitest of temples, figure graceful and
we'll fashioned, and hands and feet as
well shaped as were ever any of a sultan's
houris', completed beautiful persona
I tion of madenhood. She had got the
finishing touches of her education at
Wilbraham, and struck me as being of
that dreamy, romantic temperament you
newspaper chaps like to discuss.
"No, wasn't in love with the girl,
and she was never more than friendly
with me. One thing she lacked.
She hadn't the self-assertion, independ-
ence, or whatever you want to call it,
which we associate with most New Eng
land girls Two years after had won a
little practice for myself and could begin
toenioy some of lifes comforts even in this
retired spot, the town was excited over
the arrival of a distinguished stranger, a
Mr.. Charles Hentley. Hentley engaged
+ the best rooms at the hotel, brought
ample letters of introduction to some of
the best people, and speedily developed
into social lion. He was one of your
tall pale-faced chaps, had a manly car
riage, and was soon favorite with al
most everybody. My instinct, however,
seemed to tell me that there was some
thing more about the man, something
hidden and concealed. One night as |
was coming up the street.-the hour was
sufficiently late-I saw the stranger in
earnest conversation with Susie, who
seemed to be opposed to what he was
urging upon her. l thought first of
playing the role of eayesdropper, but
gave up the idea and walked past to my
/ lodging. How often since have re-
gretted that hesitation of mine on a
point of honor.
"Two days later the village was stirred
by the news that Susie had run away
from home. 1t was true; she had fled
in the company with the pseudo Charles
Hentley. Her father found in her
chamber the morning after the flight a
note saying that she had resolved to de-
part with Mr.. Hentley where she could
lead better life than the soulless exist
ence she had hitherto passed; that it
was useless to attempt to follow
her, as she was already
a member of a great sect, and
under the construction of her teacher would
soon become initiated into the mysteries
of newer and more sacred rites The
letter was calm and passionless, and
closed with some natural expressions of
affection to the writer's parents. Susie
was evidently under spell. had occa-
sion to visit Upper Canada not long after
this event, and told one of my friends
this story of our village disappearance.
My listener closely questioned me as to
Hentley's appearance and traits, and
finally informed me that the abductor
was a notorious missionary in the pay
of the Mormon church. This was a rev.
elation to me. Susie's departure was
fully explained. You want the moral of
nv taleY 1t is this: Mormonism has
taken new departure; the ignorant and
illiterate, the merely animal and muscu-
lar are no longer the need in the taberna-
Gle. When we read of she society girl
who wins titled foreigner it means some
times more than we suspect. The church