The Red Cloud chief., 1888-05-18
CHAPTER NJ.
THE ESDOwMENTS.

The day tina brought Bishop Farley tc
Trean Hartman with his unfortunate matri-
monial offer. also brought her sister. Mrs.
SmOOt. from salt Lake City. Like most of
her people she was tall. and would have
been pleasing to the eye had not the UNI
natural burdens Of her life robbed her Of
freshness. Sweet health, which once had
rounded her form and pumped her cheeks,
had been wasted in a serfdom as absolute
as ever disgraced the Orient. Within the
first fleet year that followed her bridal day,
the man who held her heart in his keeping,
and who had vowed never to wed another,
cast it aside and prOfaned their home and
destroyed their sacred relation by bringing
intOi it a second wife.
He had entered the Priesthood, and had
been 'counscled" by the Prophet to enter
polygamy also, that inhuman license being
considered an especial virtue in the Holy
Order. 1t may be mentioned, too. although not
as in any sense e~xtenuating such a crime.
that plural marriage was a portion Of the
royal road to favor in Zion. and that dis
obedience T." counsel was dangerous to
ambition and sometimes even life.
Near sunset of h day following her ar
rival, Mrs. Smoot and Trean, leaving e.
chard's man beside their sleeping father,
went up the path that led from the orchard
and sat down in the cool fragrance at the
edge of the pines. For a year they had not
been together, and their sister-hearts were
heavy with experience. What passed be-
tween them in love and confidence shall
here remain i%nviolate, ave such pOr-
tons of the elder sisters revelation as
seem pertinent to this chronicle.
"Trcan.'' she said, after a silence. II am
going to tell You something which, at least
while we are in Utah. is only for yourself.
Some of the things l may tell you 1 once
obligated myself never to reveal, but those
vows were made under conditions which
were compulsory and aided by false teach
ings, and for a long time haven't consid-
cred them binding. For w years my heart
hasn't been with this cause. Books read
secretly, the help Of other than Mormon
faces. n my own cruel experience, ave
liberated my mind. l am no longer q Nor
mon. Trean, and when the right time comes
I shall take my children and leave it behind
me-"
When she paused the girl was leaning to-
ward her. glad. half incredulOus. her whole
lovely form animate with expectancy.
at is true said Mrs. SmOOt, Il have
suffered enough"
Then we will go together cried Trean,
'.for l disbelieve it, tOO.' and she put her
arms about her sisters neck and kissed her,
with tears yelling into her shining eyes.
YES said the elder woman, with heav-
ing bosom. ''when the right day comes, and
l hope it is not far away. we will cav this
region of slavery. Oh, Trean. l have suf-
fercd so! For ten years life to me has been
like a heavy nightmare" IN she drew her
hand across her forehead as if her brain
were numb with a dull and weary dream.
Il am but a young woman in years. she
went on. '.yct, look at ne! hair sprinkled
with gray. sunken checks, and old in spirit.
The brand of polygamy! Love has been
trodden out of my life: its strengthening,
sustaining sweetness denied me. For ten
years / have lived in Il house of shame, be-
lieving that for me a life after this hard,
iOyless journey depended upon it. o, how
cruel it is!
Il can't tell you, Trean. how glad l am
that you have determined never to enter it.
/ have been troubled for years lest you
should believe it your duty. as we are
taught. The death that God gives would be
better. dear; for polygamy to a pure woman
is living death. am glad you will never
know its misery.
..Six months after Edgar and l were mar
ried he began counting a young lady who
lived but "a few streets away. Every other
evening he wocl6 dress himself carefully
and go over and visit her as he used to me.
No language can picture my anguish as ]
sa. alone at home through those terrible
weeks with hone. and love. and all that 1
had expected of the future. dying out of Fly