Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-08-02

find two young men in possession o.
his sitting-room. One. with a long,
| pale face, was leaning back in the
rocking-chair, with his feet cooked
upon the stove. The other, a bull.
necked youth with coarse. bloated fea-
lures, was standing in front of the
window with his hands in his pockets.
whistling a popular hymn. Both of
them nodded to Ferricr as he entered.
and the one in the rocking-chair COM
menced the conversation.
Maybe you don't know u.s. he said.
This here is the son of Elder Drebber,
and I'm Joseph Stangerson, who trav-
eled with you in the desert when the
Lord stretched out Ills hand and gath
cred you into the true fold"
LAS He will all the nations in His
own good time" said the other. in a
nasal voice; He grindeth slowly but
exceeding small"
John Ferrier bowed cOldly. He had
guessed who his visitors were.
I'VE have come" continued Stanger-
son. at the advice of our fathers, to
solicit the hand of your daughter for
whichever of us may seem good to you
and Brother Drebber here has seven. it
appears to me that my claim is the
stronger one"
Nay, nay, Brother Stangcrson,"
cried the other: the question is not
how many wives we have, but hOT5
many we can keep. My father has
now given over his mills to me, and /
am the richer man."
But my prospects are better" said
the other. warmly. when the Lord
removes my father. / shall have his
tanning-yard and his leather factory.
Then am your elder, and am higher
in the church"
1T will be for the maiden to decide, -
rejoined young Drebber, Sinking at
his own reflection in the glass. We
will leave it all to her decision"
During this dialogue, John Ferrier
had stood Tuning in the doorway,
hardly able to keep his riding-whip
from the backs of his two visitors.
Look here" he said at last. strid-
ing up to them, when my daughter
summons you, you can come: but until
then. don't want to see your faces
again
him in amazement. In their eyes this
competition between them for the
maiden's hand was the highest of
honors both to her and her father.
There are two ways out of the
ROOM cried Ferrier: there is the door.
and there is the window. Which do
you care to use?''
His brown face looked so savage. and
his gaunt hands so threatening, that
his visitors sprang to their feet and
beat a hurried retreat. The old farmer
followed them to the door.
Let me know when you have
settled which it is to be- he said
sardonically.
You shall smart for this Stanger-
son cried. white with rage. You
have defied the prophet and the coun-
ell of four. You shall rue it 10 the end
of your days"
THE hand of the Lord shall be
heavy upon you cried young Dreb-
Der: He will arise and smite you.''
Then I'll start the smiling" ex-
claimed Ferrier furiously, and would
have rushed upstairs for his gun had
not Lucy seized him by the arm and
restrained him. Before he could
escape from her. the clatter of horses
hoofs told him that they were beyond
mis- reach.
The young canting rascals!'' he ex-
claimed. wiping the perspiration from
his forehead Il would sooner see you
in your grave. my girl, than the wife of
either of them"
And SO should /, father" she an
swered. with spirit; but Jefferson
will soon be here"
YES. 1t viii not be long before he
comes. The sooner the better. for we
do not know what their next move
may be-"
It was. indeed. high time that some
one capable of giving advice and help
should come to the aid of the sturdy
old farmer and his adopted daughter.
In the whole history of the settlement
there had never been such case OF
rank disobedience to the authority of
the elders. If minor errors were pun
ished so sternlr, what would be the