Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-17
POLYGAMoUs RoMANCEs.
As Narrated by Those Who Are
Friendly to the Mormon Faith.

From the Ogden Standard.
The following from the Argus Of Salt
Lake furnishes evidence such as will be in
teresting to people OF the far eastern states,
not only that there was a romantic element
about polygamy. but that there is and has
been, since the manifesto. an earnest pur-
pose on the part of the Mormon church
authorities to discontinue the practice OF
polygamy, and to put the church member
ship everywhere in the United States In
harmony with the monogamic trend of the
Anglo-Saxon race:
The church edict that polygamy should
be suspended is working the cure. That
the order is being obeyed. that the authori-
ties are sincere is evidenced by a pretty
pathetic romance IL was the good fortune
OF the Argus to hear as a sequel TO a rather
heated and earnest argument. 1t appears
that young man, closely related TO one
of the leading families Of southern Utah,
had few years since decided TO marry two
sisters. They were willing nay anxious.
to allow him the privilege OF caring for
them, and he. besides loving them sincerely
was firm believer in the polygamy tenet
OF the church. The younger was sent to
school in the east, understanding being
that the elder should first be married TO
him, and that upon her return she should
become his second wife. The first marriage
was duly solemnized, and the happy pair
settled down TO quiet and loving domestic
life, waiting In pleasant anticipation for the
time to come when the sister would be re-
leased from the thralldom and restraints
OF maidenhood.
Two years passed. and the sister radiant
with beauty. culture and health, returned
with the joyful peals Of the marriage bells
already ringing in her ears. The young
man sought his bishop. made known his de-
sire, and was. TO his great disappointment
refused He came to this city. interviewed
several of the apostles Of whose friendship
has 1lans
enlargement. Finally. the story goes,
the presidency and the apostles met TO con-
slider the problem presented. The young
man spoke earnestly. He reviewed his
courtship OF the sisters, stated the terms Of
the compact they had engaged in and plead
ed for the privilege of keeping IL. He was
told that consent could not be obtained,
that the manifesto had not been issued TO
be disobeyed. and that should he consort
with the girl he would be guilty OF break
ing a solemn law Of the church as well a.
the law of the land in which he lived. Dis
consulate, the young man returned 70 his
wife and her sister made known TO them
the condition of affairs, and IL was agreed,
but not before many tears had been shed
and heart pangs recorded, that the decree
should be accepted as inevitable and irrev-
ocable. The sister is said now to be a resi-
dent of this city. her heart stin true 70
her love. while he and his wife are living
in the Mormon colony in Chihuahua"
The wonder TO people In the east. especial
ly to lovers and sweethearts. will be TO real
ize how a blooming young maiden could
look forward with enthusiasm 10 a union
in marriage with her sisters husband.
Doubtless Utah history will go down TO fu-
ture ages with this feature Of it's past ca
reer standing out as an unreconcled and
uncomprehended phenomenon. But what
ever the future may bring forth. Il is i'm
portant that the people and government OF
the United States shall repose confidence
in the present integrity and trustworthi-
ness Of President MILFORD Woodruff and
those who are associated with him IN church
government in the work of carrying out the
express and implied pledges in regard TO
polygamous marriages.
A stronger case, perhaps, than that Of the
Argus transpired in a town not a hundred
miles from ogden. A young married man
had contracted a second marriage at a
time shortly previous to the manifesto. and.
having anticipated his nuptials. he became
extremely solcitous for a contamination
of his vows in marriage; but the manifesto
had intervened. and although he was q
young man in superior standing, and made
a most piteous plea as a means of shield
ing the honor OF his intended polygamous
wife. and as possible escape from the pen
itentiary, yet the officers in charge were
inieNibe, and told him that his request
could not be granted even though his life
were at stake. He did serve his term In
the penitentiary. and the whole incident
gives strong proof OF the faithfulness Of
those who have the destinies of the Nor
mon Church and largely those OF Utah In
their keeping.