The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-21
POLYGAMOUS ROMANCEs.
As Narrated by Those Who Are
Friendly to the Mormon Faith.
Ogden Standard.

ogden Standard.
The following from the Argus Of Salt
interesting to people Of the far Eastern
States. not only that there was q romantic
element about polygamy, but that there is
est purpose on the part Of the Mormon
church authorities to discontinue the prac-
tice OF polygamy and to put the church
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 autfori-
ties are sincere is evidenced by a pretty
pathetic romance 1t was the good fortune
Of the Argus to hear as sequel to a
rather heated and earnest argument; 1t
to- one of fh tbe a le sShng f mah eios of so relasra
Utah had a few years Since decided to
marry two sisters. They were willing.
caring for them. and he, besides loving
them sincerely. was a firm believer in the
polygamy tenet of the church. The younger
was sent to school in the East. the under
standing being that the elder should first
be married to him, and that upon her re-
turn she should become his second wife.
and the happy pair settled down to a quiet
and loving domestic life, waiting In pleas
ant anticipation for the time to come when
the sister would be released from the
thraldom and restraints Of m~aidenhood.
Two years passed, and the sister, radi-
ant with beauty and culture, and health,
returned with the joyful peals of the mar
riage bells already ringing in her ears. The
young man sought his bishop. made known
pointment, refused. He came to this city,
interviewed several of the apostles of whose
friendship he was assured, but again met
with no encouragement. Finally, so the
story goes, the presidency and the apostles
met to consider the problem presented.
The young man spoke earnestly. He re-
viewed his courtship of the sisters, stated
the terms Of the compact they had en-
gagged in, and pleaded for the privilege Of
keeping it. He was told that consent
could not be obtained, that the manifesto
that should he consort with the girl he
would be guilty Of breaking a solemn law
of the church as well as the law of the
land in which he lived. Disconsolate, the
young man returned TO his wife and her
sister, made known to them the condition
OF affairs, and it was agreed, but not be.
pangs recorded, that the decree should be
accepted as inevitable and irrevocable.
The sister is said now to be a resident of
while he and his wife are living in the
Mormon colony in Chihuahua"
The wonder to people OF the East. espe-
cially to lovers and Sweethearts. will be to
realize how a blooming young maiden could
look forward with enthusiasm to a union
i1 %aiernas Eta Wi'f history n Z S viii go dd oWn To-
future ages with this feature Of its past
career standing out as an unreconciled and
uncomprehended phenomenon But what
ever the future may bring forth, it is i'm
portant hat the people and government of
the United States shall repose confidence in
the present integrity and trustworthiness
of President MILFORD Woodruff, and those
who are associated with him in church gov
eminent, in the work of carrying out the
express and implied pledges in regard to
p-olygamous marriages.
A stronger case, perhaps, than that of
the Argus transpired in a town not a hun
dred 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 be-
came extremely solicitous for a consum-
nation of his vows in marriage; but the
manifesto had interviewed, and although he
was a young man in superior standing. and
made a most piteous plea as a means of
shielding the honor of his intended polyga-
nous wife, and as a possible escape from
the penitentiary, yet the officers in charge
were infexible, and told him that his re-
quest 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.