The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-08-24

ors on their own account, aud persecut-
ors OF the most terrible description.
Not the inquisition of Seville, nor the
German Vehmgericht, nor the secret
societies Of Italy, were ever able to
put q more formidable machinery in
motion than that which cast cloud
over the Territory Of Utah.
Its instability, and the mystery
which was attached to 1t, made this or
ganization doubly terrible. 1t appeared
to be omnisccnt and omnipotent, and
yet was neither seen nor heard. The
man who held out against the church
vanished away, and none knew whith-
er he had gone or what had befallen
him. His wife and his children await
ed him at home. but no father ever re-
turned to tell them how he had Jared
at the hands Of his secret judges. A
rash word OF q hasty act was followed
by arnihilatiou, and vet none knew
what the nature might be of this terri
BILE power which was suspended over
them. No wonder that men went
about In fear and trembling, and that
even In the heart of the wilderness
they dared not whisper the doubts
which oppressed them.
At first this vague and terrible pow
er as exercised only upon the recall
citrants, who, having embraced the
Mormon faith, wished afterwards to
pervert or abandon 1t. Soon, how.
ever, it took wilder range. The sun
ply Of adult women was running short,
and pOlygamy. without a female non.
ulation on which to draw was barren
doctrine indeed. Strange rumors begun
to be banded about-rumors Of MUIR
dered immigrants and rifled camps in
regions where Indians had never been
seen. Fresh women appeared in the ha-
rems Of the elders-women who had
pinned and wept, and bore upon their
faces the traces Of an unextinguishable
horror. Belated wanderers upon tic
mountains spoke Of gangs Of armed
men-masked, stealthy and noiseless-
who fitted by them in the darkness.
These tales and rumors took substance
and shape, and were corrOborated and
re-corroborated. until they resolved
themselves into a definite name. To
this day, In the lonely ranches of the
West, the name Of the DANTE Band,
or the Aycnging Angels, is a sinister
and ill-0mened one.
Fuller knowledge of the organization
which produced such terrible results
served to increase rather than lessen
the horror which it inspired in the
minds of men. None knew who be-
longed to this ruthless society. The
names Of the participators in the deeds
of blood and violence, done under the
name Of religion, We're kept profoundly
secret. The very friend to whom you
communicated your misgivings us to
the prophet and his mission might be
one Of those who would come forth
at night with fire and sword to exact
terrible reparation. Hence every
man feared his neighbor, and none
spoke Of the things which were nearest
his heart.
One fine morning John Ferrler was
about to set out to his wheat fields,
when he heard the click of the latch,
and. looking through the window, saw
a stout, sandy-haired, middle-aged man
coming up the pathway. His heart
leaped to his mouth, for this was none
other than the great Brigham Young
himself. Full Of trepidation-for he
knew TINT such visit bodied him little
good-Ferrier ran to the door to greet
the Mormon chief. The latter, how
ever. received his salutation coldly,
and followed him With a stern face IN
to the sitting room.
Brother Ferrier,"" he said, taking a
seat, and eyipg the farmer keenly from
under his lightcolored eyelashes, 1.-THE
true believers have been good friends
to you. We picked you up when you
were starving in the desert, we shared
our food with you, led you safe to the
Chosen valley, gave you q goodly share
OF land. and allowed you to wax rich
under our protection. Is not this soY
1T Ii So" answered John Ferrier.
I'm return for all this we asked but
one c0ndition-that was, that you
should embrace the true faith, and
conform in every way to it's usagcs.
This you promised to do, and this, II
common report says truly, you have
neglected"
"And how have neglected it?"
asked Ferrler, throwing out his hands
in expostulaton. "Have I not given
to the common fund? Have not Mt
tsaded at the Temple2 Have I not"
Where are your Wivesg asked
Young, looking round him. "Call them
in, that may greet them.v
1T Is true that have not married"
Ferrlcr answered. "But women were
| few. AMI there were many who had
better claims than I. was not a
lonely mani Ind my daughter to at
tend to my wants."
1T IL Of that daughter that would
speak to you" said the leader Of the
Mormo1s. !.ishe has grown to be the
flower Of Utah, and has found favor
IN The eyes Of many who are high in
John Ferrler Groaned internally.
There are stories OF her which I
would fain disbelleve-storles that she
is sealed to some tongues. What 10 the
thirteenth rule In the code Of the saint
cd Joseph Smith? Let every maiden
Of the true faith marry one of the
elect. for IL she wed q Gentle, she
commits a gricvous SIM This being
so, 1t Is impossible that you, who pro.
TESS the holy creed, should suffer your
daughter to violate it,
John Ferrier made no answer, but lie
played peFyoua'y with big ridinl
aBpoa this one point your whole
faith shall be tested 40 It has been de
caded In the Sacred Coupou Of -Four