Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-03-16

one condition; that was that YOU
should embrace the true faith, and
conform in every way to It's usages.
This you promised to do: and this, il
common report says truly, you have
neglected"
And how have | neglected it?'
asked Ferrier, throwing out his hands
in expostulation. Have | not given
to the common fund? Have | not at
tended at the temple? Have | not"
Where are your wives?" asked
Young, looking round him. ''Call
them in. that may greet them"
at is true that have not married, '
Ferrier answered. But women were
few, and there were many who had
better claims than l. | was not a lone
ly man; had my daughter to attend
to my wants.
''It is of that daughter that would
speak to you" said the leader of the
Mormons. "She has grown to be the
flower of Utah and has found favor in
the eyes of many who are high in the
land"
John Ferrier groaned internally.
There are stories of her which
would fain dish ,lieve-stories that she
is sealed to some Gentle. This must be
the gossip of idle tongues. What is
the thirteenth rule in the code of the
sainted Joseph Smith? Let every maid
en- of the true faith marry one of the
elect; for if she wed a Gentle she COM
mits grievous sim This being so it is
impossible that you, who profess the
holy creed, should suffer your daughter
TO violate it,"
John Ferrier made no answer, but
he played nervously with his riding
whip.
upon this one point your whole
faith shall be tested-so it has been
decided in the sacred council of four.
The girl is young, and we would not
have her wed gray hairs; neither would
we deprive her of all choice. We elders
have many heifers Heber G. Kimball,
in one of his sermons, aliudes to his
hundred wives under this endearing
epithetl, but our children must also be
provided. Stangerson has a son, and
Drebber has a son, and either of them
would gladly welcome your daughter
to their house. Let her choose be-
tween them. They are young and rich,
and of the true faith. What say you
to that?"
Ferrier remained silent for some
little time. with his brows knitted.
''You win give us time" he said, at
last. My daughter is very young
she is scarce of an age to marry"
'.She shall have month to choose" +"
said Young, rising from his seat. "At
the end of that time she shall give her
answer"
He was passing through the door,
when he turned, with flushed face and
flashing eyes. ''It were better for you,
John Ferrier." ne thrndercd, ''that you
and she were now lying blanched slzel-
etons upon the Sierra Blanco, than
that you should put your weak wills
against the orders of the Holy Fourl"
With threatening gesture of his
hand he turned from the door, and
Ferrier heard his heavy step scrunch-
ing along the shingly path.
He was still sitting with his elbows
upon his knees, considering how he
should broach the matter to his daugh-
ter. when soft hand was laid upon
his, and looking up he saw her stand
ing beside him. One glance at her pale,
frightened face showed him that she
had heard what had passed.
II could not help it," she said, in an
swer to his look ''His voice rang
through the house. o father, father,
what shall we do?"
Don't you scare yourself" he an
swered, drawing her to him, and pass
ing his broad, rough hand caressingly
over her chestnut hair. "We1l fix it
up somehow or another You don't find
your fancy kind % lessening for this
chap, do your
A sob and a squeeze of his hand were
her only answer.
mo; of course not. | shouldn't care
to hear you say You did. He's likely
lad, and he's a Christian, which is more
than these folk here, in spite o. all
their praying and preaching. There's
a party starting for Nevada tomorrow,
and I'll manage to send him a message
letting him know the hole we are in.
If know anything o that young man,
he'll be back here with a speed that
would whip lectro-telegraphs."
Lucy laughed through her tears at
her fathers description.
''When he comes, he will advise us
for the best. But it is for you that
am frightened, dear. One hears-one
hears such dreadful stories about those
who oppose the prophet; something
terrible always happens TO them"
But we haven't opposed him yet"
her father answered. 1T will be time
to look out for squalls when we do.
We have n clear month before US; at
the end of that, | guess we had best
shin out of Utah"
/. Leave Utah?"
That's about the size of it..
But the farm?"
1--WE will raise as much as we can in
money and let the rest go. To tell the
truth, Lucy, it isn't the first time /
have thought of doing it. / don't care
about lxnucllling under to any man, as
these folk do to their darned prophet.
I'm free-born American, and it's all
new to me Guess I'm too old to learn.
If he comes browsing about this farm,
he might chance to run up against
charge of buckshot travelling in the OPP
posite direction"
But they won't let us leave" his
daugher objected.
wait till jefferson comes, and well
soon manage that. In the meantime,
don't you fret yourself, my dearie, and
don't get your eyes swelled up, else
he'll be walking into me when he sees
you. There's nothing to be afeard
about. and there's no danger at all"
John Ferrier uttered these cousoling
remarks in very confident tone, but
she could not help observing that he
paid unusual care to the fastening OF
the doors that night, and that he care
fully cleaned and loaded the rusty old
shotgun which hung upon the wall OF
his bedroom.
fro BE Continued