The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-27
the eyes Of many who are high in the
land -
John Ferrier orooned internallv.


John Ferrier groaned internally.
There are stories of her which |
would fain disbelieve--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 a 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 10 answer, but
he played nervously with his riding
whip.
Upon this ore 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 C. Kimball,
in one of his sermons, alludes to his
hundred wives under this endearing
epithot], but our children must also be
provided. Stangerson has Il son, and
Dre6ber has L 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?n
Ferrier remained silent for some
little time with his brows knitted.
You will give us time" he said, at
last. My daughter is very young
she is scarce Of an age to marry"
"She shall have a month to choose"
said Young, rising from his seat. AT
the end of that time she shall give her
answer"
lie was passing through the door,
when he turned, with flushed face and
flashing eyes. ut were better foryou,
John Ferrier," he Numbered, "that You
and she were now lying blanched sltel'
etons upon the Sierra Blanco, than
that you should put your weak wills
against the orders OF the Holy Four"
With a 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 bcoach the matter to his daugh-
ter, when a 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. Wen fix it
up somehow or another You don't find
your fancy kind o. lessening for this
chap, do you?'
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 q likely
!ad, and he's Christian, which is more
than these folk here, in spite o. all
their praying and preaching. There S
party starting for Nevada tomorrow,
and III manage to send him message
letting him know the hole we are in.
# / know anything o that young man,
he'll be back here with speed that
would whip electro-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 ther'."
But we haven't opposed MIN yet,
her father answered. ut will be time
TO look out for squalls when we do
We have clear month before us; a
the end of that, guess we had bes
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 IL
money and let the rest go. To tell tn,
truth, Lucy, it isn't the first time
have thought of doing it.. | don't car,
about knuckling under to any man, a
these folk do TO their darned prophet
I'm free-born American, and it's al
/ 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 buclishot travelling in the op
posite direction"
But they won't let US leave" hi
daugher objected.
"Wait till jefferson comes, and wei
soon manage that. In the meantime
don't you fret yourself, my dearie, ant
don't get your eyes swelled up, els
he'll be walking into me when he see
you. There's nothing to be afear
about, and there's no danger at all
John Ferrier uttered these consolinI
remarks in very confident tone, bu
she could not help observing that h
paid unusual care to the fastening o
the doors that night, and that he care
fully cleaned and loaded the rusty oil
shotgun which hung upon the wall G
his bedroom,