The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-27
CHAPTER Ill
cu1 rpeprrR TArxs wrrn rHs Prophet

thought of the young mans return,
and of the impending loss Of his adopt
ed child. Yet her bright and happy
face recorcilcd him to the arrangement
more than any argument could have
done. lie had always determined,
deep down in his reso,Ite heart, that
nothing would ever induce him to
allow his daughter to wed Mormon.
Such a marriage he regarded as no
marriage at all, but as shame and
disgrace. Whatever he might think OF
the Mormon doctrines, upon that one
point he was intlexible. He had to
seal his mouth on the subject, however,
for to express an orthodox opinion was
n dangerous matter in those days in
Land Of the Saints.
Yes, dangerous matter-so danger
GUS that even the most sanity dared
only whisper their religious opinions
with bated breath, lest something
which fell from their lips might be
misconstrued. and bring down swift
retribution upon them. The victims
of persecution had now turned perse-
cutors on their own account, and per-
secutors of the most terrible descrip-
tion. Not the Inquisition of Seville,
nor the German Vehmgericht, nor the
secret societies of Italy, were ever able
to put more formila bic machinery in
motion than that which cast cloud
over the territory of Utah.
It's invisibility, and the mystery
which was attached to it, made this
organization doubly terrible. 1t ap-
peared to be omniscient and omnipo-
tent, and yet was neither seen nor
heard. The man who held out against
the church vanished away, and none
knew whittier he had gone OF what had
befallen him. His wife and children
awaited him at home, but no father
ever returned to tell them how he had
Jared at the hands Of his secret judges.
A rash word or q hasty act was fol-
lowed by annihilation, and yet none
knew what the nature might be Of this
terrible 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 power
was exercised only upon the reealci-
trants, who, having embraced the
Mormon faith, wished afterward to
pervert or to abandon it. Soon, how
ever, it took wider range. The sup
ply of adultwomen was running short,
and polygamy, without female popu-
lation on which to draw, was u barren
doctrine indeed. Strange rumors be-
gan to be banded about-rumors OF
murdered immigrants and rihed camps
in regions where Indians had never
been seen. Fresh women appeared in
the harems of the elders-women who
pined and wept, and bore upon their
faces the traces of unextinguishable
horror. Belated wanderers upon the
mountains spoke Of gangs Of armed
men, masked, stealthy, and nolseless,
who Ait+ed by them in the darkness.
These tales and rumors took substance
and shape, and were corroboIated and
re.corroborated until they resolved
themselves into q definite name. To
this day, in the lonely ranches of the
west, the name Of the DANTE Band, or
the Avenging Angels, is a sinister and
ill-omened one.
Fuller knowledge of the organiza-
ton which produced such terrible re-
suits served to increase rather than to
lessen the horror which it inspired in
the minds of men. None knew who
belonged to this ruthless society. The
names OF the participators in the deeds
of blood and violence. done under the
name of religion, were kept profound
ly secret. The very friend 70 whom
you communicated your misgivings as
to the prophet and his mission might
be one of those who would come forth
at night with fire and sword to exact d
terrible reparation. Hence, every mar
feared his neighbor, and none spoke
of the things which were nearest his
heart.
One 6ne morning, John Ferricr was
about to set out to his wheat-felds
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 that such visit boded
him little good-Ferrier ran to the
door to greet the Mormon chief. The
latter, however, received his salutation
coldly, and followed him with a sterr
face into the sitting-room.
Brother Ferrier," he said, taking @
seat, and eyeing the farmer keenly
from under his light-colored eyelashes
''the true believers have been good
friends to you. We picked you uE
when you were starving in the desert
we shared our food with you, led you
safe to the chosen valley, gave you /
goodly share of land and allowed you
ito wax rich under our protection. I,
not this so?"
ut is so" answered John Ferrier
"In return for all this we asked bpt
one condition; that was that yo,
should embrace the true faith, ant
conform in every way to its usages
This you promised to do; and this, 1
common report says truly, you havt
neglected"
And how have / neglected III?
asked Ferrier, throwing out his hand!
in expostulation. Have | not giver
to the common fund? Have l not at
tended at the temple? Have not"
Where are your wives?" asked
iYonng, looking round him. "Cal
them in, that / may greet them"
ut is true that have not married,
Ferrier answered. but women wer,
few, and there were many who haC
better claims than 1. / was not lone
ly man; had my daughter to attenC
ito my wants"
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