Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-04-04
CHAPTER ".

= .
and having found bis aequaintancc. who
was bound for nie Nevada mountains.
he intrustef hiSl with his message t.
Jefferson Hoie. in IL he told the youD
man Of the imminent danger wbic
threatened them and how necessary
was that he shonld retmn. Having ,lor.o
thus. he felt easier in his mind aud J.,
turned home with lighter heart
As he approached his farm he was sur
prised to see horse hitched IN each Of
the posts of the gate Still more sur.
prised was he, oil entering. to mud two
young men in possession Of his sitting
room. Ono. with long pale face. was
leaning back in the rocking chair. with
his feet cooked up upon the stove. The
other, bull necked youth, with coarse,
bloated features, was standing in front
Of the window with his hands in his
pockets. whistling popular hymn.
Both Of them nodded to Ferrier as he
entered, and the one in the rocking chair
commenced the conversation.
Maybe y9u don't know us, Z" he said.
"This here is the SON of Elder Drebber,
and Pm Joseph StaIgerson, who trav-
eled with you in the desert when the
Lord stretched out his hand and gath
cred you into tho true fold.
'As he will all the nations in his own
good time, said the other in nasal
voice ''He grindeth slowly, but exceed
ing small.
John Ferrier bowed coldly. He had
guessed who his visitors were.
1--WE have come, continued Stanger-
son lat the advice Of our fathers, to
solicit the hand Of your daughter for
whichever of us may seem good to you
and to her. AS have but four wives
and Brother Drebber here has seven, il
appears to me that my claim is the
stronger one
Nay, nay, Brother Stangerson, "
cried the other. Tho question is not
how many wives we have, but how
many we can keep, My father has now
given over his mills to me, and alh
the richer man. "
"But my prospects are better, said
the other warmly. "When the Lord re-
moves my father ! shall have his tan
ming yard and his leather factory. Then
am your elder and am higher in the
church "
1t will be for the maiden to decide, "
rejoined young Drebber. smirking at his
own reflection in the glass. I'VE will
leave it all to her decision. T"
During this dialogue John Ferrier
had stood fuming in the doorway, hard
ly able to keep his riding whip from the
backs of his two visitors.
Look here, " he said at last, striding
up to them, when my daughter sum-
mons ye, ye can come, but until then
don't want to SEQ yer faces again.
The two young Mormons stared at
him in amazement. In their eyes this
competition between them for the maid
en's hand was the highest Of honors,
both to her and her father.
There arc two ways out Of the
room," cried Ferrier. "There is the
door, and there is the window. Which
do ye care to use?"
His brown face looked so savage and
his gaunt hands so threatening that his
visitors sprang to their feet and beat a
hurried retreat. The old farmer followed
them to the door.
Let me know when ye have settled
which it is to be, he said sardonically.
"You shall smaA for thisr' Stanger.
son cried, white with rage. "You have
defiled the prophet and the council Of
four. You shall rue it 10 the end oi
your days. y
The hand of the Lord shall be heavy
upon you'll" cried young Drebber. 'He
will arise and smite you!
''Then I'll start the smitingi" ex.
claimed Ferrier furiously and would
bave rushed up stairs for his gun had
not Lucy seized him by the arm and re.
strained him. Before he could escape
from her the clattor of horses hoofs
told him that they were beyond his
reach.
''The young canting rasoalsP he ex.
claimed, wiping the perspiration from
his forehead, II would sooner seeye in
yer grave my girl, than tho wife o
either O. them. "
'And so should ], father" she an
swered. with spirit, "but Jefferson will
soon be here. "
Eyes; it will not be long before be
comes, Tho sooner the better, for we dc
not know what their next move may
be. f"
It was indeed high time that some
one capable of giving advice and helI
should come to the aid of the sturdy ole
farmer and his adopted daughter. Ii
tho whole history of the settlement
there had never been such case o.
rank disobedience to the authority o.
tho elders II minor errors were pun
ished 80 sternly, what would be the fat'
of this arch rebel? Ferrier knew tina
his wealth and position would be of III
avail to him. Others as we'll known ant
AS TlTIl h6 HiIllS5ll Iluu pSeH SplIitcS
away before now and their goods giyel
over to tho church. He was brav'
man, but he trembled at the vague
shadowy terrors which hung over him
ANY known danger he could face will
firm lip, but this suspense was un
,nerving. He concealed his fears from
his daughter, however. and affected t.
make light of the whole matter, thougl
she, with the keen eye of love. say
plainly that he was i'll at ease.
He expected that he would receiv
some message or remonstrance iron
| Young as to his conduct, and he wa
not mistaken. though it came in an un
looked for manner. Upon rising mex
morning he found, to his surprise,
small square Of paper pinned on to tn
coverlet of his bed just over his chest
On it was printed in bold. stragglin
letters;