Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-03-28

lowed him with stern face into the
sitting room
Brother Ferrier, be said, taking a
seat and eying the farmer keenly from
under his light colored eyelashes. ''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 goodly share of laud
and allowed you to wax rich under our
protection. Is not this so:'
"It is so. t" answered John Ferrier.
"In return for all this we asked but
one condition, and that was that you
should embrace the true faith and con
form in every way TO its usages. This
you promised to do, and this, if COM
mon report says truly, you have neg
lected"
"And how have neglected it?'
asked Ferriei. throwing out his hands
in expostulation. Have not given to
the common fund? Have ] not attended
at the templeP Have l not
Where are your wivesP" asked
Young, looking round him. "Call them
In that / may greet them.
1T is true that have not married." I"
Ferrier answered. ''But women were
few, and there were many who had bet
ter claims than |. was not lonely
man. I had my daughter to attend to
my wants"
"It is of that daughter that I 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 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 saint.
ed Joseph Smith? Let every maiden Of
the true faith marry one of the elect,
for if she wed gentle she commits a
grievous sin. This being So it is impos-
sible that you, who profess the holy
creed, should suffer your daughter to
violate it. {"
John Ferrier made nc answer. but he
played nervously with his riding whip
Upon this one point your whole faith
shall be tested So il has been decided
III the sacred council Of four. The girl
is young, and we would not have her
wed gray hairs; neither would we de-
prive her of all choice, We elders have
many heifers [Heber G. Kimball, in
one of his sermons, alludes to his hun.
dred wives under this endearing epi-
thetl but our children must also be pro-
vided. Stangerson has a son and Dreb.
ber has son, and either of them would
gladly welcome your daughter to his
house. Let her choose between them.
They are young and rich and Of the true
faith. What say you to that?''
Ferrier remained silent for some lit
tie time with his brows knitted.
"You will give us time, I" 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, 1t were better for you.
John Ferrier, " he thundered, that you
and she were now lying blanched skele.
tons upon the Sierra Blanco than that
you should put your weak wills against
the orders Of the holy four"
With q threatening gesture of his
hand he turned from the door, and Fer
rier heard his heavy steps crunching
along the shingly path
He was still standing 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 standing be-
side him. One glance at the pale, fright
ened 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. Oh, father father,
what shall we dos''
Don't ye scare yerself," he an
swered. drawing her to him and passing
his broad, rough hand caressingly over
her chestnut hair. ''We'll fix it up
somehow or another Ye don't find
yer fancy kind O lessening for this
chap, do yep
| A sob and squeeze Of his hand was
her only answer.
mo, o. course not / shouldn't care
to hear ye say ye did. He's a likely
lad, and he'sa Christian, which is more
than these folk here, in spiteo' all their
praying and preaching There's a party
starting for Nevada tomorrow. and I'll
manage to send him message letting
him know the hole We are in. If know
anything q that young man, he'll be
back here with "a 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 an
/ 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 win be time
to look out for squalls when we do. We
have clear month before u.s. AT the
end of that guess we had best shin
| out Of Utah.
/ Leave Utahf"
That's about the size of it."
/ "But the farm!s
I'VE will raise as much as we can in
money and lot the rest go. To tell the
truth, Lucy, it isn't the first time 1 have
thought Of doing it, | don't care about
knuckling under to any man as these