The Press., 1895-03-21
CHA pTER TN

OHAE1E lN. On the morning which followed his interview with the Mormon prophet John Terrier went in to Salt Lake City, and having found his acquaintance, who was bound for the Nevada mountains, he intrusted him with his message to Jefferson Hope. In it he told the young man of the imminent danger which threatened them and how necessary it was that he should return. Having done thus, he felt easier ill his mind and re- turned home with lighter heart.
 As he approached his farm he was sur prised to see horse pitched to each of the posts of the gate. Still more sur prised was he, on entering, to find two young men in possession of his sitting room. One, with long, pale face, was leaning 1'a.'k ill the rocking chair, with his feet cooked up upuh ! lle stove. The other, a bull nccliCh youf','. with r0arse, b1oated featurC>, T';i$ .,|4tiln9 ill front * of tic window wit! jis hands iiB, his pockets; whi$tjii :. Il rnp'iIr hymn. ': Both of them uu,l'lrd tp [, ;I1cr as he ; entered, amt tsu cl,ni Gt..u.,,> .:ing chair commenced T.. ts,.V :...j,t.'
 Maybe ven q :.'r .:,, T. ' ho said. ''This here i4 tIu : 4L~-@~s F Drebber, and I'm Jo:H ph :'I>ul', who trav- eled with von in t.:v ',r,4 Gt when the Lord stretched out lii~ hand and gath cred you into the tn" tp!G.
 ''As he will all thej:a;i0ns ill his own good time," said the ,lhcr ill a nasal voice. "He grindeth slowly, but exceed ing small ;
 John Terrier bowed coldly. He had guessed who his visitors were.
 We have come, :" cont nued Stanger- son, lat the advice of OUT fathers, to solicit the hand of your daughter for whichever of us may seem good to you and to her. As I lave but four wives and Brother Drebber here has seven, it appears to mo that my claim is the stronger one.
 May, nay, Brother Stangerson, cried the other. "Thc 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 am the richer man.
 ''But my prospects arc better, ,'' said the other warmly. "When the Lord re- moves my father, shall have his tan ming yard and his leather factory. Then I am your elder and am higher ill the church. ''
 ''It will be for the maiden to decide" " rejoined young Drebber. smirking at his own reflection ill the glass. I've will leave it all to her decision"
 During this dialogue John Terrier 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 untiE then don't want to see yer faces again."
 The two young Mormons stared at him ill 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 are two ways out of the room,'' cried Terrier. "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 hurried retreat. The old farmer followed them to the door. I @ -x ''Let me know when ye have. settled which it is to be, '' hesaid sardonieal}y.
 You shall smart for thisP' Stanger. son cried, white with rage. ''You have g defiled the prophet and the council of fOur. You shall rue it to the end of your days"
 ''The hand of the Lcld shall be heavy upon you!' cried young Drebber. ''He will arise and smite you 'Then I'll start the smitingr' ex- claimed Terrier furiously and would have 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 chatter of horses hoofs told him that they were beyond his reach. | 1.-The young cantlng rascalS!'' he ex- claimed, wiping the precipitation from his forehead ''I would sooner seeye in yer grave, my girl, than the wife O either O them
 "And so should I, father, she an- swered, with spirit, ''but Jefferson will soon be here. "
 "Yes; it will not he long before he comes. The sooner the better, for we do not know what their next move may 1 be-
 It was indeed high tim9 that some one capable of giving advice and help should come to the aid of the sturdy old farmer and his adopted daughter. In the whole history of tho settlement there had never been such a case of rank disobetlience to the authority of the elders. IT minor errors were pun ished so sternly, what would be the fate of this arch rebel? Terrier knew that his wealth and position would bG4bf no avail to him, Others as we'll known and as rich as himself had been spirited away before now and their goods given over to the church. He was a brave man, but ko trembled at the vague, shadowy tr1rorS which hung over him.