Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-10-06
CHAPTER XVI.

abC;;t the other, deep, solemn voice
came from the cavern's gloom saying:
"The Lord is in his holy temple, and
brethren should live forever at peace.
Through great tribulation we go up
from the depths, guided by the light Of
duty and sustained by the strong hand
that is ever within the reach Of those
who will grasp it. Even from the will
derpess came the words, Prepare ye the
way Of the Lord; make ye his paths
straight Ye that labor and are heavy
laden come to me and / will give you
| rest
From the deeper shadows OF the cave
the Prophet advanced to the altar's
light, and extending hand to each
said with "a solemnity that wholly OBJ
| liberated the seeming incongruity OF his
| words:
Whom the Lord hath joined let no
man part asunder." And surely this
beautiful command was never more ap-
propriately employed outside of the
marriage service. Il feel, said DIR.
Blanchard, laying his hand on Valen-
tine Kyle's shoulder. like one who has
been transported to sphere that is not
Of the earth. After this l shall be sur
priscd at nothing.
And yet there are greater surprises
| in store for you Ask me not to speak
now, but watch and pray" And the
Prophet set the example in the latter
ordinance by dropping on his knees then
and there, and the two old men knelt
on either side and bowed their heads.
And while the Prophet prayed with
much solemnity and the cavern echoes
were multiplying the sound the yellow
light of another day crept in from the
outer world, and the fires on the altar
grew DINNER. Mr. Kyle sought out his
wife. and after talking TO her for some
time came back, and taking the doctor
| by the hand whispered
Come! She who has borne more than
half the burden and kept my heart from
breaking long since is near by and de
sires to speak with you" As he stood
there the people began TO wake up. and
with shouts of gladness the children
ran ont % the sunlight and down 10 the
lake, where the trout were leaping and
the birds, on balanced wing, were lock
| ing at their double in the beautiful mir
| ror beneath.
After breakfast was over the Prophet
disappeared in the cave, carrying Il
| L., Iaaly IN, fa1,r
but in the short time he had effected II
complete change in his costume. The
heavy robes Of fur that nc wore winter
and summer in such fantastic shape
were laid aside, and he appeared clad in
a suit Of white buckskin, with beaded
mOccasins and stringed leggings The
| tunic. belted at his waist, showed off
his splendid form 10 advantage and
proved that he had not yet lost the grace
Of youth as well as revealing the secret
of his amazing activity and powers Of
endurance. The long auburn hair was
thrown back behind his ears and secured
there by tight fitting cap, the band ol
which was made Of blue porcupinc
| ouills On the breast Of this tunic and
| covering il like shield was Maltese
cross and below it worked i'll garnet
beads the words, I'm this sign con-
guer." The silver hilt Of knife that
| looked like a short sword protruded
from a finely wrought scabbard in his
| belt and two revolvers, with stocks deco
rated in the same way, Were fastened
over his hips. From his shoulders car
fridge box WAS slung on one side and a
silver cantecn on the other. In his left
hand he carried his long rife. As he
strobe out the women looked up at him
with mingled awe and admiration.
The children gathered about him, and
| holding each others hands, half Ill
dread, half i'll admiration, they looked
silently ut the giant warrior in whose
arms many Of them had recently been.
| Turning to Dr. Blanchard and Nalen-
tine Kyle, who, with Mrs Kyle and
| Clara, We're standing near by, the
Prophet said:
81 leave the valley and the temple in
your charge. Fear not if / should be
long days away, for when / return l
will bring good news.
But if you should not return?" the
doctor ventured to ask.
my fate is not in my own hands, y
replied the Prophet, with thrilling So
lemnity. II am the servant Of my Mas
ter, and his work for long years have
tried to do. Now, my peace be with you
until / bring you joy"
The Prophet waved his hand, and
turning was soon swallowed up in the
Stygian depths Of the cave. He had trav-
ersed few Of the long cavern's cham
bers when he heard low solemn chant
in the distance, and then the turn Of an
angle brought TO view the coppery glow
| Of a torch that burned so far away that
it looked like patch Of red cloud sur
viving the setting Of the sun. The
Prophet's moccasined feet fell as lightly
on the floor as the leaves ON the surface
Of an unrippled pond. He strode on, his
deep, long breathing alone telling Of
his humanity, till he came 10 the SUBJ
terranean waterfall from behind which
the light Of the torch came. He bowed
before the fall. which looked like cata-
ract of crystalline blood, and as he stood
in this devotional attitude the waters
turned black, and an Indian, bearing a
torch, came out and called to the
Prophet:
II have been waiting"
"And / have come. How are my
herders?" asked the Prophet.
"Safe, and so are the herds, F" replied
the Indian, who had charge Of the stock
in the valley, to which the Prophet led
Captain Brandon and Howard Blanch-
ard after their first visit to the cave.
"What news from the world at
strife?''
lone Of our people who came this
morning before the sun had risen speaks
of having heard much firing and shout
ing during the night" replied the In
dian.
The Prophet waved his hand, and the
Indian led the way with his torch until,
through the tortuous passages before
described. they emerged from the noun
tain side and stood bareheaded and
oowed before the glory Of the sun. They
aad been here but few minutes, indeed
,he torch thrown from the mans hand
was still smoking on the ground. when
another Indian appeared, leading a
powerful but splendidly formed horse.
The equipments Of the animal were
lquite in keeping with the PROPHETS
lchange of costume, and the proud crea-
ture arched its neck and champed ON the