The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1906-10-25
CHAPTER ~
A Fair Apostate.

SF0NF Ell "
A Fair Apostate.
She stood flushed and quick-breath.
ing when the door had shut, he bend.
ing toward her with dark inquiry in
his eyes Before she spoke, he d.
vined that under her nervousness
some resolution lay s%tubbornly fixed.
Let us speak alone" she said, in
a low voice. Then, to the old people,
Joel and I will go into the garden
awhile to talk. Be patient"
mot for long, dear; our eyes are
aching for him."
only a little WHILE" and she
smiled back at them. She went ahead
through the door by which they had
first entered, and out into the garden
at the back of the house. He remem.
bered, as he followed her, that since
he had arrived that morning she had
always been leading him, directing
him as if to a certain end, with the
air of meaning presently to say some
thing Of moment to him.
She led him to a rustic double chair
under the heavily fruited boughs OF
an apple tree, and made him sit down.
She began with a vivacious playful
ness, poorly assumed, to hide her real
feeling.
Now, sobersides, it must end
this foolishness of yours
She stopped, waiting for some ques-
ton of his to help her. But he said
nothing, though she could feel the
burning of his eyes upon her.
This superstitious folly, you know"
she blurted out, looking up at him in
sudden desperation.
Tell me what you mean-you must
know I'm impatient"
She essayed to be playful again,
pouting her dimpled face near to his
that he might kiss her. But he did
not seem to see. He only waited.
"Well-this religton-this Mormon
ISM"
She shot one swift look at him, then
went on quickly.
my people have left the church,
and-I-too-they found things in
Joseph Smiths teachings that seemed
bad to them. They went to Spring.
field. I would have gone. too, but
told them I wanted first to see you
and-and see if you would not come
with us-at least for awhile, not tax.
ing the poor old father and mother
through all that wretchedness. They
consented to let me stay with your
parents on condition that Capt. Grin.
way would protect them and me. He
-he-ls very kind-and had known
us since last winter and had seen me
-us-several times. I hadn't the
heart to tell your father; he was so
set on going to the new Zion, but you
will come, won't you?"
wait a moment" He put a hand
upon her arm as it to arrest her
speech. "You daze me. Let me
think" She looked up at him, won.
dering at his face, for it showed
strength and bitterness and gentle
ness all in one look-and he was suf
fering. She put her hand upon his
from an instinct Of pity. The touch
recalled him.
"Now-for the beginning" He
spoke with aroused energy, a little
w1stful smile softening the strain Of
his face. You were wise to give
me food, else I couldn't have solved
this mystery. To the beginning, then:
You, Prudence Corson, betrothed tc
me these three years and more; you
have been buried in the waters Of
baptism and had your washings and
%anointings in the temple of the mos,
high God. Is it not so? Your eyes
were anointed that they might be
quick to see, your ears that they
might be apt at hearing, your mouth
that you might with wisdom speak the
words of eternal life, and your fee
that they might be swift to run II
the ways Of the Lord. You accepted
thereby the truth that the angel Of
God had delivered to Joseph Smith
the sealing keys Of power. You &C
cepted the glorious articles of the
new covenant. You were about to b<
sealed up to me for time and eternity
Now-I am lost-what is it?-youl
father and mother have left the
church, and because of what?"
Because of bad things, because q
this doctrine they practice-this wick
edness of spiritual wives, plura
wives. Think of it, Joel-that il
were your wife you might take an
other"
Il need not think of it. Surely you
know my love. You know I could no
do that. Indeed I have heard at las
that this doctrine so long gossipet
of Is a true one. But I have beer
away and am not yet learned in it,
mysteries. But this much I know
and 1t is the very cornerstone Of nz