Mower County transcript., 1907-03-20

of hymns to fortify them for the icy
ordeal and the public confession.
There in the freezing current stood
Joel Rae until long after the Decem-
ber sun had gone below the Oquirrh
hills, performing his office of baptism,
and reHiving hope in those his words
had smitten with fear.
His strength already depleted BY
the long march with the hand-cart
! party and by the exhausting strain
of the day, he was early chilled BY
the water into which he plunged the
repentant sinners. For the last hour
that he stood in the stream, his whole
body was numb; he had ceased to
feel life in his feet, and his arms
worked with a mechanical stiffness
like the arms of some automaton over
; which his mind had control.
Not until night fell did the hymns
cease and the crowd dwindle away.
The air grew colder, and he began to
feel pain again, the water cutting
against his legs like blade Little
groups were now hurrying off in the
darkness, and the last Saint he had
baptized was standing for the mo-
ment, chill and dripping, on the bank
Seeing there was no one else to
come, he staggered out of the stream
! where he had stood for three hours
finding his feet curiously clumsy and
uncomfortable. Below him in the!
stream another Elder still waited to
baptize man and woman; but those
who had been aboves him in the river
we're gone, and his own work was
DONE y
He had been hearing footsteps be-
hind him, creaking rapidly over the
packed snow-path. He might have to
ask for help to reach his home Even
as the steps came close, he felt him
self swaying. He leaned over on the
fence, but to his amazement that
swayed, too, and threw him back.
Then he felt himself falling toward
the street; but the creaking steps
ceased, now by his side, and he felt
under him something soft but firm
something that did not sway as the
fence had unaccountably done. With
his balance thus regained, he discov-
cred the thing that held him to. be
woman's arm. A woman's face looked
close into his, and then she spoke.
= "You are so cold. T. knew you
would be. And waited-I wanted to
do for you-let mel" ~.
At once there came back to him
the vision of white-faced woman in
the crowd along the river bank, star
ing at him out Of deep, gray eyes un-
der heavy, black brows -
:. "Mara-Mara!" s.
Yes, yes-you are so cold!'
But you must not stand so close
See, am wet-you will be chilled"
"But you are already chilled; your
clothes, are freezing on you; and you
were falling just now. Can you
walk?" .
Yes-yes-my house is yonder."
Il know; it's far; it's beyond the
square. You must come with me-.
But your house is still farther!"
She had started him now, with a
firm grasp of his arm, walking be-
side him in the deep snow, and try
ing to keep him in the narrow path.
"No-I am staying here with H'l-
bert Plimon's two babies, while the
mother has gone to Provo where HUI
bert lies sick. See-the light there
Come with me-here's the gate-you
shall be warmed"
Slowly and with many stumblings,
leaning upon her strong arm, he made
his way to the cabin door. She
pushed it open before him and he felt
the great warm breath of the room
rush out upon him. Then he was in
side, swaying again uncertainty upon
his feet. In the lowering nght that
came from the fireplace he saw the
bed in the far corner where the two
small children were sleeping, saw
Mara with her back to the door, facing
him breathlessly, saw the heavy
shadows all about; but he was con-
scious Of hardly more than the vast
heavenly warmth that rolled out fszom
the fire and enfolded him and made
him drunk.
l 80
Again he, would have fallen, but
she steadied him down on to wide
couch covered with buffalo robes be-
side the big fireplace: and here he
g., g. c:2ce il.o a zst,...so.. Sic drew
Dut the couch so that il caught. more
Of the heat, pulled off the water
soaked boots and the stiffened coat,
wrapped him in a blanket which she
warmed before the fire, and covered
him still again with one Of the buff
| falo robes. s 81 81 ss #
She went then to bring food and to
make a hot drink, which she strength
ened with brandy poured from q little
silver flask. 0 5s
Presently she aroused him to drink
the hot liquor, and then, after another
blank of stupor, she aroused him
Iagain to eat. He could take but little
OF the food, but called for more Of
the drink, and felt the soul OF Sit. thrill
along his frozen nerves until they
I faWoke, snarpened. J. alert, and eager.
He lay SO, with closed eyes q little
Itime floating IN an ls secsfaav thaf