The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-02-28
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march in. or Joel Rae he caught but
a glimpse through the door Of his
little room, the face flushed that had
a long time been sallow and blood
less. When the door had closed he
could hear the voice now strong again.
He seemed to be, as during the night,
~rehearsing something he meant to
say. And later it was plain that he
prayed, though he heard nothing more
than the high pleading of the voice.
Follett would not have minded these
things, but Prudence was gone, and
no one could tell him where. From
Christina, of the rock-bound speech,
he blasted the. items that she was
wearing "a dress all new" and "a red
ribboned hat" Lorena, too, with all
her willingness of speech, knew moth
ing definite.
"All I know is she fixed herself I'D
like she was going to an evening ball
or party. wash to the lands I'd KEEP
my complexion the way she does hern.
And she had on her best lawn that
her pa got her in Salt Lake, the one
with the little blue figures in it.
She does look sweeter than honey on
a rag in a store dress, and that Leg
horn hat with the red bow. Though
what she wanted to start so early for
! don't know. The procession can't
be along yet, but she might have gone
down to march with them, or to help
decorate the bowery. 1 know when
I was her age I was always a great
hand for getting ready long before any
one come, when my mother was max
Ing a company for me, putting up my
waterfall and curling my ~beau-catch-
ers on a hot pipestem. But, land! I
amt no more time to talk with YOU"
Down the main road he hesitated.
To the right he could see where the
green mouth of the canyon invited;
but to the left lay the village, where
Prudence doubtless was. He would
find her and bring her away. For Fol
lett was determined to toe the mark
himself now.
In the one street of Amalon there
was the usual Sabbath hush; but
above this was an air of dignified fes-
tlvity. The village in it's Sunday best
homespun, with here and there a suit
OF store goods, was holding it's breath.
In the bowery a few workers, under
the supervision of Bishop Wright,
were adding the last touches of dec
Grafton. 1t was a spot of pleasant
green in the dusty square-a roof of
|. cnr11anw hO1,rhr -y;tl# --l
flowers garnishing the posts, and a
bank of flowers and fruit back of
the speakers stand.
But Prudence was not there, and
he wondered with dismay if she had
Joined the rest of the village and
gone out to meet the prophet. He
had seen the last of them going along
the dusty road to the north, men and
women and little children, hot, ex-
cited, and eager. It did not seem like
her to be among them, and yet ex-
cept for those before him working
about the bowery, and a few mothers
with children in arms, the town was
apparently deserted.
But even as he waited he heard
the winding alarm Of a bugle, and
saw a scurrying of backs in the
dusty haze far up the road. The Wild
Ram of the Mountains gave a few
hurried commands for the very final
touches, called off his force from the
now complete bowery, and a solitary
Gentle was for the moment left to
greet the oncoming procession.
Presently, however from the dark
interiors of the log houses came the
mothers with babies, a few aged sires
too feeble for the march, and such OF
the remaining housewives as could
leave for a little time the dinners
they were cooking. They made but
a thin line along the little street, and
follett saw at once that Prudence was
not among them. He must wait and
see If she marched in the approach.
ing procession.
Already the mounted escort was
coming into view, four abreast, cap.
tanned by Elder Wardle, who, with
a sash of red and gold slanted across
his breast, was riding nervously, as
his seat could be kept only by the
most skillful horsemanship, a white
mule that he was known to treat with
fearless disrespect on days that were
not great. Behind the martial
Wardle was Peter Peterson, Peter
Long Peterson, and Peter Long Peter
Peterson, the most martial looking
men in Amalon after their leader; and
then came a few more tours of proud.
~ mounted Saints.
After this escort, separated by an
interval that would let the dust set.
tie q little, came the body of the pro.
cession. First a carriage containing
the prophet, portly, strong-faced, easy
of manner, as became a giant who
felt kindly in his might. BY his side
was his wife, Amelia, the reigning ia.
vorite, who could play the piano and
sing Fair Bingen on the Rhine" with
a dash that was said to be superb.
Behind this float of honor came other
carriages bearing the prophets coun.
sellers, the apostles, chief bishop,
bishops generally, elders, priests and
deacons, each taking precedence near
the prophets carriage by seniority OF