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Show 120 THE MORMON LION ness-- I am a woman, David, a woman! I crave for love- for the love and caresses that should be a woman's due. I remember how it was with the wives of the Gentiles I knew before my father brought me here. . . . It is not as if I were old or ugly, like some! I tell you, I cannot, I will not-- " "Madam! madam! for Heaven's sake!" I begged " go at once! If you are found here--" ' . She flung out her white arms in a gesture of passwnate recklessness. " If they find us, I shall die- and you will die with me I What do I care? Hell can be no worse than life with him ! He no longer loves me-- He shall not cast me aside like the others and fancy I will submit -that I will go without a woman's share in life and joy! I shall not! I shall not!" She paused, panting from the excess of her emotion. Agam I sought to bring her to reason : " Cora, I beg you! be calm! You know you have my sympathy. But this is sheer stark madness." " Is it, David? is it? " she whispered. She put her hands on my shoulders and gazed up at me, her eyes melting w1th tender passion. " Yes, you are nght, Da v1d, my king ! Love IS madness- the mtoxication of the gods I You are David the king. You can take me of your royal right. I - I am Bathsheba I" She was clinging to me, her red lips upraised for my kiss, her eyes enticing me. I hovered over the flame-- The remembrance of Lucy nerved me to resist. I sought to free myself. " No, I cannot f " I answered her. " You know I love another." " What of that ? " she coaxed. " She is an angel, not a woman." " I am engaged to marry her." " If Brigham does not choose otherwise." I thrust her from me. " You would be glad if he took her I Yet you have THE MORMON LION 121 suffered- are suffering-in the same hell! I had thought you kind- generous I " "You doubt it? Oh, David!" She burst into tears. "No! no! you can't believe that of mel It is cruel of you-cruel! I hope with all my heart that you will win her- keep her! I could not be jealous of her, the dear sweet angel I I could share you with her. You may marry her first." " First ? " I echoed. " And you-- But you are already married I " "He will let me get a divorce. He is always wanting new ones without the care of the old. He has purposely mistreated Helga and Ann Jane, until they have been driven to beg Brigham to release them from him. That is his regular scheme. He keeps the credit of their sealing to him for eternity, but is freed from them for time as soon as he begins to tire of them." " The beast I " I ground out between my clenched teeth. "No, no, do not libel the dumb brutes," she replied with bitter irony. "No male of the higher animals maltreats his mate even when he practises the principles of plurality." " Plurality f- that damnable doctrine I " I cursed. She pressed her hands on her bosom, startled and agitated. "David!" she panted. "You cannot mean-But you shall take me too, as soon as I am free from him! You will have to take more than one-you cannot escape it. You have brains. They are resolved to hold you fast-to bind you with the bonds that cannot be broken. Yet they may be satisfied with two, and I am willing that she shall be the first. You'll be compelled to take at least one more. Then why not choose me? Am I so repulsive to you, David?" She held out her arrns and drew close to me. I could no longer withstand the power of her beauty. " God forgive me I " I cried. " I must say it I If |
