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Show 146 mother and her daughter, or where a brother marries his half sister? I've heard of several such cases smc~ I came to Zion. It must complicate family matters. "No it don't," replied Amanda, as her husband hesitat~d. "Not at all. Ain't we all brethren and sisters in the Kingdom ? " . "That's so," I said. "You couldn't have given a simpler explanation." " You mean smarter," she corrected. " You know I'm no si;,pleton, Dave." " I mean that your explanation simplified the problem- made it_easy." , " Mormonism simplifies all problems, remarked Chilcott. " All you've got to do is to pay y~mr ~ithes and obey counsel, and you're sure ,~f salvatwn. " Yes, the simplest can do that, I agre.ed. " , As we rose from the meal, Clulcott satd : . I ve got my carriage waiting, Dave. ,Jump m With me I'm going to drop by on Bngham. " Of course, in that case," I assent~d. We reached Brigham's office at nme, a few me>ments before he came in from his breakfast. He entered smiling with genial good humour but very brisk. As he shook hands with Chilcott and myself he asked us to wait. While his barber was shavmg him he rapidly disposed of the business ofthe ot~er callers. Between times he interlarded _hiendly mquiries as to my health and the condition of my practice. When all except ourselves had left, he muttered an order to his secretary. The man locked the fro'!t door and went out into the more public office. Th1s was a most unusual proceeding. I braced n:'yself, anxiously wondering what it might mean. Bngham rubbed his palms together and sm1led at us. I "We'll Dave," he congratulated, "I'm mighty glad to h~ar you're raking in the dimes and feeln:g so fit, too. Guess the ball livened you up a bi~. Best ball we've had th1s season. G1ve my comph- THE MORMON LION 147 ments to Sister Lucy for her dancing, next time you see her. By the way, when d'you expect to have her sealed to you ? " " I have yet to get my certificate from Brother Chilcott," I countered. "Shoo!" he ejaculated. "That'll be no troubk. No question about Dave's standing, is there, Bill? " "No," answered Chilcott. He drew out a piece of Navy plug tobacco and held it ready to bite off a ".chaw" as he added: "Brother Ford (laid double tithe at Florence when he was received mto fellowship, and I don't know anything against his orthodoxy. If you counsel him to marry Sister Neville--" Brigham beamed on me. " He don't need counsel to do that, Bill. But I figure you needn't hurry to write out your certificate. He asked for time-- Which reminds me he proved Ius zeal by asking to be sent on mission." The blow came like lightning from a clear sky. I saw Chilcott's eyes narrow and his mouth contract with repressed satisfaction. My own features were not under such control. Brigham looked at me in bland surprise. "You don't seem altogether rejoiceful, Dave," he remarked. "No. You see, my clients- if I am called away suddenly, their interests--" I stammered. Then I r~alized I could not escape. I must make the best of It. I pulled myself together and forced a simulation of eagerness- " But of course the Kingdom takes precedence over all else! May I ask how soon I am to start and to what country? " Bngham struck the desk with his pudgy fist. . " Hear that, Bill ? The boy is stanch. He shall go With you and Jake." It was Chilcott's turn to meet the lightning. But he had the advantage of experience. H1s eyes narrowed a tnile ; otherwise he betrayed no sign of |
