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Show I 54 You can plead sickness. You need go nowhere except to the Tabernacle. If he sees no more of you- Perhaps he has already forgotten you." "No !" she divined, with the keen perception of womanly int uition. "He has not! That is why he is sending away both you and your cousin's husband!" I drew her to me with such convulsive force that she cried out with pain: "Oh! You- hurt!" As I freed her, she put her hand to her bosom. The gesture reminded me of my Derringer. I snatched it from the inner pocket of my vest to press it into her hand. " What is it ? " she asked, recoiling from the weapon. " A pistol! Why do you- -? I never could use it! " " Take it," I commanded. " But I- I never could shoot- anyone ! I would rather die! " "For that, then- for yourself!" I insisted. "If you had been raised on the frontier, where the Indians-- Better a bullet than- worse." "David! God forgive you! "she cried. " I never could slay myself! " I thrust the pistol back into my pocket and stared at her in black doubt. " Then you- let me understand it clearly- you will submit to him ?" " How can you be so cruel ? " she reproached. "You told me they could not compel me without my own consent and yours. You are my guardian." ''You promise me you will not yield to him without my consent ? " " I promise you, David. Why, it is absurd even to think of it." " Never mind that. I want your absolute promise, a promise that you will hold to be sacred and holy above all else, above even your salvation." She looked at me wonderingly, but answered without hesitation : " I promise, David." " And no less positively, you promise that you will THE MORMON LION ISS not accept my consent if it is brought to you by another, either orally or in writing, but wtll watt unttl you receive it from my own lips? ". . "Yes, David, I promtse. Only tt ts needless, for I shall never, never give my own consent." " What if they tell you that I am dead ? " "Oh! no-no! You will not die! " " What if they tell you ? " " I shall not believe them. I will not believe them -unless- ! myself- see." . "That is enough, dearest. You have fr01msed. You will remember, and r,ou are brave! must be going now. Your aunt? ' . " She is sleeping. She wept all mght, and I could not comfort her. She would not stay wtth Uncle Norton." . "Asleep? Poor lady! Do not waken her. Gtve her my love and sympathy. Good-bye!" The dear girl flung her arms about my neck and clung to me .... I had to put her from me- . -. . At Chilcott's gate I found Jake Waller wattlng m a light double-seated covered wagon, behmd a team of big rangy horses. As I turned one corner of the block Ankotash trotted around the other, leadmg a mule. While I was helping him untie my bundle of city clothes, whichwere fastened to the saddle, he slipped me a letter wntten on very thm paper. Telling him to wait, I went into Amanda's parlour. Chilcott stood in the middle of the room, gtvmg hts last orders to his family. Children and wtves alike looked nervous and troubled. Without pausing, I passed on into my room .. I found that Amanda had laid out for my convement selection every article that I yossessed. She had also provided a travelling bag. flung into it such few pieces of dress as I thought I might need. . Returning mto the parlour, I found that Chilcott had gone out to the wagon. The others were trathng after him. Only Cora lingered. She came to me swiftly, eagerly, her eyes full of t ender reproach. |
