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Show CHAPTER III THE REVELATION THE jaded mules had been refreshed by their two hours' rest and a feed of cottonwood twigs, to which Chilcott had added a few handfuls of oats. We could have soon overtaken the rear of the train, but he purposely loitered behind, stopping at regular intervals to give us small quantities of coffee and broth. Under this skilled treatment the hand of Death, which had been closing upon Lucy and myself, was gradually forced to refax its 11rip. But the doctor failed to rally. With the signmg of his will the last thread by which he held to life was loosened. After blessing us, he began to pray to be freed from the bonds of mortality. When we drove into camp, shortly after sunset, he was fast sinking into the valley of the shadow. The end came at midnight. In response to my urgent request, Chilcott ordered Waller to dig a separate grave. Lucy could not bear that her father should be laid in the common pit with the six others who had died. At dawn Waller dug the grave in a grove of cottonwoods. The place was several yards away from the camp, which was already breaking up for the day's toilsome march. When the grave wa.s ready I sent Waller away ; but Chilcott came to recite the burial service. "There," he concluded. " He's planted so he'll be sure to rise again, flesh and bones, in the first resurrection when Joseph gives the signal to all Saints. He'll rise, Sister Neville, as sure as J esus JO THE MORMON LION 3I Christ came out of the tomb. Fill up the hole, Dave. I've got other duties to attend to." He hurried off,leavin~ us alone. I took up Waller's spade and began to fill m the grave. From the first, • Lucy had stood at its foot in silent, tearless grief. Her anguish was so great that I knew it would kill her unless she could find relief. After I had completed my task and had set in the rude headboard I began to tell her again about the death of my mother and the murder of my father. At first she did not seem to hear me. But when I described the grave on the flower-covered hill and spoke of the desolation of my lonely boyish grief, she both heard and understood. "Oh, Brother David!" she sobbed, ";then you know-you know! " "I know, Lucy!" The blessed tears gushed into her eyes. She flung her arms about my neck and wept upon my breast. The storm of grief was violent, but it washed away all the bitterness and left her resigned. When she became calm and drew herself from my comforting arms, I kissed her grief-furrowed brow and reminded her of our relations : " Dear, you are now in ,my cnarge. I am your guardian." "Yes, Brother David. Father--" A sob choked her. She caught her breath, and went on bravely-" Father said to give you this. He said that he r,ut his trust in you and in the Prophet Brigham. ' . She drew out a paper from her bosom and placed It in my hand. It was a receipt signed by Norton Senby for seven thousand dollars invested in his mercantile business by Dr. Neville. I had been so certain of the doctor's comparative poverty that I stood for some moments staring'!iincredulously at the paper. The sharp crack of a twig caused me to look around, |