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Show s6 THE MORMON LION girl of two years ago? I cannot believe it !- it can't be you! Your mother and father, where are they? Surely, surely they've not sent you--" The poor woman was staring wildly and wringing her hands as if distracted. " Calm yourself, madam," I interposed. " Lead us in and close the door." " Yes, yes, come in- come in! Lucy, is it-are you really--? " she panted. The girl flung herself into her aunt's outstretched arms. I drew them into the cottage and shut the door to cut off the view of the inquisitive coachman. Hardly were we inside when Mrs. Senby fainted. I caught her from Lucy, who darted into the kitchen of the cottage f or water. Under her skilled care, her aunt soon rev1ved. " Dear child! dear child! " she murmured clinging to the &'irl's hand. " Is it you, really you ? ,', " It IS I, Aunt Ellen. But I am not the only one who has changed. Surely you have suffered some dreadful illness! " "No, not illness, Lucy- though my heart is weak, as you know." " Then, if not an illness, a great sorrow. Uncle Norton- he has not--? " " He is well. It is not that, dear child. Oh! had your parents only believed-. -Where are they ? " Lucy tned to answer, and msteadshe burst into tears. " Can't you guess, Mrs. Sen by? " I asked. "You must know what happened to the train that preceded ours." " Dead! " she whispered. She seemed about to faint again, but rallied and laid her quivering hand on Lucy's downbent head. "Alone- both e-one! Had they heeded our warning !- had they believed what we wrote!" " What warning, madam ? " I inquired. She clasped her hand to her breast and stared at me with a look of deathly fright. THE MORMON LION 57 " Oh, I- I did not mean--" she stammered. " Lucy, tell me' This gentleman-is he- is he--?:: "Aunt Ellen! What is it? You are fnghtened! cried the girl, her tearful eyes fixed wonderingly upon her aunt. " Yes-no- I--Tell me ! is he a Gentile? " " How can you think it, Aunt Ellen! He is Brother David Ford. He did all he could to help father and mother." " Because of you ? "queried Mrs. Sen by. A scarlet blush leaped into Lucy's cheeks. "Indeed, no. He worked as hard to help others." "Others? Not content with one!" burst out the little lady with scathing bitterness. " Why do you speak so? What do you mean? " asked Lucy in bewilderment. " I understand Mrs. Senby," I said. " Let me explain to her that I would be content with one, and I believe in one only." " If that is true! If I could believe that! " exclaimed Mrs. Sen by. "You can," declared Lucy. "Whatever it is that Brother David means, you can believe it. Father apP.ointed him his executor and my guardian." ' Then, if he is to be trusted--And yet- - " " Yet what, Aunt Ellen? " asked the perplexed girl. " Can you doubt that Brother David is a gentleman? " "Gentleman? You do not know, child. There have even been gentlemen who--" She stood up and came close to me to scrutinize my face with her anxious gaze. "Would that I could be certain!" "I am rather a new convert," I said. " Perhaps if I knew why you distrust me I might be able to reassure you as to my character. If you have doubts as to my orthodoxy, I admit that my conversion was gained by misrepresentations regarding a certain damnable doctrine." She put her hand to her heart. "You-you mean-?" |