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Show 132 " It is not trust alone. You love me! " She blushed, but confided her hands to mine and met my gaze with candid fondness in her pure eyes. "I love you, Brother David," she assented. Though I had hoped for more, I tried to make the most of this confcsswn of trust and affection. " Then you do not regret that we are betrothed? " "No, I "- her lashes drooped with shy confusion -" I do not regret." "Would you if we were away from this place-if we were safe in your own country' " "No," she whispered. "Only--" " Only what ? " I asked. Her head bent lower. " I- I do not wish to bemarried- ever.'' " You child! " I exclaimed. " Have no fear. I shall not urge you. We shall wait- unless it becomes necessary.'' " Necessary f " she cried, all her dread reawakened by my clouding face. "You really believe thatthat they may wish to--? " "It would not be right for me to lie to you, dear," I answered. " Perhaps I may not have even that chance to save you. But if it ts necessary, and there is the chance, will you be ready to marry me? " She looked at me with shy hesitancy. "Youyou danced so many times with that beautiful ladyMrs. Cora- Chilcott! " The reproach stung my conscience yet set me tingling with a joyous thrill. There was an unconscious tinge of jealousy in those words. I knew the dear girl too well to fancy that they were due to the resentment of envy or wounded vanity. "The poor lady is most miserable," I replied. " She ts very gay and-and fascinating." " Gay because she is too brave to show her suffering,' I explained. " If you knew the truth you would pity her. She is one of his wives and no longer the favourite." THE MORMON LION 133 Lucy's eyes glistened with tears of compassion and self-reproach. "The dear unfortunate lady! It was very wrong of me to speak so unkindly! How very, very dreadful it must be when a husband-- And she's not even his- his wife !- his first wife, I mean. Y cs, of course, she is no less his wife. It is the celestial law." " Dearest,'' I said, " do you still imagine you believe that abomination? What if, after we are married, I should be forced to take another wife into our home?".: She shrank back from me, her eyes wide with horror. " Oh! no! no I I would rather die! Oh, you could never-- It would kill me! " " You see. Every instinct of your being cries out against the cruel torture of the mere suggestion. Can such a thing be the will of a merciful God- of a loving Father? "1 " We- we must earn salvation through self-abne?, ation. It is the only way,'' she clung to her teaching. ' Aunt Ellen says that many men suffer no less because of the celestial law. Yet we must obey counsel." "A few men, very few, suffer in company with their women,'' I replied. " Your uncle has risked everything rather than submit. I, too, would resist. Yet how if there was no escape- if it was to save you from a worse fate ? " " Oh! it is dreadful! dreadfull " she sobbed, wringing her hands in anguish. " I would rather die!" "Not so long as there is a shred of hope to cling to, Lucy. You will not leave me alone, dearest ? " "You see I am selfish, utterly selfish! " she cried. "Forgive me, David! Dear David, you are always thinking of my good, my happiness I I shall put away my selfish grief and try to repay you with what little service a mere girl can give." " A mere girl can give a man the greatest happiness |
