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Show THE MORMON LION These people are Your children, no worse than other people ; but they are mad- they are insane with the fanaticism of false doctrines! They have listened to the lies of evil men! They--"! Lucy's hand closed over my mouth, and her eyes gazed into mine full of terror and beseeching. "No more! no more! say no more!" she gasped. ., We- are not- alone!" Mr. Senby hastened to explain to Ann Jane and Helga, who stood gaping in wonder and amazement at my outburst : "You hear Brother Ford. Heed him. He stands close to the Prophet. He does well to curse the enemies of the Kingdom. You will remember to tell it to the Bishop and his counsellors when he comes to catechize you." ! "Yes, of course," said Ann lane. "I didn't just understand it that way. But if you say he meant to exalt the Kingdom--" " Of course, the Kingdom- the true Kingdom of Heaven. You also will remember, Sister Helga? Brother Ford cursed the enemies of the Kingdom." " Yas, I hear heem. I taal de Beeshup." Lucy drew back from me with a sigh of profound relief. Even she was fast learning the absolute necessity of deceit in this Zion of Satan. She went to her aunt and placed a pitying hand on her arm. " If he must go with them- it is getting late," she murmured. "Come to me and Jet me hold you. We will pray for strength for you to bear it." " You do not know all that is required of her," replied Mr. Senby as his wife clung to him still closer. " She too must go. She must give-must speak her consent and place their hands in mine." " Oh! cruel! cruel!-- Dear aunt, come with me. I, too, shall get ready and go." "No, you shall not go there-to that place!" forbade Mrs. Senby. "Not now-notjuntil-- Oh, my poor dear child! Your own time may come all too THE MORMON LION 143 soon I But you shall not go now. You must stay and "- she looked about at us with a ghastly smile.. you must stay and prepare the wedding feast! " " It is too much! " groaned her husband. " I cannot bear it, Ellen. I would rather die." " And leave me to be- sealed unto one of-them! " she reproached. " Even this is better, a thousand times better!" She stepped away from him, upheld by the strength of despair. " No. The struggle is over. I will not repine, Norton. I know that in spirit you will alwaxs be my husband, mine only! " " God knows it! 'he vowed.l "Come, Lucy," she said. "Help me make ready. My hands are too unsteady, I fear, for me to be quick enough." Lucy put her arm about the shoulders of the unfortunate lady and led her from the room. Mr. Sen by bowed his brides-elect to a sofa. " Pray be seated, sisters," he said. " I must go to send my Indian boy for a carriage." He went out and called Ankotash, who was loitering about among the leafless peach trees. When the boy loped away Mr. Senby lit a cigar and paced up and down as I had done. Ann Jane looked at me with shy appeal in her sad eyes. " Brother Ford, d'you--d'you blame us? Ought we to've gone straight down to the T ordan ? " " God forbid! Do not reproach yourself. You have saved them from worse. Your heart is pure gold, Ann Jane." "I dunno," she sighed. "Mebbe it is, but it feels like lead." "I tank my heart heem ban all feythers now," murmured Helga. " Brudder Saanby heem not keek me one times weeth hees boots." She smiled beatifically. I could have wept. The carriage came and bore away the marriage party. |