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Show 234 entered the yard, half expecting to again meet Lucy. But no voice whispered to me out of the darkness. I hastened up the gravelled walk to the cottage. Ann Jane was standing sentry in the porch. She knew me by my step, and whispered that I was to follow her. The parlour was unlighted. We closed the door and groped our way across to Mrs. Sen by's room. Ann Jane called through the keyhole. In a moment Mrs. Senby opened the bolted door and invited me in. I entered and looked around. A strange dark girl in an awkward homespun gown was standing at the far end of the room. I failed to see either Lucy or Helga. But as Mrs. Sen by rebolted the door, the strange girl came daring to me. There was a disfiguring scar on one of her dark cheeks. Not until she put out her hands to me and raised her flaxflower eyes did I recognize her. "Lucy!-it is ym< I" "You really did not know me, David?" " Do you wonder? It's a marvellous transformation. This colour-- But the scar ? " "Aunt Ellen burned it with nitrate of silver. It will disappear in time." " Even If it did not, dear--" I exclaimed. " And the hair I" She blushed crimson beneath the stain on her cheeks, but after a moment's hesitation, drew off the dark wig. Her own beautiful hair had been cut close to her dainty head. "It is a shame," murmured Mrs. Sen by. "Yet we must not take the slightest risk that is avoidable. I am satisfied. You were deceived. No one else will recognize her. She will be saved." "And yourself also," I added. "You are so wonderful with disguises, surely you too can escape. They are kindly people. They would be glad to help you -r,es, and Ann Jane." ' No, David. I could not live through that hard journey. When she is quite safe I shall be free to go to him. Until then Ann Jane and I must stay to THE MORMON LION 235 conceal her absence. If two of us went, it immediately would be discovered." " Where is Helga ? " I asked. " Will she not tell all to the Bishop ! " "Helga has gone," answered Lucy. "Gone?" "Aunt Ellen is so clever, David. If only it had not been necessary to deceive Helga! " "We could not trust her," said Mrs. Senby. " When I reached home I told her that Lucy had been exposed to contagion from smallpox, and I advised her to return to her father's house. She immediatelY, scurried away, taking all her clothes and trinkets. ' " What a scheme it is! " I exclaimed. " But what if r,our Bishop insists upon seeing the invalid ? " ' He will not venture into the room, nor will anY. of his underlin_gs," predicted Mrs. Senby. " Still, If they do, Ann Jane 1s to be in Lucy's bed, with a wig made of Lucy's hair and her face covered with bandages." "The disease has a peculiar odour," I remarked. " What if any of them know it ? " " I intend to burn spices in the house." "You are wonderful! You have thought of everythin ." "Y must. Lucy shall not suffer as I have suffered." " Is all ready I The sooner we start the better," I uri\ed. ' Here are Lucy's bags. We have put in them only what was necessary. And here- -" she drew off her own wedding ring- " here is the most precious thing I possess. I give it to you, David, to place on her finger. May you two be blessed with the love and happiness with which he and I were blessed from the time he placed it on my finger! Lucy, dear child! I must not keep you waiting. Let me embrace you for the last time I " "Not here," I said. "Youmustgowithhertothe camp. The night is dark. You can ride on my horse, |
