OCR Text |
Show 266 THE MORMON LION pick up Waller at the Southern Settlements. I sent him ahead with General Smith to 'tend to the case of them dirty cusses from Arkansas." "What about them? " I asked with involuntary sharpness. He looked at me closely, his eyes narrowing. " What about them ? " he repeated. " Why I just sent counsel to have 'em pushed along out of the Basin. They poisoned one of their oxen what died and give it to the Piede Injins. It killed some of 'em and made the_ rest h?pping mad. As I'm Super'ntendent of Inpn Affairs, I was feared they might go on the warpath and wipe out the train. They'd be likely enough to do it just to git the stock. Pack of spies and murderers and horse thieves, that whole Arkansas outfit! Lot of 'em helped McLean murder Parley P. Pratt, and a lot more bragged they helped the Missouri hellhounds drive us across the Mississippi." To these baseless slanders I could not force myself to agree, and I dared not disagree. I changed the subject. "About my marriage- I suppose it will have to be put oft. Still, that will give the oldest lady more time to recover. Shall I tell them, or is the mission to be kept secret ? " "No, go and tell them now," he answered, plainly anxious to be rid of me. " Here's the order for the President of the Stake at San Bernardino. Give it to Bill. You needn't come back here, neither of you." I took the paper that he handed to me, picked up my Derringer, and left the room, as glad to escape as he was to see me go. CHAPTER XXVIII BLOOD ATONEMENT FROM the Prophet I hastened to Mrs. Senby. I found her so low that I reframed from all mention of the terrible accusation against Cora and myself. She was satisfied with my smiling statement that we had escaped serious consequences from the lady's rashness. I had to be no less careful in telling her my joyful news that I was counselled to go on mission to the very place to which I had planned to escape The slightest agitation now prostrated her. I h~ld her heart-drops in readiness when I gave her the information. As I feared, she was so overcome that it was so~e time before Ann ] ane and I could revive her. Seemg that my presence continued to agitate her, I left as soon as she was able to whisper a farewell messa~e for Lucy. Calhng Ann Jane aside, I gave her a hundred dollars m gold. I would have doubled the amount had I not remem~ered Mrs. Sen by's reasons against it. The girl blushi~gly confessed that her boyish sweetheart had obtamed the necessary certificate from his Bishop, and that Mrs. Senby urged them to be marned at once. Brigham's consent was not necessary for a marriage to a first wife and the young fellow had prom~sed to help her car~ for Mrs. Sen by. Tins news relieved me of my last anxiety over herself and Mrs. Sen by. After she had given me her love for Lt;cy, I sent the true-hearted girl-woman back to the mvalid, with": brotherly kiss on her ruddy chee_k and my heartfelt w1sh that her goodness might receive the reward of a kind husband and a real home. |