"He has , and so have I," she answered, "he's awful fond of me If those cows had jumped on me he'd have never got over it "

"Neither would I," said her companion

"You ! Well, I don't see would make much matter , anyhow You ain't even friend of ours "

The young hunter's dark face grew so gloomy over this remark that Lucy Ferrier laughed aloud

"There, I didn't mean that," she said; " , friend now come us Now push along, or father won't trust me business any more Good-bye ! "

"Good-bye," he answered, raising his broad sombrero, and bending over her little hand She wheeled her mustang round, gave it cut with her riding-whip, and darted away down the broad road in rolling cloud of dust

Young Jefferson Hope rode on companions, gloomy and taciturn He Nevada Mountains prospecting for silver, and were returning to Salt Lake City hope of raising capital enough to work some lodes which they had discovered He as keen as any business until this sudden incident had drawn his thoughts into another channel The sight fair young girl, as frank and wholesome Sierra breezes, had stirred his volcanic, untamed heart to its very depths When she had vanished sight, he realized that crisis had come life, neither silver speculations nor questions could ever be importance to him new and all-absorbing one The love which had sprung up heart was not the sudden, changeable fancy of boy, but rather the wild, fierce passion of man of strong will and imperious temper He accustomed to succeed in all that he undertook He swore heart that fail if human effort and human perseverance could render him successful

on John Ferrier that night, and again, until his face was familiar one farm-house John, cooped up valley, and absorbed work, had had little chance of learning the news outside world twelve years All this Jefferson Hope was able him, and in style which interested Lucy as her father He pioneer in California, and could narrate many strange tale of fortunes made and fortunes lost in those wild, halcyon days He scout too, and trapper, silver explorer, and ranchman Wherever stirring adventures were had, Jefferson Hope there in search He soon became favourite old farmer, who spoke eloquently virtues occasions, Lucy was silent, but her blushing cheek and her bright, happy eyes, showed only too clearly that her young heart was no longer her own Her honest father may not have observed these symptoms, but they were assuredly not thrown away man who had won her affections

summer evening when galloping down the road and pulled up gate She was doorway, and came down to meet him He threw the bridle over the fence and strode up the pathway

" off, Lucy," , taking her two hands , and gazing tenderly down into her face; "I won't with me now, but be ready when here again ? "

"And when will that be ? " she asked, blushing and laughing

"A couple of months outside come and claim you then, my darling There's no one stand "

"And how about father ? " she asked

"He his consent, provided we get these mines working all right no fear head "

"Oh, well; , and father have arranged it all, there's no more said," she whispered, with her cheek against his broad breast

"Thank God ! " , hoarsely, stooping and kissing her " settled, then The longer I stay, the harder waiting canon Good-bye, my own darling -- good-bye In two months you shall see me "

He tore himself from her as he spoke, and, flinging himself upon his horse, galloped furiously away, never even looking round, afraid that his resolution might fail him if one glance at what leaving She stood gate, gazing after him until he vanished from her sight Then she walked back house, the happiest girl in all Utah

CHAPTER III

JOHN FERRIER TALKS PROPHET

THREE weeks had passed since Jefferson Hope comrades had departed from Salt Lake City John Ferrier's heart was sore within him when he thought young man's return, and impending loss adopted child Yet her bright and happy face reconciled him arrangement more than any argument done He had always determined, deep down resolute heart, that nothing would ever induce him to allow his daughter to wed Mormon Such marriage he regarded as no marriage at all, but as shame and disgrace Whatever he might think Mormon doctrines, upon that one point inflexible He had to seal his mouth , however, for to express an unorthodox opinion was dangerous matter in those days Land Saints

Yes, dangerous matter -- so dangerous that even the most saintly dared only whisper their religious opinions with bated breath, lest something which fell from their lips misconstrued, and bring down swift retribution upon them The victims of persecution had now turned persecutors on their own account, and persecutors most terrible description Not the Inquisition of Seville, nor the German Vehm-gericht, nor the Secret Societies of Italy, were ever able more formidable machinery in motion than that which cast cloud over the State of Utah

Its invisibility, mystery attached , made this organization doubly terrible It appeared omniscient and omnipotent, and yet was neither seen nor heard The man who held out against the Church vanished away, and none knew whither he had gone or what had befallen him His wife children awaited him at home, but no father ever returned them how he had fared hands secret judges rash word or hasty act was followed by annihilation, and yet none knew what the nature terrible power suspended over them No wonder that men went about in fear and trembling, even heart wilderness they dared not whisper the doubts which oppressed them

At first this vague and terrible power was exercised only recalcitrants who, having embraced the Mormon faith, wished afterwards to pervert or to abandon it Soon, however, it took wider range The supply of adult women was running short, and polygamy without female population to draw was barren doctrine indeed Strange rumours began bandied about -- rumours of murdered immigrants and rifled camps in regions where Indians had never been seen Fresh women appeared harems Elders -- women who pined and wept, and bore upon their faces the traces of an unextinguishable horror Belated wanderers mountains spoke of gangs of armed men, masked, stealthy, and noiseless, who flitted darkness These tales and rumours took substance and shape, and were corroborated and re-corroborated, until they resolved themselves into definite name day, lonely ranches West, the name Danite Band, or the Avenging Angels, is sinister and an ill-omened one

Fuller knowledge organization which produced such terrible results served to increase rather than to lessen the horror which it inspired minds of men None knew who belonged ruthless society The names participators deeds of blood and violence done under the name of religion were kept profoundly secret The very friend you communicated your misgivings Prophet mission, one come forth at night with fire and sword to exact terrible reparation Hence every man feared his neighbour, and none spoke things which were nearest his heart

One fine morning, John Ferrier was about to set out wheatfields, when he heard the click latch, and, looking window, saw stout, sandy-haired, middle-aged man coming up the pathway His heart leapt mouth, for none the great Brigham Young himself Full of trepidation -- for that such visit boded him little good -- Ferrier ran door to greet the Mormon chief The latter, however, received his salutations coldly, and followed him with stern face sitting-room

"Brother Ferrier," , taking seat, and eyeing the farmer keenly from under his light-coloured eyelashes, "the true believers good friends We picked you up were starving desert, we shared our food , led you safe Chosen Valley, goodly share of land, and allowed you to wax rich under our protection this so ? "

" so," answered John Ferrier

"In return for all this we asked but one condition: that was, that embrace the true faith, and conform in every way to its usages This you promised , and this, if common report says truly, neglected "

"And how have I neglected it ? " asked Ferrier, throwing out his hands in expostulation "Have I not given common fund ? Have I not attended Temple ? Have I not ---- ? "

"Where are your wives ? " asked Young, looking round him "Call them in, that greet them "

" true that married," Ferrier answered "But women were few, and there were many who had better claims than I not lonely man: I had my daughter to attend to my wants "