: - THROUGH-THE fe
sUstimtiele).oG
PROVIDED -BY
THE-PEOPLE
- OF-THE |
- UNITED-STATES fm
AMERICAN
LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION
FOR
THE-USE-OF |
THE- SOLDIERS
INSET NERO (S
THE UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS
LIBRARY
SV
kKlew
cop.@
+ ° ™ (Sues
mec)
Ciba
BOLGA.
THE WIVES OF
f _ THE PROPHET
A NOVEI»
BY
* OPIE READ
Author of “A KENTUCKY COLONEL,” ‘‘!'HE COLOSSUS,” “LEN GANSETT,”’
“RMMETT BONLORE,”’ ‘‘A TENNESSEE JUDGE,”’
“THE TEAR IN THE CUP,” ETC.
CHICAGO:
LAIRD & LEE, PUBLISHERS
COPYRIGHT, 1894, BY OPIE READ
(ALL RIGHTS RESERVE
D.)
>
RG
te aa
cpa
"Fi
, gph ~~
WD CAKY TG c_|
i4 D 34
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
CHAPTEHR=T
Away up the Cumberland river, in Tennessee, there is
a scope of country that romantic tourists, who doubtless
never have been abroad, are wont to declare reminds
them of Switzerland, It lies, or more correctly speaking,
rolls and tumbles to the eastward from the river. The
mountains are not high enough to be white at the top nor
the valleys deep enough to be dismal at the bottom. In
winter a hazel gauze is hung from hill-top to hill-top, and
in summer a dazzling, greenish mist creeps up from the
river. Very little is known of this section of country.
Its principal visitors, backed by the government, care not .
for scenery, loiter not in a nook because it is romantic,
but pry about in foreboding places, looking for whisky
_ that bears not the stamp of legitimacy.
Houses are so scattered and so hidden/away that one
might fancy them to be suspicious of on/. another; there
appear to be no paths running from one house to another,
and a stranger might wander for days at a time without
8 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
coming upon a habitation. But in the very heart of this
wave-like, toss-up of country there isa settlement, old and
so strange that those who sought to get at the thread of
its mystery came away with a piece of tangled yarn. The
mystery lay in the reason of its existence. The houses,
built of stone, are marked with age, moss-grown; the
walls are cracked. Naught save religion could have
organized such a brotherhood; naught but the desire to
worship, to practice a belief in a world to come, unob-
served by this unreverential, jeering world, could have
forced men and women to so complete a seclusion. The
houses are low, built in a circle and are covered with flat
stones. In the center stands a sort of temple, with a high
arched entrance and with a porch supported by four mas-
sive rock pillars. Like Rome, this village held its real
name a profound secret, too holy to be pronounced by
_mortallips. It was called Bolga. What thename meant,
no one knew, no one could learn. Five years ago, Bolga
must have held four hundred inhabitants. But condi-
tions are changed now. The village is in a shallow basin,
an area of land embracing a hundred acres; it is nearly
square, and a hill, almost a mountain, arises from each
corner. A pamphlet printed in North Carolina more than
a hundred years ago, and now owned by the Tennessee
Historical Society, says that in 1697 a new religious order,
numbering forty souls, arrived from England, but refus-
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 9
ing to remain ina civilized community, pushed onward
into the wilds. ‘They seemed to have held their religion
as a divine secret, the pamphlet set forth, and could find
no one in the colony who was worthy to receive it. It is
now believed by the people of Tennessee, and particularly |
so by Gov. Bob Taylor, who has given the subject much
thought, that this strange religious sect, spoken of in the
pamphlet, founded the village of Bolga.
During nearly two centuries the religion of the Bol-
gaites remained the mysterious secret which its founder
intended that it should, and not until recently was any-
one prepared by fact or supposition to hang a story
from the eaves of the weather-stained, the moss-dampened
pile of stone, the rude but solemn temple in the wilds
of Tennessee.
The people of Bolga dug their living out of the soil.
Their clothes came from the hand-loom. ‘Their linen was
the finest and brought the highest price in the market.
There was no individual ownership of property. The vil-
‘lage was governed by four Councilmen and a Father, who
was really the chief executive. This Council, with its
Father, not only had charge of temporal affairs, but kept in
sacred administration the creed of the community. Males
and females held the same rights and at the age of seventeen
were taken into the temple and made active members of
the church; and here it was that they took an oath which
10 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
bound them to the religion of their fathers. It wasknown
that a violation of this oath meant death, but no one ever
spoke of the consequences entailed by a violation, for no one
believed in so perfidious a possibility. Every three years a
strange election took place. The entire village would
assemble in the temple, and then after the most careful
deliberation, five of the handsomest maidens were elected
as Wives of the Prophet. They were decorated with
flowers and clothed with the finest linen, and after a whole
day of festivity, were installed in a round building, the
House of the Prophet, where they lived during the three
years of their wife-hood. No one was permitted to
address them except in a most reverential manner—even
their parents approached them with signs of deepest
respect. It was believed that some day, no one dared to
presume when, the Prophet would come and claim his
wives, and that from the off-spring of the union would
arise the true savior of mankind. Ifa girl were engaged
to be married and her wedding day were approaching, she
was compelled to wait until the wife-election, to see whether
or not she should be selected by the council to serve as a
Wife of the Prophet, and if chosen, she was then forced
to wait three years before her actual marriage could take
place. But to be a wife of the Prophet was so great an
honor that to put off a temporal marriage was never
regarded as a hardship. Many an old woman, wrinkled,
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 11
toothless, spoke with deep feeling of the time when she
had been a wife of the Prophet.
The Council and the Father were elected for life.
Every three years, just after the wives of the Prophet had
been chosen, the Council, headed by the Father, would
retire to some secluded place and there in secret rehearse
their creed in the presence of the Master of all Life—
rebinding themselves and their people to the covenant,
solemnly vowing to keep the faith.
The government of Bolga was simple. Crime, drunk-
enness was unknown. All differences were settled by the
Council. Education was fostered, but it was of a pecu-
liar sort. The school was given almost wholly to rhetoric.
Mathematics, the Bolgaites said, was the invention of
man, but speech was God-given. So, among these peo-
ple, speech attained a peculiar force, almost an elegance.
Brethren who took the linen to market, were permitted
to buy any smoothly written book, provided that it had
no undertone that might be damaging to their religion.
Asa result the maidens were romantic and the men spoke
in stilted Sentences. But they abominated newspapers,
declaring that they were rude in expression, that they
disturbed the mind with frightful pictures, with records
of crime and with political strife. Why should there be
political troubles? God had not given politics to man.
He had handed down a true religion and politics had
1s THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
sought to crush it. This would argue that the Bolgaites
were the people forming the new sect spoken of by the
old pamphlet, and that having struggled in vain for their
rights in England, had, after long persecution, come to
this country, determined to guard their secret, not to
experiment with salvation, but to grow children in the
faith rather than to proselyte. .
Strangers sometimes came to Bolga, but they were
treated with cool indifference. If they were hungry they
were given food and told to go their way. If they asked
to remain over night they were informed that the village
was full. ‘‘ What is that round house for?’’ strangers
were wont to ask; and the answer was, ‘‘ To serve its own
purpose.’’ ‘‘ And that heavy building over there is a
church, isn’t it?’ ‘‘’That also serves its purpose,’’
some one invariably would answer.
A summer day was closing. The Wives of the Prophet
had been chosen, and had been escorted to the Prophet’s
house, there to live in honor during three years. Flowers
were strewn about the temple, and a pathway of roses
led to the Prophet’s house. Five old men left the temple
and, walking one behind another, solemnly strode toward
a secluded vale. They were going to rehearse their
creed.
CHAP DER EEL
In Nashville lived a young lawyer named Howard
Bryce. When he was graduated from Vanderbilt Uni-
versity it was said by that shrewd flatterer — public
opinion — that he would reach high up amid the affairs
of men and leave his mark there. Nature had been his
friend. Circumstances had taken his hand and had made
a motion as if to kiss it. Women tapped him with their
fans, and called his attention to trivialities in which they
were prettily interested. His laugh was infectious and
his commonplace talk passed for wit, and his wit passed
for genius. He pretended to hold himself in smart con-
tempt ; he would say a bright thing and frown at it; he
said that to be clever was a clown’s province. He knew
that the shrewdest way to hide vanity was to exhibit it,
to call attention to it, to make fun of it. It was buta
question of time, of course, when he would take his place
at the head of the bar. But time slipped by and the
plodders were passing him. It was his fault ; he had not
exerted himself. He had read romances while the plod-
ders were reading law. After a while he would read law,
13
14 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
nothing but law. Where would the plodders be then?
But idleness had grown upon him and he hated
facts. Local opinion ceased to flatter him ; no one cared
to hear his bright sayings ; his epigrams counted against
him; he heard a dull man say that they were like a
monkey’s trick, amusing for a moment. He found that
it was a mistake to throw bright darts at a jury, that
dullness was always regarded as the law. He was dis-
gusted. He spoke of his trouble, but he did it in so
original a way that his friends laughed at him. Unfortu-
nate is the man whose sorrows are amusing. In the ©
sturdy and stubborn affairs of life there is no hope for the
man who believes that newness of expression is an essen-
tia. grace. If his originality is striking men will call him
a crank ; if it is not striking they will say that he is shal-
low. But intellectual surprises, if possessed by this man
to the degree of a defect, were not his only blemishes.
He lacked moral force, and that was doubtless the reason
why his disappointments were amusing to his friends.
He made no acknowledgment that might lead one to
believe him spiritually awry, but every one seemed to feel
that he had no respect for certain laws that should govern
the social conduct of man. Indeed, he sometimes made
pretenses of a moral sort; but behind one’s own words is
a flimsy place to hide; they are a lattice-work and men
see through them. Bryce was as passionate as an Eliza-
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 15
bethan poet. He saw the filth in old plays, and found
but little of their strength and beauty. He amused him-
self with trying to write an erotic book, and threw it
away because he felt that he was hampered, that bound by
[
i
Bois, F Y/; 7, Uf, Uf, (iia ay
OYE AM | aren, 7
‘Ad Wig HH Hi Min du heh, F
|| ah
7 ZA
=
4
f /
$f fi / 1 \
TRARY —
if oa
) jp e ee
the opinion of a
slow-going commu-
nity he could but
make a mockery of
passion. He was
possessed of a strong physical attractiveness, an outward
grace which sometimes bespeaks an inward wantonness.
His hair was black and fine, and his dark eyes were per-
suasive.
o t OS ye ee ee ee ee
Mes
es see i ya: hat elt be
16 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
One afternoon Bryce was sitting in his office, leaning
on a green-covered table, lazily, dreamily, looking at the
shelves containing his law books. His pipe had gone
out, had been thrown aside, and ashes were strewn over
the table. A friend entered.
‘* Howard, I see you are hard at work.”’
‘That you, Hartley ?’’ the lawyer asked without look-
ing up. ‘‘Sit down.”’
The visitor sat down; the lawyer yawned. ‘‘ Any-
thing going on, Howard ?”’
Ves timer?
A silence followed. ‘‘Howard did you hear about
Bentley ?”’
‘‘No; what about him ?’
‘* Has won his case in the supreme court.”’
‘“That so? I thought he would amount to something.
He’s got just sense enough to apply what little mind
nature gave him. Look here!’’ he added, sitting up,
facing about and looking at his visitor, ‘‘haven’t you
fellows anything to do but to come around here to tell me
of the success of some plodding yap that I don’t care a
snap for? I’m getting sick of it, Hartley ; in fact Iam
sick of everything. Now, look here: People were gra-
cious enough to predict a future for me. Why? Because
I must have given them some cause. Who inspired the
cause? Call it what you will— hanged if I know what
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 17
I’m trying tosay. But I’m sick of the whole business.
Nature said: ‘Here you are a bee, without the pbee’s
industry. Now, I’m going to put a dab of honey in front
of you, but if you taste it I will clip your wings.’ ”’
‘‘Howard, you must have run against a love disap-
pointment.’’
The lawyer laughed lazily. ‘‘ Hartley, you are old
enough to know that there isn’t any such thing as love,
that is, aside from passion. When passion is dead, love
is dead. Generosity, certain attributes of the mind,
inspire friendship; but what inspires love? Beauty,
voluptuousness. But you must pardon me. I forgot that
you had been ordained to preach.”’
‘“You owe me no apology, Howard ; I am more sor-
rowful than resentful. I always liked you; you were
such a help to me years ago. Your hearty buoyancy
floated me over troublous waters — ”’
‘* Are you going to preach now, Hartley ?”’
“T wish I might. I wish that I could say som-thing
to jolt you.”
“Think I need exercise, eh? Why not turn physician
and prescribe horseback riding? Pardon the roughness
of the way I put it, but you moral-drawing fellows make
me tired. You take it into your head that you are going
to reform society, and immediately you make a dead set
at your friends. Don’t worry about me, I have made
18 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
up my mind that I’m never to amount to anything, and
that’s all there is to it. You may think that you can
feel about and find the nerve of my ambition, touch it and
make me flinch, but you can’t. That nerve is dead.’’
‘* Howard, if you are in trouble, remember that trouble
is the school wherein success is taught. Trouble paints
strong pictures on the mind.”’ i
‘* Ah, but the paint eats the canvas. Trouble uses no
soft oil in its art. But there, old fellow, don’t worry
about me.’’ He got up and with winning affection put
his hand on his friend’s shoulder. ‘‘ Go to your congre-
gation, tell the women, the pretty ones, always to remain
pure ; tell the old men not to rent any more houses to the
agents of sin. And if nature has disturbed your dreams
and your waking hours with the dark eyes and exquisite
forms of temptation, pray that they may be removed.
One of these days when I am toothless, half-blind, and
with this July blood of mine cooled into a slow, January
flow, I may come around and astonish you with the
statement that I am ready to become virtuous. Gods!
old boy, if I were a woman, with the same temperament
I now have, that scarlet creature of Babylon would be a
lily in comparison with me. Frank with you? Yes.’’
‘* Howard, I will pray for you.’’
‘*Don’t. Carry bread to the poor.”’
‘* In deepest faith I will ask God to remove your curse.”’
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 19
‘Don’t. Clothe the naked. What time’is it getting
to be? I let my watch run down. Iam going out of
town for a few days —I am going hunting in the mount-
ains. It’s not exactly the right time of year, but I’m
going. I-want to get away from here. Really, now,
Hartley, I am willing to listen to anything that you may
have to say, and when I come back I will cali on you,
and give you a whole evening if you are that much inter-
ested in me. I’m not quite so bad a fellow as I make
myself appear; there may be a spark of reformation in
me somewhere, and when I come back I will let you look
for it to blow an honest breath upon it.’’
CHAPTER III
That afternoon Bryce set out for the mountains. If he
thought at all of what his friend had said, it was in the
most fleeting, the idlest sort of way. He cared not what
any one said, and he was beginning not to care for what
any one thought. But to himself he attempted to weave
no gauzy fabric of defence. He realized that with an
effort made against himself, that with the subjection of
self, he might fulfill the promises which his small
achievements in earlier life had made. But the making
of that one effort, the forcing of a resolution against so
intangible an evil, was the one exertion which he could
not or would not summon the nerve to make. In one
respect he reminded himself of an opium eater — years of
planning, but not one hour of execution. He had been
strongly ambitious, and his ambition had drawn a map of
the roads it was to traverse, but by by-paths, promising
enchantment, while agreeing not to lead him far from the
high-road, allured him away, and when he looked back
he saw that the distance was great and that brambles had
sprung up behind him.
20
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 21
He took passage on a small boat that ran far up the
river. The weather was delightful, and the air, cothing
softly down the stream, was like the breath of a purer,
sweeter life. He stood at the bow, leaning against the
jack-staff. The deck hands were singing a song — the
rich, untaught melody of labor’s resting time. And he
saw that that they, the creatures of rude strength, gazed
at him and admired him for the physical quality which
they themselves possessed. He turned from them, but
still leaning against the jack-staff, gazed at the green
hills along the shores of the winding stream. In that
peaceful view lay a sobering meditation, and he took it
up. He thought of Hartley, of what a modest, self-sac-
rificing fellow he had ever been, studious, not bright but
doggedly plodding toward success ; and that success was
to be measured by the good which he might do unto ©
man. He thought of the look Hartley had given him at
the moment when the scarlet woman of Babylon was
menticned, and a sadness touched him. But was it that
recollection that deepened his feeling? Was it not the
more melancholy turn of the song which the deck hands
were singing?
He went as far as he could by boat, and then on foot
strode into the wilds. ‘The boat was to return to Camp-
bell’s wood-yard, the place where the river journey
ended, within a week, and by that time Bryce was to be
22 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
at the landing. It was more than likely that he should
be there waiting for the steamer. He had begun to fore-
see that he was to get but a meager pleasure out of his
self-imposed banishment, And, besides, his determina-
tion to listen to Hartley drew him toward home. He
would goto his church, steal in, and after services sur-
prise him with his presence. Who knew but that Hartley
might in some way have been inspired to save men from
ruin.. But, then, up arose the stumbling-block: Who
was inspired to place temptations in the way of man?
Why should he be tempted ? Who was to be responsible
for the evils growing out of that temptation? But what
good could come from such reasoning? He would go to
hear Hartley. Yes; and he would make an effort to
reclaim himself. After all he had not wandered away so
very far. He was still young, twenty-eight, and was not
a drunkard. Why life had just begun to spread itself
out in front of him. Why had people commented upon
his failure when in truth he had not begun to try?
One night he missed finding a house, and he lay in the
woods. His bed was a dreary hollow between two frown-
ing cliffs, and along toward morning, when at last he had
forced himself to sleep, he was startled back to conscious-
ness by the scream of a panther. ‘This was sport, no
doubt, but he did not like it. He caught up his gun, and
stood gazing about him. He heard the panther again,
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 2S
screaming down the gulch, and he fired in the direction
of the sound. And the report of his gun had not rumbled
off into silence when up the ravine there was a whip-like
crack and a bullet buzzed past him.
tii up there!’ he cried: >‘ Look: out’; you'll hit
me: %
Then there came another crack and another bullet.
‘* Look out, you infernal fool! ‘The panther’s gone.”’
‘* Don’t want the panter,’’ a voice cried.
‘What do you want ?’’
‘“Want you, and if you move I’ll git you, too.’’
*“Want me?”’
Bas. Don't move.”’
Some one was approaching. What could all this mean?
““You stop there!’ Bryce shouted, ‘‘or I’ll shoot you.
I don’t know who you are, or what you want, but you
stop there.’’
The footsteps ceased. A silence followed, and then a
voice, coming as if from behind something, shouted :
“Head him off down thar, Tuck! Ef he comes up this
way I’ve got him.”’
Bryce stepped back until he found the shelter of a rock.
“Will you be so accommodating as to s=plain why you
want me?’’ he shouted.
‘*Mebby you’ll know when we git you, an’ mebby you
won’t.’’
94 THE WIVES OF TH™ PROPHET.
‘* But what have I done?”’
‘*Vou'll find out between now an’ daylight. The folks
have been watchin’ you, an’ put us on yo’ track. Come
“up here to spy round for the gover’mint, did you? Wa’al,
we'll arn you. Tuck off Bob Edd Sevier last fall, an’’
hain’t fotch him back yit. We know you. You’re the
very man. Keep a sharp lookout down thar’, Tuck, an’
we'll hold him here till the other fellers come. Oh,
you’re putty brash to come back here so soon,’’ he added
in a lower tone, ‘‘ but we’ll l’arn you.”’
‘“What! Do you think I am a revenue officer ?’’
‘* Guessed it the fust pop, dinged ef you didn’t.”’
‘‘ Well, you were never more mistaken in your life.,’
‘“We won’t argy about that. You mout beat mein a
argyment, fur that isin yo’ line, mebby ; but you kain’t
tie a rope no better than I kin. ‘Tuck !’’ he shouted, ‘‘I
hear the boys comin’.”’
Now what was to be done? Here was a jury that even
a plodder could not convince. ‘To stand there and wait
for daylight meant to hang at sunrise. And an attempt
to escape might mean death, but to be shot was better
than to be hanged. He fancied that he heard the other
men coming down the ravine. He heard Tuck sneeze.
He remembered that in the growing darkness he had
noticed that the other side of the ravine was not quite SO
steep. If he could crawl across he might climb out. He
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. — 25
got down and began to crawl. It was painful work, over
the sharp stones. ‘The ravine was not broad, and when
he had about reached the middle of it he thought that he
could see a flush in the east. Daylight meant instant
death. He reached the other side. The wall was almost
perpendicular. Hecrawled along the edge. There was
no opening. He was getting closer to Tuck. He heard
something, the sharp clank of one rock striking another.
Daylight must be coming, for on the opposite side of the
ravine, the west side was turning gray. ‘This told that,
even at early morning the east wall was not high enough
to shut off the rays of the sun. But it was so high that
Bryce could not reach the top. He lay close and listened
and watched. He thought that he saw something move
on the other side of the ravine. In a second a significant
truth was made clear. Tuck was crawling up the ravine,
to be close enough to shoot him, to carry off the honors
of the chase. ‘‘I could kill the scoundrel,’’ Bryce
mused. ‘‘ But, I won’t; it would do me no good — mean
my death, too.’’ He crawled carefully along, halted and
looked after Tuck. He had disappeared. Thinking that
it was now safe enough to walk, Bryce arose and, bend-
ing over, cautiously felt his way along. Daylight was
surely coming. He could see the tree tops, high up
against a whitening mist on the west side of the ravine.
Now he walked rapidly ; now he could run. He sawa
26 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
break in the wall, but it was on the opposite side. No mat-
ter, he would cross. He did so and soon he was in a
gulch that like a great slide-way came down from the
mountain. He knew that they would follow him and he
continued to press forward as fast as he could, and by the
time the sun was fairly ablaze he had reached the mount-
ain top. His aim now was to reach the river as soon as
possible, and he sheered off in what he took to be that
direction. Hesawa cabin, but he gave it a broad go by.
Later, he came within sight of a rude fence, and he ran
from it. ‘Thus all day he struggled onward. ‘Toward
evening he entered another ravine. He had traveled a
long distance, but whether or not he had been followed
he had no means of knowing. ‘The bluffs on each side of
the ravine were rugged and high, but he noticed that
they could be climbed. ‘The sun had gone behind a rag-
ged rock-line. Bryce was picking his way along, looking
for a place wherein to sleep. Hecame to a sort of cave, and
stood hesitating whether it would be better to go into the
wolf-den or to sleep under the stars. Suddenly his blood
seemed to freeze. Down the ravine he saw five men
slowly walking one behind another. No choice was now
left him, and he sprang into the mouth of the cave.
Inside he found a large chamber with uneven walls. The
cave came to an abrupt end. He felt about, found a
shelving rock, climbed upon it and lay down. His only
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 27
hope was that the men might not come into the place, for
ieee
it would require but a short
\ search to discover his hiding-
_. place. Eagerly, hopefully,
Tam
Pi
xX
_~\3s~ and then despondently, he
AON eae
t WS OS
eras { listened. They were.
fo WN Raid
coming into the cave.
_ Intheycame, walk-
‘I \ ing slowly, he
. a \X\\’
\ \
\
WS
\\
WW Roe could tell from
i id 3
LS We AG) NR their tread.
; » _ni(! . ~S\
val WSS Neen The foot-
wis Ayer —~"
ys Ss
iN \ aay) e steps
SS : Rr ora
eee 4 ;
ceased. There was something strange ahout it all.
Should he risk a peep at them? No; he was afraid to
28 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
move. What were they doing now? Gods! they were ~
praying; but what a prayer. They began to rehearse a
strange creed, and to implore that the promises made to
their fathers might be fulfilled. Year after year, genera-
tion after generation, the will of the Master had been
obeyed. ‘They had kept the tenets of their faith a holy
secret from the curious and vulgar world. They reminded
the giver of their religion that they had just elected five
of their handsomest maidens, according to the creed
handed down to them, to serve during three years as the
Wives of the Prophet—that they had chosen Mary,
Rachel, Alma, Silvia, and Judith. They knew that these
maidens should surely find favor in the eyes of the
Prophet, should he come during the next three years;
but that no matter when he should come he would find
that the chosen people of his Father, the Lord, were
ready to receive him. ‘‘ We know not, O Lord,’’ the
prayer went on, ‘‘ when it shall be Thy pleasure and Thy
will to send the Prophet unto us — it may be this day, or
it may be a hundred years hence, for time is naught
to Thee — but we do with patience bide Thy time. Nor
do we know, O Lord, by what sign we are to recog-
nize Thy special servant, but we know that he will
bring some unmistakable token. O Lord, we have
renewed the covenant of our faith, given to our fathers,
and we beg of Thee to prosper us, not indeed with many
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 29
numbers, but with contentment, and with minds pure
in Thy sight.”
Bryce heard them slowly filing out. The entrance to
the place darkened, then lightened again. ‘They were
gone.
CHAPTER-LY.
Bryce reached home on a Saturday, but he went not on
Sunday to hear his friend preach. The sprouting of that
small seed of reformation had promised much, had
been a sort of comfort to the lawyer, but now the seed was
but a dry shell and the sprout was dead. In the young
man’s mind throbbed a thought, thrilling, wildly deliri-
ous, and in that thought were the names Mary, Rachel,
Alma, Silvia, Judith, whirling round and round. He
had often heard of that strange religious community, and
he remembered having heard his father say that the hand-
somest woman he had ever seen was in that village. The
men and the women of that community had ever been
looked upon as religious cranks of the most harmless sort;
they had striven to stir up no commotion, but what a
commotion they had unconsciously stirred in the breast of
one human being! And those men knew not what signs
the Prophet might bring. Was ingenuity, was advent-
urous passion ever so strongly tempted?
Several days had passed. Bryce was in his office, not
lazily leaning on the table, not dreamily gazing, but
30
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 34)
almost fiercely walking up and down the apartment. The
door was slowly opened and Hartley stood there. ‘‘May
I come in, Howard?”
“Of course, old fellow. How are you, any way? Sit
down.”’
He sat down. The lawyer continued to walk up and
down the room.
‘‘Howard, you stole home so quietly that scarcely any
one knew that you had returned.’’
“Oh, I didn’t blow a trumpet when I got back.
Neither did I go to a nunnery.”’
“Well, what sort of a time had you, where did you go,
and why did you go in the first place?” _
The lawyer smiled. ‘‘I went up the river, had a very
good time—went because I thought that to get out of
town for a few days would help me fy
‘“T’o make an effort,’’ the preacher broke in.
“Well, yes, you may put it that way.”’
‘‘But I don’t want to put it that way unless it’s the
truth.’’
‘Well, then, let us call it the truth.’
‘‘T am glad to hear you say that. And now you are
ready to make the effort. Howard, you have been franker
with me than you ever have with any one else, so now
let us get at the secret of—what shall we call it?”’
‘“‘Apply your own term, my boy. ‘The priesthood
should supply its devotees with choice figures of speech.”’
S2 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘‘Howard, you come back with the same disposition to
bandy words. I am deeply interested in you, not so much
as a preacher but as a friend. I see that you are wasting
yourself, day by day; I feel that you are putting your
fine abilities under your feet. I once thought that it was.
a great misfortune that your parents had not lived to
see you ripen and grow strong in usefulness to the state
and to society. I have not thought that of late, and yet
I don’t exactly know why. You seem to be possessed of
a strange intellectual shiftlessness; there have been a
number of times when the putting forth of half your
strength would have set you high above the plodders, as
you are wont to term your less gifted acquaintances, but
with a perverseness that I can not fathom, you have re-
fused to exercise that strength. You said that upon your
return you would give mea hearing, but first I want to
hear from you. You have made certain broken-linked
confessions to me, have given or sought to give me
glimpses of your condition of mind. Now tell me the
whole truth. What is the trouble with you?’’
Bryce sat down, carelessly drew another chair toward
him, placed his feet upon it, remained silent for a few
moments and then said: ‘‘Hartley, since you have taken
so serious a view of my case, let me say that I don’t know
that there is anything so vitally wrong with me. You
- may say that I am not asuccess as a lawyer. I may
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 30
grant you this and at the same time remind you that to
be a successful lawyer is not of itself an achievement high
up among the virtues. But let all this go. Tell me
about yourself. What have you done? Have you brought
any one to believe in your religion, and are you prepared
to swear that your religion is the right one? All reli-
gions, you must know, in that they carry a degree of sacri-
fice, have to a more or less extent the appearance of
purity. -But what one man may hold as pure, another
man may condemn as wanton. But there is no religion
so absurd, so open and palpable a mockery of true reason,
as not to have among its followers men and women of
acknowledged ability. Carrying out the faith of a certain
religion, the most sacred laws of this land may be violated.
Now, suppose I take up a religion of my own? Suppose
I say that as Nature has given to man certain physical
pleasures, it is his duty to seek those pleasures, to practice
them as a creed? Hecan turn to nature and say, ‘I have
obeyed your instincts, I have not buried your promptings,
I have lived as you directed.’ Suppose I should say that
nature. is voluptuous and that lama voluptuary. You
can not deny that certain forms of lawful worship, the
shouting at a mourners’ bench, is a feasting upon emo-
tion, a sort of mental voluptuousness.”’
‘‘Howard, I am further than ever from an understand-
ing of you. You not only muddy the water and obscure
3
34 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
yourself, but obscure me. So now I hardly know what
I wanted to say.’’
‘Don’t say anything to disturb either of us. By the
way, your marriage is not far off.”’
‘‘Next month.’’
“And I am listed for best man, I believe.’’
‘You know you are.”’
‘But I don’t think that I can be there.”’
‘“‘What! Why, you have promised.”’
‘Yes, but I’ve got to leave town for—well, I don’t
know how long. I am going to Europe on business. It’s
a case of must.’’
‘In that event I suppose I shall have to excuse you.”’
‘Yes, it is a case of must. Get Bentley. -He’s all
right, you know, since he won his case in the supreme
court.”’
“Don’t taunt me with that, Howard. I merely men-
tioned his success the other day for the reason that I
thought you were interested in him.”
“Oh, Iam. He was always so delightfully stupid.
You’ve got a regular situation—I mean a regular appoint-
ment—now, haven’t you?”
‘Ves, and the people appear to be much pleased with
me. My hard study is nowcounting forsomething. One
of these days I expect to have the largest church in the
state.”
a)
er
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
*‘Oh, ambitious, eh?”
“Yes, for the larger my field, the larger my opportu-
nities todo good. And my wife will bea great help to me.”
‘“There’s preacher for you, Hartley. A preacher’s
wife is always supposed to be a help to him. “As for his
being a help to her, why that is another question. His
selfishness is regarded as a devotion to his calling. If
there’s a sacrifice to be made, his wife must make it. It’s
the cock saying to the hen, ‘help me scratch up this worm
and then you may watch me eat it.’ But here, now,
don’t look at me that way,” he added, getting up and
placing his hand on the preacher’s shoulder. ‘You know
that when I begin to talk I never know when to stop and
never do stop until Ihave gonetoo far. You know that I
believe you to be wholly unselfish; you know that you
are the one man in whose honesty I havea firm faith. I
must go out now, Hartley. I don’t know exactly when
I shall start for Europe, but I’ll make ita point tosee you
between now and then.”
Down the street the lawyer walked alone. He recalled
every word of the prayer in ‘the cave. He would have
forgotten a prayer at church. Time and time again he
asked himself, ‘‘Was ever human passion so strongly
tempted?” Why had that religion remained a secret
during so many years and then to be revealed to him?
Was it providential that he had gone to the mountains,
36 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
gone really without a cause, to be chased by illicit dis-
tillers and then to hear that prayer! ‘‘Gods!” he said,
‘suppose I should go there as the Prophet.” He turned
into a restaurant, and while sitting there, tasting nothing
that he ate, he noticed a bright India ink star on the
back of the waiter’s hand.
‘‘Who did that?” he asked.
‘‘Old fellow that lives down on the river. Used to be
a sailor.”
‘‘At what particular place by the river does he live?’
“In a shanty down at the foot of Broad Street.”
Bryce went to the old sailor’s shanty. The old
man wasthere. ‘‘Do you make much of a living by pick-
ing pictures?” the lawyer asked.
‘‘Not much of a living, sir, but it’s the best I can do.”
‘‘Can you pick faces, handsome ones?”
‘‘As putty as you can find in a book, sir.”
‘Well, I want five.”
“You are joking, sir.”
‘“‘T don’t joke at the expense of a poor man’s living. I
want five pictures, heads of handsome girls, three on the
right arm and two on the left. And I want a name
placed above each one. Can you do that?”
“T can make the puttyest job you ever seen, sir.”’
‘When can you begin?”
‘‘Now, but you know, sir, that it will take some time,”
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET’. 37
‘Which means that it will cost something, eh?”
“Well, you know, sir, that it’s art, and art’s high
sometimes.”
‘All right,” said the lawyer, taking off his coat. ‘‘Do
me a good piece of work, say nothing about it, and I’ll
pay you more than it’s worth.”
CHAPTER V.
The sun had just slanted into the afternoon. The men
of Bolga were at work in the fields lying about the vil-
lage ; the women were weaving flax. In the air quaint —
old songs were floating, songs that might have been
heard in Cromwell’s camp. The weaving was done in
one long room. Children were playing about the door.
A woman came in with a bucket of water.
‘* Sisters,’’ she said, ‘‘look out at that strange man
standing in front of the temple.’’
‘‘Strangers are more common now than they were
when I wasa girl.’? an old woman spokeup. ‘‘ I remem-
ber that during a whole term when I was a Wife of the
Prophet not an alien soul was seen here.’’
‘* But look, sisters,’’ said the first woman, ‘‘see how
strangely this man acts. He stands there waving his
arms and they are bare. I will go to the field and tell
the Father.”’ |
The Father was hoeing corn not faraway. The woman
ran to him.
‘‘ What is it daughter ?’’ he asked.
38
re
-there, Father, with
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 39
‘‘ Father, the strangest of strange men stands in front
of the Temple.”’
‘Well, but is there any harm in him? Are we not
here to protect you?
Go your way, daugh-
ter. He is some idler
.. A
\\
x
K f “ig Norta es
a i ae WO
\\ MS SS
XN
come to gaze at us.’’
‘‘ But he stands
his arms bare, making
strange motions.’
Pebewill Po back
with you.”’
When they reached
the plaza, in the cen-
ter of which the Tem-
ple stood, they saw #:
that all the women== a
A i
A
\ \\
\\ \N Yi
AY
and girls had quitted Saat . Ht
their work and that =
some of the most ad- Nae
venturous of the chil-
dren had drawn near
unto the stranger.
The woman who ac-
companied the Father fell back, but the old man walked
40 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
boldly toward the man who had caused this unwonted
stir. 7
‘May I inquire,’’ the old man asked, approaching,
why you have come hither and why you act so strangely?
If you are in distress, tell me your trouble, and if I can
relieve you, consistently with what I eS to be right, I
will do so and send you on your way.’
‘‘T am inno trouble, reverend sir,’’ the a Ginas: replied,
ceasing to make his motions. ‘‘I have been drawn to
this place. Day and night have I wandered, not know-
ing which direction to take, but feeling that I was guided.
And now, reverend sir, I should like to ask you why I
am here? ’’
’
‘You speak strangely,’’ said the old man, halting.
‘Do you not know what induced you to come this way ?”’
‘* Not wholly, reverend sir. But it came upon me that
I was wanted here—came upon me in a most mysterious
way. Iwas far distant from here when suddenly there
came a Clap of thunder and a flash of lightning. I fell
senseless, and when I came to, I felt that somewhere I
had a sacred duty to perform. And I looked at my arms,
for they were stinging, and there I found these pictures
and these names, which must have been drawn by the
lightning. Come and see for yourself.’’ .
The Father was now trembling at every joint. He
tottered forward, caught sight of the pictures and the
HE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 41
names, and lifting his hands, he shouted: ‘‘ Ring the
temple bell !’’
‘‘ But, Father!’’ cried awoman who stood near, ‘‘ the
bell has never been rung, is never to be rung until the
Prophet is come.’’
‘‘Ring, daughter!’’ he shouted, bowing his head.
“Ring that the brethren may hear. The Prophet is come!”’
The woman ran into the temple. The Father and the
stranger stood with heads bowed. Loud and clear pealed
forth the bell. And then from the fields the men came
running. A chant, a strange hallelujah came from the
awe-stricken group of women. ‘The children in fright
clung to their mothers. The Father lifted his hands and
in a loud voice summoned his people into the temple.
There were whisperings and shrinking back, there were
exclamations of astonishment.
‘Chosen people of the Most High!’’ the Father
shouted, ‘‘ be not afraid, for this day have you seen the
fulfillment of the promise made to our fathers. Daugh-
ter,’’ he called, addressing the woman who had come to
him in the field, ‘‘ command the Wives of the Prophet to
make ready for the ceremony, for their lord is come.”’
Bryce, wretch that he felt himself to be, caught the
spirit of this excitement. He looked sharply about
him, and saw that the women were comely—some of
them at least— and that the men were strong. He was
42 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
not there to guide, but to submit, to take the part
assigned him. But why did not the five girls come?
One of the Councilmen, carrying a dark robe on his arm,
came to him after conferring with the Father, and said:
‘‘In the room over there is a place to bathe. When
you have done that, put on this robe.”
He entered the room, and the door was closed. The
bath-tub was of stone, and he sat on the edge, when he
had taken off his clothes, and mused over the strangeness
of his situation. ‘The brethren and sisters were singing a
hymn. Hartley’s sad face came up, but he brushed it
aside. The enormity of his crime fell damp and cold
upon him, and he strove to defend himself. Why had the
revelation been made to him? ‘That was his defence,
and, lame though it was, yet it satisfied him. He
bathed and put on the robe. Why were they keeping
him there so long? A tap atthe door. He stepped out
into the Temple, and a chant arose. What a transforma-
tion met his view. ‘The floor was carpeted with roses.
He looked toward the main entrance and caught his
breath. There came, walking one behind another, five
girls, dressed in white, beflowered, beautiful. It
was his time to act, and he advanced to meet them,
slowly walking with hands uplifted. The girls joined
hands and encircled him. Some of them wore lilies,
others roses in their hair. ‘They stood with heads bowed.
“fh as8ed “AUOUWI919D SUL
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 43
He saw their blushes; he caught sight of thrilling eyes.
The chant was hushed. ‘The Father approached. Bryce
looked up. He was standing in front of an altar. Now
the Father spoke. His deep words trembled from his
lips. Bryce could not remember what he said ; he caught
but the meaning of a word here and there. The ceremony
was simple and was soon over. ‘There he stood, among
his wives, shaking hands with the men and women who
shyly came forward to greet him. He was glad that they
looked upon him simply as a man. After all the real
Prophet was to come — to come from among his offspring.
Now the ranks were broken ; there was no further cere-
mony. The mothers and the fathers of the Wives wept over
their daughters, but in their tears there was no sadness.
Bryce stood talking to the men. How sincere, how
devout they were. How far back into the past he had
been thrust he knew not. How strange a gathering ;
how marvelous a belief to exist at the electro-glaring end
of the nineteenth century. How ruling is a faith; how
it blinds reason, blots out incredulity. .
‘*VYou must instruct me,’’ Bryce said to the Father.
‘* All that you need to know you shall know in time.
You, like the rest of us, are simply an instrument. You
-are indeed to be one of us, obeying our laws as we
obey them. The only privileges which you possess
are those conferred by your marriage. We do not
44 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
practice polygamy; that is forbidden except to the
Prophet:
‘“Vou call me the Prophet, Father, and it may be well,
but before coming here I had no thought of being a
prophet. But those pictures, and a peculiar influence
that came upon me, taught me that I was destined for
something. I am not as yet fully acquainted with our
creed, but you will find me a faithful servant.’’
‘You know enough, my brother. Ah! how we have
waited ; and how our fathers and grandfathers waited.
But you have come at last; and now shall arise the
Savior of man, not to be despised, but at the proper time
to be proclaimed a king. Then we shall march away in
triumph to declare the glory of the one Great Father, to
view the offer of true salvation unto man.’’
Now they were making preparations for the feast, and
a simple feast it was to be. Strong, clear-cut features
showed that gluttony was not a part of this religion, and
vigor proved that neither was undue self-denial of food a
feature of it. Tables, swiftly but not jarringly made of
trusses and long boards—tables reminding one of old
pictures of the Last Supper — were placed by light-footed
men, spread by graceful women, and rose-strewn by girls.
Chairs, stools and benches were brought. Bryce noticed
that there was one table smaller and more profusely dec-
rated than the rest. He was standing near this table
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 45
when the Father said to him: ‘‘Sit you there at the
right.’? And then he added: ‘‘ Come, Councilmen and
Wives, sit here with the guest which the Lord has sent
unto us.”’
When they were all seated, and when the Father had
pronounced a short but impressive blessing, Bryce re-
marked: ‘‘ Father, a flash from the clouds threw to me
the names of my wives, but as yet I am unacquainted
with the personality of those names.”
“True, brother. ‘T'o your right sits Alma, to her right
is Mary. Over here is Rachel; there near Councilman
Trent is Judith, and to my left is Silvia.”
Bryce bowed to each one and muttered something. Was
he in Fairy Land? Could all this be real? From the
society which he had known could there have been gath-
ered such grace of form? Eyes that had never been dimmed
by a moment of dissipation, complexion fresh from the pure
air of the mountains, lips that shared the secret of the
red-bud tree—purity’s unconscious sacrifice. The soft
color of the earliest glow of sun-rise met his view as his
eyes followed the nod of the Father as he called the
| names, and though the Father and the Councilmen could
see naught save devotion to duty, this young man from
the world thought that he caught a glimpse of a sweet
mischief. He could not stare, but how drinking, how
eager was his swift look from one to another. He noticed
46 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
Alma’s neck, the silk-like hair looped up from it and
pinned with a rose-bud. Hesaw the proud look of a
woman at another table and he knew that she was Alma’s
mother, knew that this woman’s pride in life had been to
see her daughter a Wife of the Prophet.
‘‘Did you ever expect that I should come?’’ he asked
in alow tone, and Alma answered: ‘‘ We were taught
to pray for your coming.”’
‘‘T hope you are not disappointed in me.”’
‘The Lord would not send us a disappointment.’’
She gave him a full view of her eyes as she said this; and
the word that shot through his brain was—‘“ glorious,’’
‘“ No, he would not have sent a disappointment, for you
were ready to accept His choice, but suppose I had come
a wrinkled old man, would you have been as pleased with
me?’’ He asked this in a whisper, and in a whisper she
answered, ‘‘ No.’’
Emotion clogged his mind, and but little of what fol-
lowed remained in his memory. Lamps were brought
and he knew that evening was come. A chant arose and
swelling into great volume, floated to the mountains and
then softened, etherialized, seemed to float back into the
temple. The Father and the Councilmen gathered about
the altar, and the Father, standing in the midst of them,
preached a sermon. A strong wind must have come, for
one of the heavy doors slammed; and the blaze of a lamp
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 47
leaped up and died in the darkness. ‘The preaching was
done. The Father and the Councilmen approached Bryce
who was still sitting at the table with his wives.
‘‘ Brother,’’ said the Father, ‘‘I know not what your
name has been, but now it is Joseph.”’
Bryce bowed and thus replied: ‘‘ Your willis mine.’’
But he could not help but think of the inappropriate per-
versity of the name. He would have been the last man
to leave a garment in the hands of a voluptuous tempter.
‘* Brother,” said the Father, ‘‘ we will now conduct you
and your wives to your home, the house prepared for you
by our fathers. Come.”’
Another song arose, and now in the dim light he saw
one eager, hard and disappointed face. A young man
approached and was gazing at Alma. But that face was
soon forgotten
When they entered the Prophet’s home, Bryce found
himself in a large circular room, lighted by a single lamp,
swung from the ceiling. The floor was of stone; the
walls were white. He noticed five closed doors about the
circle, and one door to the right standing ajar. To this
latter room he was conducted. It was meagerly furnished
with two chairs and a table, but no bed.
Sit you here,” “said. the Father. . °° We return
to the temple to pray for guidance. Remain until
I come.”
48 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
Bryce heard the opening and the closing of the other
doors. What anuptual night! He was tremulous. And
he wondered how it all was to be arranged, but would
ask no question.
There was no lamp in this room, and save for the dim
glimmer of lightning on the narrow window panes, light-
ning that came from the far west, the room was in black-
est darkness. There was a low rumble of thunder as
though a mountain gorge were growling. Bryce got up;
he could sit no longer. He thought ofa sister who had
blessed him with her dying breath. ‘‘God Almighty!
can she see me now?” he almost cried. Cold perspiration
broke out upon him. ‘‘ You are a fool,” he said to
himself
There was a tap at the door. His blood leaped.
‘Come in.’’? ‘The Father was in front of him. The old
man whispered one word and then stood, pointing.
tip
lis
a
" Geli
A) ES GP i/{1// i
i a | AY Z a Wf Wl Vt
Uae
a=
eS
=
= Ss
=
7
i
= 2S Ss
== = Ss
——— ze
* 5
= —S=
SSS
a =
=> PSS tre
5
WN
i
ts, ee
CHAT THRE.
Morning dawned with dewy freshness. The night had
been wild, but all that was now left of that wildness was
the louder gurgle of the streams that poured down from
the higher mountains far away. With the first over-
pouring of light from the sun, a mocking-bird flew to the
roof of the Prophet’s house and trilled his thankfulness
for a day so lavish in its splendor; and a cat-bird, less
majestic in range, but almost as melodious, sang his
praise in a syringa bush. The white spirea was in
bloom, holding up its bridal wreath, and the rich scent of
the calacanthus was mingled with the sunshine. The
village was early astir, and a long horn that hung on the
wall of the weavers’ room was taken down and blown
with a throbbing blast. Breakfast was ready. ‘There
were several dining-rooms, and families, as nearly as was
convenient, were expected to eat together. The cooking
was done in one large kitchen. The Prophet’s dining-
room was but a short distance from his dwelling. A long
table was spread there, and any one was privileged to eat
with him. ‘The other Wives, together with the Father
and Councilman Trent, were seated at the table when
50
oa Tie
Se
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 51
Bryce and Alma entered the room. ‘There was a flutter:
among the giris and a low mysterious whispering, which
the Father reproved by a glance, and.Alma, knowing
that she was looked upon with curious concern, blushed
under their attention.
‘“Brother Joseph,” said the Father, ‘‘ here are places
for you and our daughter. We have waited for you.’’
“‘IT hope that you have not waited beyond a time of
easy paitetce,”’ Bryce replied.
“Oh, no; we have just sat down. See how beautiful
the morning is,” the Father added, waving his hand
toward the door. ‘‘ We can read a promise in its light
and stillness. But at one time during the night we were
threatened by a destructive storm. It was the lesson of
life — the greatest good sometimes follows the appearance
Orevil:’2
‘‘Father,” said Bryce, ‘‘ You must tell me what I am
expected to do; how I am'to deport myself.”
“You will pick that knowledge mainly from observa-
tion. But of course Iam willing to instruct you. We
might say that you are the only convert that we have ever
gathered from the world, and you were sent to us. Some
time you must tell us how your early life was spent, but
we shall have time enough for it all. To the vulgar, ours
is a strange religion —all religions have at one time been
strange to the vulgar— but the time is not far distant
= “ie as ae = os
ety
52 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
when the vulgar mind shall be purified. ‘To-day you will
take an oath, and then you shall know what your imper-
ative duties are. ‘There are many things, however, that
we can discuss openly, that 1s among ourselves, but
amidst strangers you must keep absolute silence with
regard to our creed. You must be careful in your read-
ing ; not that worldly books are so harmful to one whose
mind is rightly set, but that it would be time thrown
away. But good books are at all times to be commended.
True rhetoric is the voice of God; therefore, strive to
speak as becomes a godly man, the chosen seed, the pro-
pagator of one who is to offer salvation unto man. And
these precious daughters you are to treat as though they
were flowers from a holy garden, and they are to look
upon you as their master. They are to love you and to
obey you; and you must remember that it is the nature
of woman to be petted. The little worries of a pretty
head are to be soothed.”
‘Father, you spoke of my sharing your labors. What
labor am I to perform, and when am I to begin?”
‘“‘OQur men work in the field, and by turns teach
our school. But work in the field is more of a needed
exercise than a labor. We do not believe in wearing out
the body merely to gather wealth ; our wants are but few
and are easily supplied. Nearly everything we need is
grown here. We raise sheep, and our clothes are woven
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 53
here. Weaving is hard work, but no woman is forced to
weave more than one day a week.’’
‘Would that the whole world were so well governed,”
Bryce replied. ‘‘But tell me, do the laws of the state
interfere With you ?”
‘‘As far as the law knows us,’’ said the old man,
‘“we are the children of meekest obedience. The con-
stable never comes hither, and by courtesy we are excused
from jury duty.”
‘“That courtesy is apparent,’ Bryce replied. ‘‘ A jury
selected from among you would be too intelligent, too
justice-loving. One clod on a jury—and they must
always have a clod — would muddle eleven Isaac New-
tons.”
‘‘Joseph, you speak as one who knows.”’’
‘Why not, Father? I was gathered from the world.”’
Bryce now had an opportunity to study not only the
faces of his wives, but to place an estimate upon the
Father and upon Councilman Trent. The belle who has
left the ball-room late at night does not look so well at the
breakfast table, but these girls were as fresh as the flowers
that grew near the door. Their beauty winced not even
in the sun-light. The type was nearly uniform, the grace
of health, the perfection of skin, of teeth, of eyes. But of
course he could see certain differences. Mary was a
blonde, and Judith’s hair was intensely black, but the
54 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
smooth oval of the face was the same. He wondered if
they were all alike as to character; whether they pos-
sessed a hidden individuality that at some time might
show itself. ‘‘ All women are the same,’’ he mused,
‘‘and yet how widely different.’’
The Father was exceedingly tall, proudly straight and
with character marked on every feature. His nose was
large and thin; his hair had never been cut, and his beard
was long and grizzled, His eyes were dark, with a be-
nevolent warmth in them, and yet they were sharp and
questioning. He looked like the ruler of rude men, stub-
born if needs be, but just and sincere. ‘Trent was shorter,
fleshier and without question, lazier.
‘* After breakfast,” said the Father, ‘‘ you may go to
the warehouse and select a suit of clothes to fit you, and.
then you would better walk about and make yourself ac-
quainted with your surroundings. You are not to cut your
hair or to shave again. Asa rule we are not antiquated,
but we insist that no man shall shave. We care naught
for the world, as the world now is, but you must have ob-
served that our speech is not materially different from the
speech of other men. ‘There is a reason for this, for when
the time for us to leave this village shall come, we do not
wish to go back into the world as strangers in speech.
And that is one of the reasons why we encourage the
reading of good books. But do not -give me credit for
ate a i i a ec ea ars
weal pes wre pf ‘ sl .
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 55
this.” Bryce had looked admiringly at him. ‘‘It was
practiced by-our grandfathers.”
‘“Am I permitted to smoke?”
‘*Ves, pipes; but naught else. That which the Lord
in his graciousness has inspired to grow out of our soil,
We permit our people to use.”
‘While I was of the world,’”’ said Bryce, ‘‘I was fond
of coffee. Would the drinking of it now be in opposition
to your rule?”
‘“Decidedly. Coffee does not grow out of our soil.”
‘* But is it not consistent to drink whisky? Corn grows
out of our soil.”
‘“And a bludgeon grows out of our soil, but shall we
sieze it and with it crush a brother’s skull?” Hereupon
Councilman Trent gave a triumphant grunt, but the
Father, averse to an applause that might mean the
embarrassment of their new brother, cast upon the Council-
man a look of mild reproof.
_ A few moments of silence followed. ‘‘ Father,” Bryce
asked, ‘‘when shall I appear at the temple to take the
oath?”
‘* At the setting of the sun.”
Immediately after breakfast Bryce was shown to the
warehouse, where he selected a suit of clothes, a long coat,
knee breeches, thick cotton stockings and buckles made
of horn. His hat was ofrye-straw and his shirt was made
56 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
of the strongest and plainest linen. And he felt rather
proud of his shapely legs when again he stepped out in
full view of his wives, and he saw by their smiles and
their nods that his new dress had awakened a fresh ad-
miration. The men were now gone tothe field, and Bryce
heard the bump, bump of the looms in the weaving rooin.
He looked about him, at the clean stone houses, the turf-
grown, path-streaked plaza, the temple with its heavy
brow, the great old English elms that many years ago
had been set out in picturesque contempt of regularity—
at the four high, wooded-and graceful hills that arose from
the corners of the broad field. How wise had been the
selection of this basin, for although in the mountains it
was sheltered from the cold winds. ‘The fruit was rarely
killed in the spring, and during the hottest weather of
mid-summer the grass remained green. But for a moment
this beauty, this harmony, this gracious smile of nature,
smote him with a keen remorse. Would that he could
have come hither as a real brother, as a sincere and vir-
tuous man. He heard light foot-steps and turning saw
Judith approaching with the charm of a timid draw-back
in her manner. Remorse was gone.
9
‘“T am going with you,’’ she said.
‘‘ Are you, sweet creature ?”’
A. blush was her reply. ‘‘ Where are we to go?’ he
asked.
Ne De Cy ee in ee es Oe} bus ret SS oe eae AP oe
> > es ‘ ae a SW ee ey oar ? . ~ a . e" . h ~.
Pets Sen Pa oes ult < : ~
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 57
‘Whither you may direct. I can show you the woods
and the flowers. But the creek is muddy and we can’t
see the fish.”’
“But I know that anything you show me will be beau-
tiful.’’
She looked up at him and there was mischief in her
eyes. ‘‘ Was flattery inspired, or does it come from the
world ?”’ she asked.
“Truth may come from the world, sweet one, and yet
have been inspired. Let us walk over there,’’ he added,
pointing toward the west hill. ‘‘ Will you take my arm ?”’
LS
‘‘T am to show you and you are not to show me,’’ she
laughed. ‘They had walked some distance, side by side,
when she said: ‘‘I can beat you running.’’
‘What!’ he spoke up in surprise. ‘‘ That would be
undignified ; wouldn’t it ?”’ |
‘No; not if you run gracefully. Ican run faster than
nearly any of the boys in the village ; and I was almost
sorry when I had to stop playing fox.”’
‘* But why did you stop ?”’
‘Because I became a Wife of the Prophet.’’
‘‘Oh! And you have one cause for regret ?””
‘*TIt is hardly a regret.’’ 3
“* How old are you, Judith ?”’
‘*T shall be nineteen next month.”’
‘‘You have never been away from home, have you?”’
i
58 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘‘Qh, yes; I have been over to the rivera number of
times, and once when I was very small I went away over
to Knoxville.”’
‘“Why did you go so far as that ?”’
‘‘T went with the men who took the linen to market.
Oh, and it was the longest journey in the world, I
thought. Have you ever been there ?”’
‘* Yes, and in hundreds of other places.’’
‘* Yonder is the creek,’’ she said.
They were now skirting the base of the west hill. The
ground was gently rolling. Summer had just begun to
fulfill the gorgeous promises of spring. ‘The fire-bush,
under the flutter of a bird, threw down a lip-like bloom,
and a lubberly owl, frightened out of his morning nap,
sent down a pearl-like shower from the white-laced top of
a wild plum tree. A wily old quail, pretending to be
desperately wounded, fluttered in the path until her
young ones had hidden themselves in the grass; anda
gaunt rabbit, with his thin ears spectral in the sun’s
strong light, sought safety on the knoll where the man-
drakes grew.
‘* Here is the creek, and it is not so muddy as I thought
it would be,” said the girl ; and without giving him time
to reply she ran on ahead and seated herself on a rock at
the brink of the stream. He followed, laughing, and
plucking a flower he handed it to her as he seated him-
GE Se san ee
sons hn a 2h NE eae rv
Py i ar
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 59
self on the rock close beside her. The stream, swift from
the higher lands, had shrunken from its flood-line, and
by the slightest tarnish of its sheen held but a reminder
of last night’s storm. From far below, where the water
poured upon a hollow rock, came a musical, echoing
roar, changing in tone with the stir of the gentle wind,
now almost hushed, now loud and resounding. They
were under the shade of a beech tree, just above a point
where two long lines of sycamores ended. In front of
them were the rolling woods, through which they had
passed ; and back of them, far away, was a wild jolt of
country, a great bluff and a tumble of rocks.?’
‘What sort of books have you read?” he asked.
“Books that you might laugh at,” she answered.
‘“Some of them have been very dull, with long words
without music in them, but some of them have been
sweet with the perfume of flowers.
‘* Were any of them stories of love ?”
‘No!’ she answered, looking at him in surprise.
‘‘Love, we think, is too sacred to be put into a book.”
Her hands, holding the flower, were clasped in her lap.
He put his hand upon them, and she caught her breath
with sudden quickness.
‘‘Did you ever read of sailors cast away at sea, of
people thrown upon strange islands?” He was thinking
now of the India ink pictures on his arms.
~Aet
-.
60 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘‘We have no such books,” she answered.
He noticed a young man walking a short distance
below on the opposite shore, and he thought that he
remembered having taken a closer look at his face, and
he asked: “‘ Who is that?”
‘‘ Benjamin, the son of Councilman Blake. I will tell
you something if you’ll promise not to say anything
about it.’’
‘*T-promise. * ,
‘Well, he is Rachel’s brother, and was engaged to
marry Alma.”
‘‘’Then he must hate me. I remember how hard he
looked at me yesterday evening.”
‘Hate you? Howcan he hate you? Was it not the
will of the Lord that you should be taken from the world
and placed among us; and was it not ordained that you
were to be the husband of the Wives? He can’t hate
you.”
‘‘ When were he and Alma to be married ?”
‘*’They were to have been married last fall, but Alma’s
mother begged her, and then the council commanded her
to wait, until after the new election of the Wives. I won-
der if he is coming over here? No; he has turned off
into the woods.’’
‘‘T am sorry for him. He took it greatly to heart,
didn’t he ?”
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 61
**He said nothing. How could he?”
**But Alma — did she appear to grieve over it?
)
“You ought to know,” she answered, turning her face
from him.
“ But I don’t know. Was she grieved ?”
‘““Who among us would decline to be a Wife of the
Prophet?’ she simply remarked.
** But that is not answering my question.’’
“I don’t think,” she said, ‘‘ that Alma loved him very
much. Would it relieve youif I were to say that I know
she did not?”’
“Well, yes, as I am far from desiring to bring trouble
to the breast of any one.”’
‘“Would you beso much concerned about me?’’ she
asked, looking him full in the eyes.
‘*T could say more, but I shall say only yes. Judith,
you must know that you are a beautiful creature.’’
‘“You must not.talk to me that way.. You were sent
to us, but you are simply a man, selected from among a
world of men, and although I am a Wife of the Prophet,
yet I am strongly human. I am no doll; I am a woman.”’
‘‘Judith, suppose that I were to tell you that I love
you deeper than I love any of the others.”’
‘‘Oh, if you could tell me that and tell the truth, it
would make my heart blaze—but what am I saying? We
must not talk this way. But Ido want to be loved by
62 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
you, for to me you are
beautiful and your
words are as music.”
She looked at him,
and this man who had
made himself a master
of innocent hearts, a
thief in virtue’s home,
blushed under her
gaze. But he put his
arms about her and
pressed her head to his _//Haagig' |
bosom. She made no |
effort to restrain him.” |
Was he not her hus-
band? Had not the
religion of her fathers ~.\
sanctified their mar-
riage? He looked
down at her ringletted
black hair,at her beau-
tiful neck so soft and
white—her head bent
slowly further back-
ward, she put up her
arms—their lips met,
warm and throbbing.
LZ FBFSEE:
ZZ
ss = =
a
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 63
A shrill whistle startledthem. Benjamin had come out
of the woods, and was standing on the opposite shore a
short distance down the stream.
‘‘Heis keeping watch of us,” said Bryce. ‘‘I shall
ask the Father if this fellow z
‘No, you must not,” she quickly broke in. ‘‘ We
must pay no attention to him. Oh, look where the sun
is. It is nearly dinner time and we must go back to the
village.”
As they were walking back to the village he asked:
”
‘* Were your people
‘‘Our people,” she interrupted, correcting him.
‘“Well, then,” he went on, ‘‘were our people never
afraid that a false prophet might come?”
“Why, no. How could a false prophet come? How
was he to know anything about our religion?”
Could she have read his thoughts at that moment, she
would have seen these words: ‘‘ How blinder than a
bat in the sun-light is human faith. How much proof,
and how much argument are required in a court of law,
and yet in spiritual things how thin a pretext can pass
-as a God-sent truth.”’
‘‘Tf you care to walk so far,’ she said, ‘‘ we will go
over to the Witch Hole after dinner. But it is nearly five
miles from home.”
‘‘ What sort of a place is it?”
64 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘*Tt is a broad and deep hole away down the creek,
within sight of the place where the creek empties into the
river. And I don’t suppose that there’s any place in the
river that is half so deep. I heard the Father say that his
grandfather took a large rock and Jet it down more than
a hundred and fifty feet with a rope and found no bottom.
And you must not say anything about this, but a long
time ago, one of the brothers went crazy and drowned
himself there. No, not exactly there, but just above
there. Probably he thought the water there was too deep
for him. Please don’t tell Alma or any of the others
what we have talked about.’
‘‘Not a word. . What you have said to me is
sacred,’’
When they entered the dining room, they found the
other Wives, Councilman Blake and his son Benjamin
already seated at the table. The Councilman was a
hearty, bluff old fellow, with a resonant voice; he made
broad gestures when he talked, and was fond of talking.
Bryce had seen young Benjamin’s hard and eager gaze,
had seen him idly skulk along the creek, and had fancied
that he must at all times be a clown with a sullen brow.
But he now found that his estimate was wrong, that the
young man was of strong and attractive mold, with eyes
that could appear frank as well as eager, and with a
countenance that bespoke determination.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 65
‘We hope,’’ said the Councilman, ‘‘that you hada
pleasant time, and that you are pleased with your sur-
roundings. But it will no doubt take you some time to
become accustomed to your changed condition. It is
true that I know but little of the world, but I can well
imagine what it is to be taken from a busier life and set
down here in this never broken quiet.’’
““Oh, I should think that he would be delighted,”’
Benjamin spoke up. ‘‘ We have often heard of people
who became so tired of the world that in order to get out
of it they killed themselves; but I cannot fancy that one
would like to leave this place.”’
“Benjamin is right,’’ Bryce replied. ‘‘I never knew
what peace was until this holy religion was made known
tore,”
“‘I am glad to hear you thus express yourself,’’ the
Councilman rejoined. ‘‘Indeed, everything connected
with your coming has been most befitting. You came
without pretense, as one who desired to be taught. With
us, you must know, prophet does not mean one who is
inspired, but one directed. You have a mission, and that
mission does not depart from a human agency ; you were
not expected to foretell events but to wait for events.
You have had one privilege, aside from your marriage,
which has not been granted to anyone else: you have
been permitted to discuss, and to hear discussed, our
5
66 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
faith, without having taken the oath of creed, but that
oath was implied. You must have indeed felt strange
when those images and those names were flashed upon
your arms. They could have come from no place but the
clouds. Not far from here, many years ago, I have
heard, a man was struck by lightning while standing
under a tree, and when they were dressing him for burial
they found upon his breast a picture of the tree drawn. by
the lightning. This was a marvel at the time; but how
much greater marvel to one, who does not understand,
are the pictures and the names drawn upon your flesh.
But to the chosen few it is simple — the fulfillment of a
promise. When you came, to restrain undue curiosity
among the women and children was impossible ; but you
have doubtless noticed that since then there has been no
embarrassing attention bestowed upon you.”’
‘* Brother,’? said Bryce, “‘I have never seen such
modesty, such refinement, such taste.’’
‘‘It was the grace of courteous restraint,’’ Benjamin
remarked. ‘‘Undue enthusiasm is a human weakness.
Nature’s work, with God standing back of it, is orderly,
except when nature destroys, and then there is fury.”
Bryce looked at him and wondered what must be pass-
ing through his mind, what hidden fire had shot forth
this blaze. Had their simple school taught him thus to
express himself? Could he think thus swiftly and yet
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 67
put faith in so unreasonable a creed ? But reason halts at
the threshold of creed. Even within hearing of the wild
roar of trade, men, who would have reasoned with a
Plato, view in ecstacy the trickster’s slate-scratching,
and hear with emotion the senseless rapping under a
table. *
‘“ After dinner,’’ said Judith, ‘‘we are going over to
Witch Hole.’
Alma looked up and her dark eyes grew darker.
‘“Why go so far?’ she asked. ‘‘Is there no seclusion
nearer the village?”
‘“‘We were not looking for seclusion, but for places of
interest,’’ Judith replied.
““We!’* Alma repeated, and she spoke with such stress
that the Councilman looked at her. And now Benjamin
could not hide a frown.
‘“ Tt is most too far to walk unless one sets out earlier,’’
said the Councilman. ‘‘ Brother Joseph may not be used
to such exertion. Our daughters, Brother,’’ he added,
‘‘are strong. The lacings, and the unnatural artifices
with which some women distort themselves, are unknown
here. In the town, whither we go to sell our linen, I have
seen women girdled and squeezed almost to breathlessness,
and shod in a most cramped and painful way — the appli-
ances of Satan made to shorten life and restrict useful-
ness. Brother, the circular room of the Prophet’s house
68 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
has been fitted up for a place to sit in during the warm
hours of the day and evening. And there we may often
tneet and hold profitable converse.’’
“Then let such of us as may desire meet there this
9)
afternoon,’’ said Bryce. who fancied that he saw a storm-
cloud gathering. Alma gave him a grateful look, and
Benjamin frowned again. Judith lifted not her eyes ; her
face was scarlet.
SHARP TE ROViT:
After dinner, Bryce lighted a pipe, and going out to an
elm tree, lay down on the soft sward. He dozed off to
sleep and he dreamed of his office in the city. He looked
at his book shelves and there were great volumes labeled
Treachery, Infamy, Falsehood, Cowardice, Villainy. He
looked out through the door, and walking past were the
friends who had flattered him, but now they reviled him.
Among them was a graceful girl and she alone halted in
front of the door; and there she stood with her hands
covering her face. He wondered who she could be. Her
raiment was white, gauzy as a mist and it flowed in waves
about her, although the atmosphere seemed dead. ‘The
mockers continued to pass but they jostled her not; in-
deed, their countenances when they turned them upon
her, showed a deep and passionate sorrow. Suddenly
she removed her hands from her face. His sister! He
sroaned aloud, and some one touched him. He awoke
with a start. Judith sat beside him.
“Oh, you frightened me,’’ she said. ‘You must have
had an awful dream. Your face was horror stricken and
you groaned so loud.’’
69
_ l pam, eee he ae
ee * vm
70 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET
‘Yes,’ he said, sitting up, ‘‘I dreamed that you had
fallen into the Witch Hole and that I had jumped in after
you, but that you had gone down and I could not find
you.”’
“You must not dream such things. There is company
in our house and I have come after you.”’
In the center of the circular room were placed chairs,
and rugs made of coon skins, and there was a sort of
divan made of twisted hickory saplings and covered with
a bright purple cloth, colored*with dye stuffs gathered in
the woods. ‘The Father was sitting on this divan and
when Bryce entered he moved over and said: ‘‘Brother ~
: f
Joseph, sit you here-beside me.”’
Bryce obeyed. There were present the five Wives, sev-
eral Councilmen and two women who had just come from
the weaving room. How clean every one looked, and
how attractively the women were dressed, how graceful
they were in their easy gowns. And while white prevailed,
yet any one among the women was permitted to dress in
colors. ‘The colors, too, were tasteful and harmonious.
Alma now wore a scarlet cap, while Rachel wore a robe
purpled with the juice of the elderberry.
The Father, noticing that Bryce looked from one to
another, remarked: ‘‘You see that we are not cramped
by a dull uniformity, Colors come from our soil and they
belong to us. We simply.insist that becoming modesty
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 71
shall govern everything. * Cleanliness is one of our laws.
There is a public bath just beyond the Temple, and
everyone, upon coming from work, is expected to bathe.
Brother, where were you born?’’~ And without hesitating
a moment, Bryce answered: ‘‘In Devonshire, England.’’
“Tt is well’”’ said the father. ‘‘And were you in that
country when you first were influenced to turn your steps
in this direction?’ ’
“‘T felt a strange yearning to come to America, but not
until some time after I reached here did the influence fall
strong upon me. I was in the State of Missouri, gradu-
ally making my way hitherward when the lightning
’ threw the pictures upon me. After that I was strongly
urged, almost impelled in this direction.’’ —
“In earlier life what calling had you thought to follow?’ ’
‘At an early age I fancied that I had been called upon
to preach, but when I sought to make a selection I found
that I knew not what form of religion to embrace.’’
“But you know now.”’
“Ves, for all things, I might say, have been made
clear, 3
“Yea, and you are to preach—we all preach. Regular
services are held in the Temple every Sabbath, a day
which to the world means Saturday. Silvia, my dear,°can
you not sing for us?”’
‘‘T am hoarse to-day, Father,”’ the girl answered.
~I
bo
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘“‘Brother,’’ said the Father smiling, ‘‘by right of blood
she thinks that she has a privilege to quibble with me.
She is the daughter of my body as well as the daughter
of my creed; she is my only child. She was ambitious
of course, to become a Wife of the Prophet, but I strove
to discourage her, fearing that my advocacy might have
the appearance of a worldly partiality, but the voice of
the Council elected her. She is young and has much to
learn, and I therefore beg of you to be patient with her.”’
‘‘She is sweet, pure and modest,’’ Bryce replied, bow-
ing, ‘‘and the Divine Master could not give to a woman
three graces more becoming.”’
How easy and how free was this company. ‘The girls
talked among themselves and their talk was of the trivial
thing that concern the young, yet the Father sat there a
religious ruler, an autocrat of a creed and turned not the
cold eye of discouragement upon their mirth. And in
this how different he was from the average human who
feels that he holds in sacred keeping the keys and the
seals of spiritual affairs. Bryce hinted at this and the
old man remarked: ‘‘A severe countenance is not a com-
munication from God, while laughter might bespeak His
holy presence. If God is always frowning, why have
we flowers and streams that flash and sing in the sun-
light? Man must guard against trivial things, it is true;
but good humor is not trivial—it is the voice of health.”
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 73
Bryce looked at him and wondered what must have
been the line of his tolerant ancestry. Through many a
gentle generation must his blood have been filtered; and
how strange it was that a man so resourceful in the field
of homely reason should not turn upon his own faith and
wither it. And yet he knew men who lived in a city,
who read under the electric light, who heard the phonc-
graph sing—college bred men, who were just as blind in
their acceptance of acreed. He thought of the absurdi-
ties of the early christians, who are saints now, how they
scourged* themselves; of the learned professors at early
Oxford who urged the belief that the world could last but
a few years longer. So, after all, in the light of the
world’s universal inconsistency, all creeds were consistent.
The afternoon wore on pleasantly and when the shadow
of the west hill had fallen upon the sward where the
children were playing, when a blast from the horn that
hung on the wall of the weavers’ room had echoed back
from the far-off mountain where the rocks lay in a tumble,
the Father arose and said: ‘‘ Joseph, with you I shall go
to supper, and then with me you will go to the temple,
there to receive the oath.”’
The meal was deliberate with talk and with a song
from Silvia who had repented her earlier refusal; and
when they came out, darkness had fallen upon the land.
The four Councilmen were outside, waiting for Joseph and
74. THE WIVES Of THE PROPHET.
the Father. The air was still. Out of some great and
forever dark gorge of the mountains a silence seemed to
have come, brooding its way to the village and there to
settle, even to deaden the evening chirrup of nature.
None save the candidate, the Father and the Council-
men was to be present at the ceremony. ‘The Father took
Bryce by the right hand, Councilman Trent took him by
the left, and thus, slowly walking, they conducted him to
the temple. ‘There was no idle gathering to gaze at them;
the plaza was deserted; the people were in their houses,
praying. ‘There was but a single light in the*village, a
small lamp carried by Councilman Blake. ‘They entered
not under the portico, but went through a small door
which Bryce had not before noticed. He was conducted
into a room, small and hung in black. Councilman Blake
placed the lamp upon an altar, and then every one sank
upon his knees, all save Councilman Trent who had dis-
appeared. Suddenly Bryce was startled by the tolling of
the great bell. In the days of his wildness, John Bun-
yan might have rung that bell, and gazing at it in the
hour of his sin-cursed dispair, he might have trembled
lest it should fall upon him. For a long time not a word
was spoken, but the bell continued, slowly tolling.
‘* Arise !’’? the Father commanded. ‘‘ Bring the robes.”’
Black robes were brought, and one of them was placed
upon each man, including the candidate. ‘‘ Kneel !” the
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 75
Father commanded. And when they had-obeyed, the
old man continued: ‘‘ Joseph, the bell which Council- ~
man ‘Trent is tolling, was never before tolled in this vil-
lage. Itisacere-
mony which our
fathers held in
ae . = : keeping for you.
WSS ZA Mark it well.
be Place your right
~ hand r
and upon you
heart, and your left hand upon my heart.’ Bryce
obeyed. ‘‘ Now, repeat after me: ‘Obeying the will of
76 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
the Omnipotent God of the universe, I have come to this
spot to perform the duties embodied in the holy creed
given fresh from heaven into the hands of my fathers.’’
He waited for Bryce to repeat the words, and then con-
tinued: ‘‘I donot come with any especial mark of holi-
ness upon me, therefore I am not privileged to break the
customs of the people whom God has chosen for his own.
I am an instrument to be directed, and must obey the
laws. I must hold the creed as a sacred secret, until the
proper time shall come to make it known, when the son
of my body, inspired from heaven, and directly from the
Omuipotent God, shall step forth as the Savior of man-
kind. And my own salvation shall depend upon Him as
though I were the humblest among God’s people, and I
shall meet with no more reward than if I were not by
physical ties related to Him; for when the time is come
all natural ties shall be broken, and naught but the divine
tie shall remain. And if, prompted by rebellious flesh, I
should seek to disobey the commands, which are so clearly
defined unto me, I hope to receive forgiveness as other
59/9
transgressors are forgiven. Bryce repeated the last
word and waited, but the Father had ceased to speak.
But he continued to kneel, with Bryce’s left hand pressed
hard against his heart. The bell had ceased to toll, and
Councilman Trent had entered the room and was kneel-
ing near the Father. The old man gently put Bryce’s
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. ‘EL
hand from him, looked up, and said: ‘‘I told you,
Joseph, that you had but little to learn from this oath,
and indeed it is not an oath as our people know that cere-
mony.” Another minute of silence fell upon the group,
and then the Father said: ‘‘ Kneeling thus, away from
the sight of man and within the sight of God, let us pray
for the early fulfillment of the hopes that lie so close to
our hearts, that lay so close tothe hearts of our grand-
fathers and our fathers. I know that under the rule of
nature I shall not in the flesh see the ripening of those
hopes, but my spirit shall be with the brethren on that
great day, singing praises unto the Most High God. Let
us pray.”
Deep and rich was his voice in prayer, and in the
energy of his faith, vibrant and thrilling were his words.
With bowed head he remained kneeling for a few moments
after his utterances had died in a whispered ‘‘ Amen,”
and he seemed to be breathing a prayer which was too
sacred for human ears to hear ; and Bryce, in his explor-
ing fancy, wondered if he were imploring the giver of his
religion to grant divine motherhood unto Silvia, his own
daughter.
‘* Councilman Trent,” said the old man, arising ; ‘‘ take
your lamp, and lead us forth.”
Slowly they filed out, and when Bryce felt upon his
cheek the cool breath of the night he looked up and saw
78 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
lights glimmering here and there: they had sprung up
when the bell ceased to toll. They went to the house of
the Prophet, where a company was gathered. Judith
met them at the door, and now it was she who was to sit
felt gs es ae
ot. Str
with Bryce on the settee made of hickory saplings. .
Among the company were several elderly women, and
how smooth and tranquil their lives seemed tobe. House-
hold cares, and the strain of maternity had not fretted the
light out of their eyes. One woman told of a time when
she had been a wife of the Prophet. The ruler of the
American people, President Poik, had passed through the
village while going to the mountains to hunt. She
remembered it well, for the very next year an epidemic
broke out in the village, and a large number of the chosen
people had died. ‘The Father, laughing and winking at
Bryce, asked her if she thought that the passing through
of the president had caused the epidemic, whereupon she
pretended to be greatly perplexed at him; but she was
full of laughter, and she said that the Father was never
so happy as when he found an opportunity to twist her
meaning to suit his oWn mischievous ends. Councilman
Trent told of a bear that he had killed, and it was the last
one that had been seen in that neighborhood. It wasa
cold ‘morning, away back in the thirties, the time of the
big snow. He was coming along near the Witch Hole
when he heard his dog howl, and looking about he saw a
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 79
bear crushing him. He had no gun, but he had a long
knife, and with it he killed the bear. And the Father
was now called upon to verify the story, as he had doubt-
less been called upon a hundred times before. Young
Benjamin, who had just come in, said that there were
animals that were far more dangerous than bears; that
they did not go about crushing the bones of dogs, but
crushed the hearts of men.
‘* Benjamin,’’ said the Father, ‘‘ your reading and your
meditation must have been more extensive than mine.
What sort of animals are they?”’
)
‘“‘T do not know their names,’’ the young man
answered. 3
“Then, my son, do not assert so intimate an acquaint-
ance with them.”’
The elderly women laughed and some of the girls
clapped their hands, and Benjamin sat there, looking
down.
‘‘TLet us have a song,’’ said the Father. ‘‘ Alma, sing
us that ballad of the strong man who buckled on his
armor and fought for the suffering and the weak.”’
“T would, Father, but I have forgotten some of the
words.”’
‘*But you have the words in a book. Where is it.’’
‘‘In my room, I think. I will go and see.”’
She went to her room, and for the first time Bryce
by Pa ar FAP ae sae a t 9s
Ee aie.
80 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
noticed that it was numbered ‘‘three.’’ ‘‘It isn’t in
here, ’’she said, stepping out.
‘‘T had it yesterday,’’ Judith spoke up. ‘‘ Look in
my room.’’
Bryce saw her go into room ‘‘four.’’ Judith sat beside
him. He looked at her, and their eyes met. The song-
book was brought and the old ballad was sung. ‘The
Father said that bed-time had come and the company
rose to go. ‘‘ With your permission,’’ Bryce remarked,
speaking to the old man, ‘‘I will walk home with you.”’
‘“Thank you,’’ the Father replied, taking his arm;
and together they walked away. When Bryce returned
the circular room was deserted. The door had been left
open, and the hanging lamp was slowly swinging. He
stood there for a moment, meditating. His mind went
back over the day just ended; again he heard the echoing
roar of the creek, and again he saw Judith, flushed and
beautiful, as she sat beside him on the rock,
CHAPTER VIII.
Bryce was meditatively walking about the circular
room at early morning waiting for Judith to get ready
for breakfast, when Silvia came out of room number
“‘five.” Just then Judith came and together the three
walked across the plaza to the room where breakfast was
ready to be served. Councilman Boyle, the father of
Alma, sat at the head of the table. He was tall, spare
and of severe countenance; he had no compromises to
make, looked upon a trifling foible as the promise of
a monstrous sin, a Puritan in his faith and of his creed a
doctrinaire. He asked a blessing as though he were
making a demand and snapped his ‘‘ Amen” as though
he had popped it off with a whip. He praised God not
so much for the heaven He had promised as for the hell
He had insured.
‘Brother Joseph,’’ he said, looking hard at Bryce, ‘‘you
and our two daughters are lagging this morning. The
dew is almost off. Dry grass should not find a man in
bed.’
‘““ Not unless he has slept in the hay,” Bryce replied,
attempting to turn it off with a pleasantry. But the
6 81
82 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
Councilman wanted no pleasantries. He gave Bryce a
brow-knit look and rejoined: ‘‘Let us not prattle a re-
sentment in palliation of a duty neglected.’’
The girls bowed in submission to this rebuke, and
Bryce bowed too, but he could have laughed atthis stilted
bigot. Into most remote corners does the world send
its representatives of fanaticism. The Pharisee lives on
the mountain and in the dell; he sits in the counting
house and stands in the pulpit. And his influence uncon-
sciously works in harness with the influence of the gener-
ous wanton—one gives to virtue a hard and crabbed
aspect, the other bedecks vice with a rose.
They were eating in silence when their Father appeared
at the door. How pronounced was the contrast between
him and Councilman Boyle, the contrast that lies between
broad strength and narrow weakness.
‘Brother Joseph, what are you going to do iodage |
the Father asked.
‘‘ Father, my hands are ready for any work that is ready
for them,’’ Bryce answered. Councilman Boyle nodded in
approval of this, but the Father replied: ‘“The work is
not pressing and can wait. As I told you yesterday, it is
better that you should become acquainted with your sur-
roundings. Silvia will show you about; she is strong,
albeit she is slight, and will set you asharp pace.”
‘In one quarter of the meadow where the ground is
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 83
‘
dryest the hay is ready to be cut, Councilman Boyle
remarked.
‘“Then let you and I whet our scythes and get at it,”
the Father replied.
“It is well,” said the Councilman, bowing, but Bryce
knew that it was not well with him, that he looked upon
this honeymoon idleness as he would have regarded all
idleness, a sin to be repressed. At Bryce’s right hand
Silvia sat, and leaning closer to him, she said in low
words: ‘‘Yesterday you spoke of going to the Witch
Hole. Let us goto-day.” Hereupon Judith looked up.
‘It was too far yesterday, we were told.”
And Silvia, smiling, thus replied: ‘‘ You were told
so because the day was half spent. Joseph, I will carry
our dinner in a basket.’’ She was a willful little creature.
Bryce asked if Witch Hole were a good place to fish,
and the Father answered that Councilman Trent could
tell him of great fish that had been caught there. But
he cared not to hear a fish story, and above all not caring
again to hear the story of the bear, the very last one seen
in that neighborhood, he sought no advice from Council-
man Trent. ‘They were told that the best way to go was
to follow the creek: that the distance was greater, but
that the ground was not so rough. While Bryce was
arranging his tackle, a thick canerod and a strong flax
line, Silvia prepared the luncheon and placed it in a wil-
ear n= me me
. ee eae
84. THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
low basket. Bryce asked her to let him carry it, but she
drew back and said: ‘‘ You must not rob me of all the
pleasure of going. Councilman Boyle will tell you that
where there is no work there is no enjoyment. No; you
carry the pole, and you will find it heavy enough by the
time we get there.”’ nse
They passed along’ the path which Bryce and Judith
had trod the day before. The polygamist was not now
troubled even with a fleeting self-reproach, and the bloom,
the grass, the view, that was rolled out with a tangle
here and there, smote his sense of the beautiful, the
romantic.. They came within hearing of the hollow roar
of the creek, and it was not so loud as it had been yester-
day ; they came within sight of the rock whereon Bryce
and Judith had sat. ‘They passed near the rock, and he
saw lying there the dried flower that the girl had held in
its freshness the day before, but it seemed a long time
ago. Here it was that Benjamin had skulked along the
shore, and here was where the water poured upon
the hollowrock. ‘The tall man looked down at his grace-
ful little companion. She wore a loose-fitting gown,
woven of lamb’s wool and fine cotton, dyed a bright blue
with some sort of berries, and girdled at the waist with a
white cord. He stepped from a high rock, and
turned to help her down, but she leaped past him with a
laugh.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 85
“You are a fawn,”’ he said, catching up with her.
‘““You must have been used to a strange sort of
women,’ she replied.
‘‘ Surely not accus-
tomed to gazelies,’’ he
rejoined ag‘ Ouchi<4
pace as this could not
be kept by any woman
that I knew in the
world. There manmay
cultivate strength, but
T
women, many of them
OTE
at least, strive to look
delicate. They think
that to be strong is to
berude. But they are
getting away from
thatidea. They ought
to come up here and
take a few lessons of
you.”’
The other route to
the Witch Hole might
have been less smooth,
but this was rough enough. In places there was a descent
so sudden that they had to climb down ; the creek swirled
86 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
to the right and to the left and then tumbled in a roaring |
fall. Wild was the scene, pathless ; but in that wildness,
amid those giant rocks, leaning far over and threatening
to tumble from the bluff high above and choke the stream
with their monstrous bulk, what a pulpit there was in
which to stand and shout in admiration of nature’s tragic
mood. ‘They stood upon a dangerous ledge, and with a
sense of peril, that sweetened the enchantment of the scene
below, looked far down the stream. ‘This man forgot his
villainy. He was no longer the most infamous of all
thieves, cankered with lust in the home of the innocent,
but of the sublime a soulful worshipper. His head was
uncovered —it was a revival of the good that was within
him, that he had put under his feet. In his breast an
excitement fluttered, and to the girl who stood beside
him he was grand and noble. She spoke to him, and
back to him flew the impulses that had driven him,
throbbed him to the old sailor’s retreat, to the portico of
the temple, there to stand with pictures on his arms.
‘“When we have climbed one more steep place we can
see the Witch Hole,’’ she said. ‘‘You look sad. Are
you sorry you came?”’
‘“Sorry! Why, little sweetheart, Iam charmed. Are
the bluffs high at the Witch Hole?”
‘On one side, but the ground slopes on this side and
we can sit on the grass.’’
The Witch Hole.
Page 87.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 87
The creek, fed by noisy rills, was now almost a river,
and the country on the opposite shore was as wild as the
wake of a hurricane. In one place the gray spur of a
great mountain had been cut off with square precision, like
a winter’s straw stack, trimmed by an economic farmer;
and further down a deep gorge appeared to slope back
from the stream, as though it would urge the water to
quit its age-worn course. But along the shore where
Bryce and Silvia strolled, the éarth dipped down in pleas-
ant dells. Now they stood on a grassy slope, and in front
of them was the Witch Hole. How well did this dark,
brooding pool beseem its name. The water was so blue
that it was almost black. The river, not far away, had
checked the swift current of the creek, slowly was drink-
ing it, and on the pool a hawk’s feather sailed round and
round. Dismal were the surroundings; the opposite shore
was not a shore, but a wall scarred with red, the smear of
an ancient soil, and high at the top a lone scraggy tree
stood, with it roots sucking the seams of the rock.
With many a dainty touch the girl spread the luncheon
under a post-oak tree. The place was so steep that Bryce
told her that she would better eat with one hand and hold
to him with the other to keep from falling, and then
he asked: ‘‘The name of this place is appropriate
enough, but how did they happen to call it Witch
Hole ?”’
88 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘Because a witch used to live here a long time ago,”’
she answered. ‘'And they say that instead of being a
hag she was a beautiful girl, And when she saw a man
coming she would jump into the pool and pretend to be
drowning. Men who had never heard of her would jump
in to get her out and she would drag them under and
drown them and then raise up out of the water and laugh
about it.’’
‘‘T dare say she carried on a great industry,” Bryce re-
plied. ‘‘And she was wise in having herself appointed a
beautiful girl instead of a hag. For all purposes of de-
struction a handsome girl is always more effective than
an old woman. And it is not necessary for the girl to be
a witch ; to be bewitching is quite enough.”
‘“ Joseph, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
‘*No? Well, it’s better that you don’t. Let me ask
you: Did any of the people of Bolga ever go wrong?”’
‘“Yes, but you must never mention it in the village.
A long time ago, before I was born, a girl ran away with
aman and married him. They did not hear of her for a
long time, but one cold day she came back bringing her
child with her. She said that her husband had beaten
her and had then deserted her. It was whispered about
that Councilman Boyle wanted to put her to death and
that my father wouldn’t lethim. And I believe he would
have done it, too, for he is very strict. She got on her
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 89
knees, I have heard, and begged and told them that al-
though she had married in the world, yet she had never
told anything about our religion.’’
**Ts she still living ?”’
**'No, she died when the mountain fever came, five
years ago.”’
‘‘What became of her child ?”’
‘* She is Mary, your wife.’’
‘* What!” Bryce exclaimed.
‘*Yes, and she didn’t think that she was going to be
elected, but she had no trouble whatever. Oh, Council-
man Boyle might have opposed her until he saw that
Alma, his daughter, was sure to be elected. Mary
doesn’t know about her mother’s running away—that is,
I don’t think she does, for I don’t think that any one
would be mean enough to tell her. Isn’t she modest?
And she was one of the brightest girls in the school. Oh,
did you see that fish jump up !”’
*“Yes, I did,” Bryce answered, reaching for his rod.
‘Hah, what a focl I am,’’ he said. ‘‘I have come off
without any bait. But I’ve got a fly hook and I’ll catch
a minnow. ‘The first thing, though, is to get a grass-
hopper.”
‘“Oh, let me get one,” she cried, and by the time he
had made ready with his fly-hook, she was there with the
grasshopper. He caught a minnow, a steelback, and it
pee eee a
90 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
was rather large but he decided to try it. He threw far
out into the pool and stood there expectantly waiting.
He dangled the minnow about on the surface of the water,
he walked up and down the bank, at times almost slip-
ping into the water, and finally he decided to set his rod
and wait. Silvia was sitting under the post-oak tree with
her lap full of flowers. He sat down beside her. She
looked up at him and her face was bright with happiness.
She suffered him to put his arm about her, to kiss her.
‘“ Would it make you happier to know that I love you
more than all-the others ?’’ he asked.
‘That. would not be right,’ she answered. ‘‘ You
must love us all just the same.’’
‘* But that would be quite impossible.’’
‘*Oh, not impossible when it was intended to be that
way.’’
‘*But who says that it was intended to be that way?
If it is a part of our religion it has not been made
known to me?” .
‘*Hasn’t it? Well then you may love me just a little
bit more than you do the others.’’ He gave her a quick,
playful hug, pretending to use great strength; it was
more the act of fondling a child than the passionate im-
pulse of a lover.
‘* You are the sweetest little creature I ever saw,’ he
said,
io ot
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 91
‘“And how long am I to remain sweet; until I get mad
at something ?’’
“Do you ever lose your temper? Or do you throw it
away out of mere mischief ?’’
**T don’t know whether I lose it or throw it, but I know
that it gets away sometimes. A little thing sometimes
makes me awful mad.” |
‘“Where did you pick up the school girl use of that
word awful? You giveit the light meaning that the city
woman attaches to it.”’
““DolI? ‘Then I can go back to the village and put on
airs, can’t I? Won’t that be nice? But wouldn’t Coun-
cilman Boyle givemearaking? Iwill tell you something
else if you won’t say anything about it. I don’t know
why I talk to you this way. I am not afraid of you a
bit. I thought all men were rough, simply because they
are strong, but they arenot. Butletmesee. What was
I going to tell you? Oh, yes. Why, not long ago while
one of the girls was walking along the creek where some
men must have been fishing, she found a paper covered
book and she read it and a whole lot of us read it, al-
though we knew that we ought to have shown it to some
Councilman first, but if you would ask the girls about it
now they might tell you they hadn’t read it, for it did
raise a muss. Councilman Boyle found it out and he de-
clared that not one of us should ever be a Wife of the
92 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
Prophet, but then he had to come down, for some one told
him that Alma had read it, too.’’
‘‘ What was the book about ?”’
‘‘Oh, it told of a whole lot of people, of girls that wore
the prettiest dresses that your ever did hear of and of men
that talked sweet to them. Oh, look there.’’
Bryce sprang toward the fishing-rod, and in his head-
long eagerness came near tumbling into the water. He
caught up the rod and gave a quick puli, and then the
heavy pole was bent until the tip end touched the
water. ‘‘ He’s a whale!’’ Bryce shouted. He kept the
line taut, taking care lest the rod might break. Fora
time there was a hard, throbbing pull, and then the line
became slack. Was he off? No; there he went, round
and round, coming toward the surface. Suddenly, high
out of the water he leaped, with mouth wide open.
‘* Biggest bass I ever saw !’’ Bryce cried. Down he went,
twenty, thirty feet, to the end of the line, and there he
sulked. But it would not do to let him rest, and Bryce
gave him a hard pull. Off he shot and in his fury
threatened to break the rod, and reaching the limit of
his tether, strove to snap the line. Was there ever so
determined a fighter? A sudden slack and again he
jumped clear of the stream. Down he came with a splash,
and off he darted to the end of the line.
‘“He’s gone !’’ the girl cried.
~—
i
va
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 93
eNO esde 7 istit, «Bryce replied: “but. it willbe a
wonder if I get him out. Wish to the Lord I hada reel.’’
‘* But, Joseph, you must not talk like that even if you
do want one. We shouldn’t call on the Lord to aid us to
catch a fish.”’
**T can’t help it; I call on Him to help me catch this
one. I do believe it’s the biggest bass in the world.
Now look at him !’’
He was cutting scollops here and there. He shot down
thirty feet. Bryce could feel him weaving, to get the
purchase of his broad side against the water. Now he
couldn’t be moved. Harder and harder, as hard as he
dared, Bryce pulled. Up he came with another jump,
but this time not so high. And now Bryce slowly played
him toward the shore. Closer, within a few feet of the
shore, on the gravel where the water was shallow, his
green side caught a ray from the sun. But a flounce, and
again he was thirty feet below the surface of the pool. It
all had to be gone over again. Now he was but a dead
weight ; he was tired out, almost drowned. Bryce slipped
the rod back under his arm, and was taking in the line. |
The fish was on the gravel, with but a yard of line
between him and his conqueror. Bryce was afraid to lift
him clear of the water, and he reached down to slip a
finger through his gills. He touched him. A flutter,
a flounce, and he was gone. The hook lay on the gravel.
94 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
Bryce stooa for a moment as though he were unable fully
to realize the mishap. He took out his handkerchief,
mopped his face, and without saying a word, walked up
the slope. The girl spoke to him, but he a:
could not trust himself to speak. With mee
a sick feeling he looked back at the ey?
pool.
‘(Get another minnow,’
said the girl, ‘‘and he may
bite again.”’
‘He'll do nothing of the sort. He’s ten miles from
here,”’ )
‘‘But, Joseph ; you are not angry at me about it, are
you?”
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 95
‘No, little girl,’’ he answered, trying to smile. ‘‘ But
I would have given almost anything to get that fish.
Biggest bass I ever saw. Well, get your basket, and let
us go home.”’
‘What! won’t you fish some more ?’’
‘* Never as long as I live.’’
‘Oh, you musn’t say that. I am so sorry you lost
him. Maybe there’s another one just as big.”’
‘‘There’s not another one in the world that’s just as
big. Get your basket, and let’s go.”
CHAPTER IX.
Homeward they went, back through the dells and over
the sharp cliffs—the girl bright, looking for happiness,
the man inclined toward a moody silence.
‘‘And did the losing of that fish really mean so much
to you?’’ she asked. |
‘‘Tt meant everything and will continue to mean that
much until I get over the disappointment. Of course,
looking at it from the point of real value, the fish
amounted to nothing, but the loss is sentimental and to
me it is worse than losing a case in court.”’
‘‘Losing a what ?’’ she asked.
‘‘ A case in court, a mere figure of speech, used in the
world. I wanted to hold that fish over Councilman Trent
and make him squat.”
‘‘Oh, but you can tell him how large it was.’’
‘‘ Little girl, you are too innocent even to live in Bolga.
He might smile and nod his head and declare that he be-
lieved me, but in his heart he would feel that I was a liar.
When one saint goes to another and says, ‘brother I saw
a ghost,’ the other saint may say, ‘it is well ;’ but when
one saint tells another about a bass, the other saint feels
96
oa a ‘ , 2
Ae ee a Pet
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 97
the cold chill of suspicion creeping up his back. But
there,’’ he added, ‘‘ we won’t say anything more about
it.’ He took her hand and led her along as though she
were but a child. They founda young bird fluttering on
the ground, and he climbed nearly to the top of a tall tree
and put the fledgling back into the nest from which it had
fallen.
‘You are gentle and brave,’’ she said when he reached
the ground. ‘‘’The angels smile when we are kind to a
bird.”
‘““A pretty sentiment spoken by a pretty mouth,’’ he
replied, brushing the bark off his coat. ‘‘ And the birds
—TI suppose they frown when we are cruel to angels.”’
‘*Joseph, you can say such funny things. How can
we be cruel to angels? JI want to remind you of some-
thing before we get to the village.’’
‘Can't you remind me of it now?’’
‘*Ves, I could, but there is plenty of time. You will
laugh at me when I do remind you of it. Won’t you?’”’
‘*T think not.”’
‘Ves you will, Joseph. You are laughing now.’’
‘Well, but I will hush laughing when you remind me
of the something.”’
“Oh, you are bidding for me to remind you now. Well,
I will, and it is this: You remember what you said when
we first sat down under that tree by the pool.”’
7
98 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘About holding to me to keep from falling ? ”
‘“Oh, no. Isit possible that you forget a thing so
soon? Don't you know that you said something about
loving me more than you would the others, and that I
said it would not be right ?”’
‘Ves, I remember that.’’
‘‘Well, I don’t think it would be wrong. Now just
look at you, laughing fit to kill yourself.’’
He put one arm about her, lifted her from the ground
and kissed her.
Just after they had passed the rock where Bryce and
Judith had sat, just before turning a leafy bend that
would place them within sight of the village, they were
startled by a loud yell and the rapid firing of guns not far
away. Bryce ran at the top of his speed, but Silvia kept
well up with him. They saw Councilman Boyle running
with a gun in his hand; they recognized the Father, calm
and dignified in this tumult. When Bryce drew near he
saw several men whose dress proved them to be strangers,
and when he came to the edge of the crowd that had
_gathered, he asked a brother to tell him the cause of the
commotion.
‘‘T scarcely know,’’ the brother answered. ‘‘ The first
we knew a strange man came running out of the woods
with other men shooting at him. He ran into the weav-
ing-room, and the pursuers want to go in after him, but
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 99
the Father is striving to protect him until he can find out
why they want him.”’
The Father stood with his back against the door of the
weaving-room, and near him Councilman Boyle stood
with his gun.
‘‘Joseph, you are back just in time,’’ said the Father.
“Stand you here beside me, and let us find out why this
riot has been brought upon us.’’
A few yards away stood the four men who had done
the shooting. They were rough and loud in their demand
that the door should at once be opened.
“This man has been forced to take a refuge here,’’
said the Father. ‘‘ Why do you seek him ?’’
‘“Wa’al, I don’t reckon you’ve got very much to do
with that,’ the leader of the men answered. ‘‘It’s
enough for you to know that we want him.”
‘‘Tt is not enough for me to know that,’’ the Father
replied. ‘‘If you are officers of the law, and if this man
has violated the law, then it will be enough, and the man
shall be surrendered unto you ; but we must know these
things. Who are you?’’
‘*T’m Tuck Benson, that’s whoI am ; and I live about
thirty mile from here.”’
‘The distance of the place of your abode makes no
difference,’’ said the Father. ‘‘ The question is: are you
an officer of the law?”
100 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘“No, but I’m a man that attends to my own business ;
and this here feller come a foolin’ round my business an’
a tryin’ to get me into trouble, an’ me an’ the boys here
want him, an’ we are goin’ to git him. To tell you the
whole truth he’s up here fur the gover’ment, an’ is atter
us, so to speak. He says that we ain’t got no right to
raise co'n an’ make whisky, an’ we say we have. We
fit fur the gover’ment durin’ of the war, an’ now the
gover’ ment wants to turn on us, an’ we say help yo’se’f.
That’s all thar’ is to it. ‘This here feller come up some
time ago, an’ tuck my cousin Bob Ed Seviers off sum-
mers, an’ he ain’t got back yit. He come back atter us,
this here feller did, several weeks ago, an’ we come
mighty nigh gittin’ him, but he got out of a place whar’
we had him hemmed up, but I don’t ‘low that he will git
out of this here place whar’ we’ve got him hemmed up.”’
And these were the men, this was the Tuck who
had striven to kill Bryce at early morning when he had
been aroused by what he thought was a panther, but
what indeed was worse.
‘‘Hather,’’ said Bryce, ‘‘let me say a word to thar fel-
low.”’
? Proceed; J osepiae -
‘And you are Tuck Benson, are you?’’ Bryce asked.
“That’s what they call me, an’ that’s what I don’t
deny.” |
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 101
** And you think that it is your right to kill men who
seek to enforce the law.”’
‘*T think it’s my right to kill men that try to enforce’
me.
‘In other words ycu are a murderer in order to do an
unlawful business, Now the best thing you can do is to
go on away fromhere. If you don’t you'll get hurt.’’
Who ll hurt me?”
‘‘T will.’’ Bryce reached over and took Councilman
- Boyle’s gun.
‘‘Now look here, boys,’’ said Tuck Benson, lets argy
this matter a little. You may stand here and protect this
here feller, but he’s got to come out some time and when
he do, I’ve got him. He brought three fellers with him,
and whur air they? Hedon’t know, but we do.’’
“‘Joseph,’’ said the Father, ‘‘ this matter stands in need
of compromise. We cannot give perpetual protection
to this officer; we cannot make him one of us. Mr.
Tuck Benson, you ought to know that you cannot subdue
the entire government.’’
“That’s true enough, but we can pop over men putty
fast that come after us.’’ 7
_ “Mr. Tuck Benson,’’ said the Father, paying no atten-
tion to the fellow’s last remark, ‘‘in this matter it is not
our intention to take sides against you, for the fancied
grievances of the world concern us but little; and at the
102 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
same time we cannot take sides against the government,
for that would not be right. Now suppose this man will
agree to go away and never to come back here again.
Will that satisfy you?”
‘‘But if he do agree to that he will come jest the
same,’’ Tuck Benson answered. ‘‘ An’ besides ef he don’t
come he will send somebody else. No, old man, we’ve
got him penned up now, an’ I reckon we better use
him.”
‘‘But you cannot use him while he is in our house, and
we cannot drag him out. Let me tell you and tell you
quietly, that if you shoot him here, not one of you shall
leave this place alive.”’
‘‘Oid man, I ain’t got no call to doubt what you say,”
Tuck replied. ‘‘ Well, now I tell you,” he added after
a moment of thought, ‘‘if he’ll swear not to bother us or
send any others to bother us for three months we’ll let
him off.”
‘‘ Are you saying this merely to get a chance to shoot
him when he is outside of the village, or do you mean it
in good faith?” the Father asked.
‘*T mean it in good faith.”
‘*But why do you stipulate three months ?”
‘* Because we can git away from here by that time, and
git fixed somewhar’ else. They have made it too hot for
us here,”
? = ”
me tell you a story.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 123
**Oh, do,” they cried. And he told them a story, some-
thing that he had read ; and they laughed at it, so humor-
ous a life did it unfold to them, and when the recital came
to an end they shouted for more. Now, in good humor,
they were sitting about him, expectant, eager as children.
He told them of a play he had seen, and as best he could
he described the dazzling gowns worn by that wonderful
creature, the leading lady ; and they clapped their hands
and pleaded for another one just like it. Then he told
them a distressing love story, and they put their arms
about one another and sobbed aloud in sympathy for the
eautiful girl whom a heartless father had locked up, but
they tittered in tearful gladness when the hero broke into
the strong room, seized her in his arms and triumphantly
bore her away. ‘They were like the patrons of an early
English play ; there were no absurdities, nothing was trite;
there was no questioning, no criticism, but in the sweep
of a new imagination all things were true and vivid.
At supper they hastened through with the meal, hoping
that no one, not even the Father, might visit them that
evening ; and when they had returned to the Prophet’s
house, they gathered about the story teller and begged
”)
him totellon. ‘‘ Now everybody hush,’’ one or the other
of them would say. ‘‘Hush, now, everybody ;
he’s going to begin.” He went into the Arabian Nights,
frightened them with Blue Beard and was charming them
124. THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
with Cinderella when a knock come at the outer door.
‘‘Joseph,’’ called the voice of Councilman Boyle, ‘‘it is
time that you all were in bed.” .
CHAP LHR OT:
The next morning was as fresh as though the world in
its perfection of green and purple had at the word of the
Creator first sprung into light. Under the down-pour of
the sun, sheets of water that lay on the level about the
village, threw a dazzle on the air.
At an early hour Bryce heard the cry: ‘‘ Prepare ye, for
the day of worship is come,’’ and he wondered if the
entire day were to be given over to the wearisome mum-
meries of old man Boyle’s religion. Bryce was as well
acquainted with the creed as he cared to be; he had grown
tired of it; turn it whichever way he might it presented
nothing new—the novelty was dead.
There was no cheerful talk at breakfast. Councilman
Boyle was with the Wives and the Prophet, to remind
them that it was no time for idle words; he sighed and he
groaned.
To the temple Bryce walked with Rachel, the other
Wives following close, solemn, with heads bowed. There
was not a sound in the village. Every foot-step was
noiseless, the laughter of the children was hushed. There
were no seats in the temple. Slowly the people filed in
125
DAs THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
and took their places. It was the first time that Bryce
had seen so many of the people in a body, and he looked
with interest upon them. They did not stare at him;
there was no whispering when he entered the place of
worship. The
Father and the
Councilmen oo hed Ne eg pa ee
ee —\ Www ~
stood about the
altar, and upon
seeing Bryce,
they stretched
forth their hands
toward him, and
as he approached
they made way
for him to stand
in the midst of
them.
ts AS 1 OW
your duty to preach to the chosen of the Lord,’’ the
Father said, and Bryce bowed in obedience. In front of ©
the altar was a low platform, and the Father motioned
him to stand upon it. Bryce obeyed, and slowly he
began to address them. He was accustomed to public
speaking; he had won a prize for oratory. He began
with the beauty of the morning: it was the smile of God.
rere
SHE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 127
He spoke of the light in the eyes about him; it was the
love of God. He recalled his rhetoric; he remembered
the words of a prize essay and applied them with great
effect. He took up the creed and made it appear a glori-
ous instrument handed down from heaven. ‘The people
were entranced. He drew a picture of the day when the
Saviour of mankind should stand on the top of the east
mountain—back of Him the'rising sun, in front of Him
the astonished world, about Him the people who had
waited so long for His coming. A loud shout arose, and
ere he knew it, the Father held him in his arms. Coun-
cilman Boyle stood there with tears streaming down
his face. ‘‘God bless you, Joseph,’’ the Father cried,
“‘yvou have thrilled my old heart with blazing words.’’
The Father released Bryce and then Councilman Boyle put
his arms about him. ‘‘I was going to preach to-day,’’
said he, ‘but, Joseph, I will not attempt to follow you.
You may be idle when you sit about your house or walk
about the village, but when you stand here you are
inspired.”’
Slowly they filed out. How full of affection were the
eyes that looked upon the orator; old men and old women
came forward to grasp his hand. And what effect had
this upon him? What was he thinking about? He was
wondering if they were going to have dinner at the regu-
lar time or wait through pinching hours and at evening
128 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
bolt a snack. ‘The Father, the four Councilmen and sev-
eral women went home with him. Rachel sat beside him.
‘‘T wish they would go away,’ she whispered. ‘‘ We
want you to tell us a story. ButIknowthey won’t. But
we have had enough religion for to-day. I could listen
to you, though, ever solong. How different from what
we have ever heard before.”
‘““T didn’t eat very much breakfast,’’ Bryce replied,
speaking low, “‘ and the information that we are soon to
eat something would thrill me mightily. Are you
hungry, Rachel ?”
‘‘ Famished,” she whispered.
They heard Councilman Boyle clear his throat. ‘‘My
brothers and sisters,’ said he, ‘‘ I had intended to speak a
few words to-day, but under the great light held aloft by
Joseph, I felt that my feeble candle could but cast a
shadow. , But I am willing now to give you the words
which I thought that I had been inspired to utter.”’
Bryce groaned inwardly, and the girls looked troubled,
but no one spoke. ‘‘I will deliver my few words,” the
Councilman went on, ‘‘ and then we will eat something,
for it is well that the body should be sustained.
This was encouraging, especially if his words were to
be but few. He began a discourse on the creed, and the
Father sat with his head bowed. His religion was so old
that he knew not the name of the man who had first
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 129
received it, but the time was near the creation of the
world, and the world must have been created a thousand
years ago. Here and there he introduced a suggestion
of biblical history. There had been a strong man, and
with a club he had put ten thousand of his enemies to
death ; there had been a flood, and all of the inhabitants
of the earth, save forty, had.perished. He uttered one
sentence that struck Bryce, and it was this: ‘‘In con-
clusion I will simply add one more word.” But why had
he gone out of his way to speak of adding one more word
when indeed he was adding fifty? A woman came in and
stood at the back of the Father’s chair. ‘The horn was
not blown on the Sabbath, and she had come to tell them
that dinner was ready. At last the discourse was ended.
“Joseph,” said the Councilman, ‘‘ it is not expected that
I should wave a torch as you do, but my light, though
small, is a safe one to follow. Father, let us eat with
Joseph.”
At the table the Father took the lead. Bryce fancied
that having heard so much from Councilman Boyle he
was determined to talk in self-protection. ‘‘ Joseph,’
said the Father, ‘‘it has begun to seem that you have
always lived among us, but in truth you have not been
with us quite a week. We have all been happier since
you came, expecting something from you, and that
sernion to-day proved that we did not look to you in vain.
130 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
But, mark me, we do not expect this of you every Sab-
bath. Inspiration is not of constant flame; the fire dies
down, and the coals are covered with ashes, and it blazes
not until more fuel is brought. Blow not the coals ; wait
until the fuel doth come.’’
‘“You told me that I was expected to speak,’’ Bryce
replied, ‘‘and yet when you led me to the platform I
knew not what I was going to say. Indeed, after I
began, I knew not what I was saying, and it was not
until you had seized me in your arms did I know that my
words had been well spoken. When I entered the
temple my brow was hot, and I felt a strange heaviness,
and my relief came with the pouring out of that current
of words.”
‘‘ Joseph,” said the Father, reaching over and placing
his hand on Bryce’s shoulder, ‘‘I compared your dis- -
course to fire, you compare it to water, and the compari-
sons are well drawn since your words warmed my heart
as with a fire and cooled your brow as with water. ‘There
have been many powerful discourses delivered in that
Temple. I will tell you of one. It was when I was a
young man, devout in the cause, it is true, but without
the thought of ever becoming the Father. One Sabbath
it was known that Councilman Brad, one of the oldest
men among the chosen of the Lord, was to preach: It
was a summer’s day and was cloudless after a season of
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. Besa
rain. ‘The old manstood upon the spot where you stood
to-day, and his words, too, came like a swift current.
Ah, it seemed that a mountain dam had broken; the
flood came with a roar. I stood near him, and in my
strong imagination, I could see trees borne upon the tide.
The flood ceased, the tide had run down. ‘The old man
held up his hands. ‘The Father who stood near caught
him in his arms and eased him down. He was dead.
That man was my father.”
A long silence followed. ‘‘ Father,” said Bryce, when
he felt that he could speak without apparent rudeness,
‘there is something that I desire to ask you. Did the
soldiers of either army bring trouble upon you during
the war?”
‘““We were not wholly free from annoyance, Joseph.
The country here about was divided. Some looked
toward the North and others toward the South. A draft
was issued by the South and soldiers came to force our
men into the army. We told them that we cared not for
the petty disputes that brought about a war on this earth ;
told them to put down their guns and wait for the Saviour
of mankind. ‘They laughed at us; they called us crazy,
but they said that crazy mencould shoot. And they took
a number of our young men away with them. But we
knew that they would soon return if they should get an
opportunity. And they did come back, nearly every one
132 @ THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
of them, within two weeks. Soon after this the Northern
soldiers came, and learning that we had taken no part in
bringing about the war, that some of us had been drafted
but had deserted, they decided that we must be in favor
of the Union and they therefore extended us an urgent
invitation to join them. But we told them as we had
told the others, that we cared nothing for the world and
her troubles, whereupon they called us lunatics and then
helped themselves to our fodder and corn. I was not the
Father at that time, but I went to see General Rosecrantz.
He received me kindly. I told him that his men had
robbed us of our corn and fodder; and at this he smiled.
He said that his army needed corn and fodder. I asked
him if it were expected that the chosen people of God
should furnish him with whatever he needed. Hesmiled
and said that he was inclined to believe that the chosen
people of God were in his army. But I pleaded with him
until he promised me that he would issue an order for our
protection, and he must have done so for we were troubled
no more. ’’
The afternoon was far advanced when they arose from
the table. Bryce contemplated with a shudder the likeli-
hood of returning to his house, and therein to sit and
listen to Councilman Boyle, and he asked the Father if
his walking abroad would be in ill keeping with the
solemnity of the day, whereupon the old man answered
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 33
that to walk was as worshipful as to sit, that it was the
heart and not the attitude that praised the Lord. This
decision cast a look of disappointment upon the face of
Councilman Boyle; he had thought to make the rest of
the day gloomy with another discourse. And the girls
too were disappointed, for they had hoped to hear another
story. Bryce requested Rachel to go with him to the
west mountain to see the sun set. ‘‘ We shall not be gone
long,” he took occasion to whisper to Alma, ‘‘and when
we return I will tell you a story.” She smiled upon him
and replied: ‘‘I hope that the sun will not lag, but fall
down as soon as you get to the top of the mountain.”
The distance was not great and the way was not rough.
Bryce wondered what characteristic was to be discovered
in Rachel; whether she had the jealousy of Judith, the
shyness of Mary, the frankness of Silvia, or the cutting
intelligence of Alma. ‘I don’t think that your brother
Benjamin likes me very much,’’ he said as they walked
along. He expected to see her show surprise, and to hear
, her protest against so unreasonable a supposition ; but she
did neither; she simply remarked: ‘‘ Benjamin does not
always speak his mind, but he cannot always hide it.’’
‘*Oh! then you know that he does not like me ?”’
‘Benjamin believes in our faith; he is a student, and
may one day be the Father of the chosen, but he isa
human being. We are all human beings.”’
134 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘‘Ah! And by which you mean that in obeying a com-
mand I have robbed him.”’
She looked at him. ‘‘’Then, if he does not like you,
the reason is not covered up. Did some one tell you that
he was to marry Alma ?”’
‘‘T know not whether some one told me, or whether I
divined it.’’
‘“It was easy enough to tell, and easy enough to
divine,’’ she replied. ‘‘ But let us change the subject.
Joseph, you tell love stories so well that when you were
in the world you must have been in love.”’
‘* No, I was never in love until I came to Bolga.”’
~ “But you tell of beautiful women, dressed in silk and
flashing with diamonds. And is it not natural that we
should love the-beautiful ?”’
‘“Yes, if the beautiful be good, but the beautiful is not -
always good.”’
‘“But, Joseph, no one in the world is good, and you
deing then in the world should have loved the beautiful
of the world with no thought of the good.’’ :
‘“Where did you get your philosophy, Rachel? You
girls are constantly springing something upon me
to make me think. You all possess a shrewdness
that I can’t understand. I must go to your school
and study the source of your argument. The Father
has told me that in our academy the use of words isa
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 135
feature, but the mere conning of words does not bring
thought.’ .
‘‘And still, without words we could not think,’’ she
replied.
‘‘Yes, that is true, and with words alone we cannot
toi.”
‘But you must know, Joseph, that our education does
not consist wholly of words. We read books.’’
** But what sort of books? Harmless books, books that
tell you but little of the world, of the thoughts that
engage men.’’
‘‘Oh, then, books to be productive of thought must be
harmful, must they?”’
‘‘I don’t mean that. I mean, though, that they must
contain much that is objectionable to our religion. I can
say this, however: Your school in a surprising degree
teaches the art of expression. Hither of you girls would be
a sort of an astonishment in a drawing room of the world.”
‘“You pay us acompliment. Come over this way.
There is a rocky place over there that is hard to climb.
Look back. Is not that a peaceful view?’’
‘“VYes,’’ he answered, ‘‘it lies under a holy benediction.
But let us hasten to the top. The sun will be gone
before we get there.’’
‘‘ But here is the top,’’ she said. ‘‘ Don’t you see the
slant begins there on the other side. You didn’t expect
136 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
to find a peak so sharp, did you? Now let us sit here on
this rock. Look at the sun almost under your feet. Now
look over at the village. Itis almost dark there while on
the other side of us we have the light of the universe.
Could there be anything more beautiful?”’
‘It is far beyond beauty,’’ he answered; ‘‘it is glory.
Never before have I seen the light and the darkness of
the world brought into so sharp a contrast. God, I wish
I were this mountain, forever to remain here, gazing at
the sun rise and at the sun set, wrapping the night about
me and throwing off the cloak at dawn.”’
Far away to the right and to the left there were higher
mountains, but in front of them was one continuous slope
into the fire-flood of the sun. Far down below a buzzard
sailed across their view; one moment a bird of gold, the
next a vulture, black. What was that change? A pur-
ple shadow, creeping up the mountain side. And with
this came the scream of a hawk and past them whirred a
quail. ‘The shadow sobered to a pinkish blue, and now
the pink was gone—the blue was deepening into black.
‘“It is time we were going,’’ she said. ‘‘ We were not
to stay long, you remember,”’
‘‘T know,’’ he replied, ‘‘but I could sit here always
with you.”’ ;
‘“ Why with me?”’
‘** Because I love you.’’
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. Tet.
Was she laughing at him? He thought so, and he
asked: ‘‘Is it strange that I should love you ?’’
“It is not strange that you should respect me but
-you do not know me well enough to love me, that is,
beyond that degree of affection which you are commanded
to bestow.”
‘‘ And do you love me, Rachel, out of an obedience to
command’? ’”’
“Yes, Iam a Wife of the Prophet.’’
‘“And does your love stop abruptly there?’”’
‘‘It goes no further but stops not abruptly. I shall
fight against giving you a purely human love. ‘To love
you thus might make me miserable.’’
‘But should it meet with a love just ashuman and just
as deep. What then ?’’
‘“Joseph, I dare not think about it. You are possessed
of the qualities that I should select for my natural hus-
band. You worship nature and so do I. Your face was
heavenly in the dying light; I thought that I saw the
yearning of a great and noble soul, and that moment I
wished that you might love me, forgetting all others, but
the next moment I killed that selfish thought. You must
not tell me that you love me better than you do the others.
- It will make me doubt your sincerity and then I could not
even respect you. No, Joseph, you must think of me as
you do the rest. Come, we must go now.”
138 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
She had surprised him ; her character was a revelation.
Was she the deepest thinker of them all? Had she
begged him without argument to love her, he would have
told her that he worshipped her and would have thought
but little of it, but now she had incited him to win her.
As they were going down the slope he put his arm about
her, and she gently removed it. He asked her if he had
not the right to caress her, and she laughingly answered :
‘Not when your caresses might cause me to stumble and
fale
They passed under the lantern that hung over the vil-
lage well; they stood in the shadow that lay about the
door of the Prophet’s house.
‘* Rachel, one kiss.’’
‘‘Tnside, in the light,’’ she replied, laughing.
‘‘No, here angel, where no one can see.”
‘‘ Would you have me think less of myself?”
‘‘No, but more of me. Quick, some one is coming to
open the door.” |
She thrust her hand into his. He drew her to him,
held her in his arms, kissed her. Her bonnett fell off.
He stooped to get it, a light fell upon the ground, and
when he looked up she had fled from him.
CHAPTER XII:
Nearly four months had passed; the weather was
growing cooler ; the men were gathering the flax. Dur-
ing the days when the heat was fierce Bryce had pre-
ferred to teach the school, and so marked an aptitude had
he shown that the Father and the Council decided to let
him continue with this work. But now that the days
were cooler he longed to be out. He watched the men
who had been detailed to gather the corn, and he thought
that he would like to ride on the wagon. Often he dozed
in his chair, and sometimes he was so nervous that he
could scarcely sit still. He had expended his rhetorical
force, and preaching was a dead drag to him. He was
tired of hearing Boyle talk, tired of having anyone eat at
the table with him, tired of everything. The creek no
longer was musical ; the scenery was old, the west mount-
ain was-an unsightly hill. His wives were peevish,
sometimes tearful, sometimes angry. Their jealousies
were keen of edge; they hated one another. He had
amused himself with striving to win Rachel’s love; he
had told her a thousand lies and had won her love, and
now his strife lay in his efforts to keep down an outbreak.
139
140 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
She had told him that she would pull Judith’s hair and
scratch Alma’s face; she had sworn to scald Silvia, to
break modest Mary’s head with a broom handle. She
had spitefully said to him: ‘‘ You wanted a human love; —
now what are you going to do with it?’ But she was no
worse than Alma and Judith. Once he heard Alma say :
‘‘ Who, Judith! Oh, we don’t speak now.’’ Sometimes,
though, they would all make up and have a love feast.
Rachel and Judith would walk arm in arm, but how they
did hate each other. ‘Throughout the village it was
thought that life in the Prophet’s house was as perfect as
divine guidance could make it. The girls were too proud
to carry their resentments to the dining-table, and too
religious to take them to the temple. ‘There were times
when Bryce had so strongly felt that he must be alone
that he had dismissed the school, and sneaked off into
the woods. Once he remained there in the rain, although
the day was cool, feeling that a chill was preferable to the
drowsiness of the school-room or the bickerings of the
Prophet’s house. He saw a hog sleeping alone in the
wet leaves and envied him. oe
The sight of those musty old books sickened him. He
longed for a novel of to-day and, above all, for a newspaper.
The vilest or the dullest sheet ever printed would have
been a delight to him. He was sitting in the school-room
thinking of all this when he heard some one say that a
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 141
party of men were fishing at the Witch Hole. Hewasnot
now afraid of discovery ; a dark beard almost covered his
face, and his hair was long. It was likely that the fish-
ermen were from the city, and oar
that they had brought news- ea ds
papers with them. He dared eS oie
not bring a newspaper to the ce Pte
village, but he could hide in
the woods and stuff himself with the news of the world.
And how dear had the wretched old world become to him.
He dismissed the schqol. He would now sneak away.
142 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
He set out for the nearest point of the woods. He passed
near the well. Someone spoke to him. MHe looked
around and Alma stood under the tree where he had sat
watching the illicit distillers. ‘‘ Whither are you going,
Joseph ?”’
‘‘T am simply walking.’’
“‘TLet me walk with you.”
‘* But that will make Judith angry. You know that I
belong to her to-day.’’ He was beginning to hate that
belonging to any one, that daily transfer as though he
were a chattel.
‘Oh, you are always thinking about her.’’
‘“No, but I am always thinking of keeping down a
disturbance.’’
‘You don’t love me as you did, Joseph.”
‘‘Nonsense! you know Ido. ‘The truth is Alma, I am
not well and I want to be alone.”’
‘* But if you love me why should you want to be alone?
I don’t want to be alone when I could be with you.”’
‘There, now, somebody might hear you. You know
that I love you better than I do any one, and if you love
me you will do as I beg of you. Go to the house and
don’t tell any one that I am not at the school.”’
He walked on and she did not follow him. He chose
the rough way to the Witch Hole because it was the
nearer. He rested on the top of a high knob, looked back
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 143
at the village and muttered: ‘‘I wish that place could be
blotted out.’’ He got up to pursue his course but he was
still tired and he sat down again. The air was cool but
there was-no refreshment in it; the sun was genial but
languor was initsrays. ‘The tints of all seasons was
mixed in the woods, gorgeous tapestries were spread upon
the tree-tops, rich, flame-colored rugs were hung upon
the sumac bushes, but their beauty thrilled him not. A
mountain cow rang her bell, and quickly he looked
toward her; it was a reminder of a street car. Down the
slope he went; once he slipped and grabbed a bush and
cried out with pain—a thorn bush. At the base of the
knob was a spring, and on the moss and dying ferns he
stretched himself to drink, and there upon his breast he
lay, watching the minnows. Suddenly the memory of an
b]
old song—‘‘ Just Twenty Years Ago ’’—was flashed upon
his mind; he had caught sight of a gray hair in his beard.
He found no fishermen at the Witch Hole. He stood
upon the shore and looked at the dead leaves slowly float-
ing down, and he fancied that he saw a shudder, a cold
chill, running up and down the creek, He thought that
he heard voices, and stepping nearer to the water and
looking up the stream, he saw a party of men. They
were standing on a rock fishing where the current, meet-
ing the opposing back water from the river, whirled round
and round. On the hillside a short distance away, a fire
144 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
was burning, and hovering over it was a man frying fish.
As Bryce approached the men he heard them making
remarks upon the comical peculiarity of his appearance ;
one of them said that he would like to catch so odd a
fish. Bryce spoke to them and asked them if they had
met with good luck. They had caught a few bass, enough
to eat, but not enough to pay them for their long journey.
They asked Bryce if he did not belong to that strange
village. He answered that he lived in a village not far
from there, but that it was not strange in the sight of the
Lord. ‘ That-may be,’ one of them replied, -*“ butaitws
strange to us; and we have decided to break camp to-
day and go over there to takea look at the place.’’ Bryce
asked him if he had a newspaper, and he answered by
saying that the cook might have one. Bryce went up
the slope to the place where the fire was burning. ‘The ~
cook said that he had a paper with some bacon wrapped
init. ‘‘ But you may have it,’’ he added ; and just as he’
turned to go after it, Bryce caught a glimpse of an India
ink star on the back of hishand. He was the waiter who
had told him of the old sailor. _ And he was going through
the village and the people would see that star and wonder
at it, and ask about it. He would tell them that a man
had picked it there and then what would they think ?
Benjamin would ask to see the pictures on hisarms. ‘The
chosen people had stood in awe of those images drawn by
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 145
the lightning, and had never viewed them critically.
The girls had looked at them, wondered over them, but
Benjamin had glanced at them but once. Should he tell
those men that strangers were not permitted inside the vil-
lage? Just then he heard one of them say: ‘‘ Baxter
says that they treated him kindly but wouldn’t tell them
anything about themselves.’’ The cook came with the
greasy newspaper and gave it to Bryce. The star appeared
to have grown brighter. One of the men shouted and
threw a small bass up theslope. The cook caught it and
holding it on a flat stone near the fire began to scale it.
‘Those fish are not frying fast Cenoush said Bryce,
pointing to the pan.
‘They are dancing in the grease ; don’t see how they
could fry any faster.”
““T will show you how,” Bryce replied. ““You don’t
want a blaze but a bed of coals. I will fix it for you.”
He took up the pan of bubbling grease, moved round
nearer to the cook, stumbled—overturned the grease on the
fellow’s hand. ‘The men below were startled by a loud
cry and a fury of oaths. Bryce stcod there, bowing,
wringing his hands, making apologies. He would not
have done it for the world. He would make every pos-
sible reparation, he would do the cooking. He knew that
for his awkwardness he deserved to be thrown into the
creek and he would not protest against it. It must have
10
146 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
hurt mightily. ‘‘Hurt,’’ the fellow cried, “the skin’s all
peeling off the back of my hand.”. ‘‘Go down and hold
it in the creek!’’ one of the men cried. He followed this
advice, and Bryce muttering more apologies, sauntered
away. He had forgotten his newspaper but it was safe,
cae
stuffed into his pocket.
A, He climbed to the top of
the knob whence he had
pease looked back at the vil-
AS aay lage, sat down with his
back against a rock and spread out the soiled sheet. The
paper had been printed in Nashville and was more than
a week old, but that made no difference ; it was fresh
in comparison with Bryce’s knowledge of the world. ‘The
ee te ee ee
g x
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 147
first thing his glance fell upon was an undertaker’s adver-
tisement, the picture of a hearse. ‘The name of the adver-
tiser was familiar to him and he read it over and over again.
Then he looked at another advertisement ; he was holding
back the feast of news. Now came the news. A state
treasurer had gone wrong ; the governor was criticised for
a too free use of the pardoning power ; a rousing political
meeting in the fourth ward ; a religious fanatic had slain
his own child; man calling himself Christ was arrested
for preaching on the public square ; another preacher gone
wrong ; irate husband had threatened to kill a Congress-
man; married man had run away with a sixteen-year-old
girl; war cloud in Europe; a bright American woman
had refused an introduction to the Prince of Wales; dens
of vice exposed by a New York preacher ; New Jersey
preacher arrested for bigamy ; famous actor stricken with
paresis. And what wasthis? The Rev. J. Hartley had
been called by the largest congregation in Tennessee.
The sun was going down. Bryce dared not take the
newspaper home with him ; he thrust it under a rock and
hastened to the village. Judith met him. She told him
that several strange men had just passed through the vil-
lage, and that they had asked all sorts of questions.
‘But why didn’t you let me know that you were going
for a walk ?’’ she asked. |
‘“‘T didn’t think I was going very far.”’
148 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘* But what difference did that make?”’
‘“Oh, I don’t know that it made any particular differ-
ence. ‘The truth is I wanted to be alone. I am sick and
tired.”’
‘‘But you are not sick and tired of me, are you?”
‘Of course not. Now I hope that you are not going
to take up that foolish notion that I don’t love you.”’
‘“But if you love me why should you want to slip off .
from me ?” :
‘“’There you go; same thing over and over, day after
day. You girls are old enough to act like women.”’
‘“But don’t we act like women ?’’ |
‘“Yes, that’s a fact. You do act like women, and I
wish you wouldn't.’’
‘Joseph, I declare I don’t understand you. One
moment you say that you want us to act like women, and
the next moment you acknowledge that we do act that
way and that you are sorry for it. But I want you to
speak to Rachel, that’s what I want you to do.”
‘‘ What has she been doing ?’’
‘“Called me a good-for-nothing thing.”
‘‘And what had you called her ?’’
‘‘Hadn’t opened my mouth ; I declare I hadn’t. Silvia
and I were sitting in the door and she came by and made ~
a mouth at me, and the ugliest mouth she could possibly
make, too. And I simply told her that it improved her
oe. ¢
yr THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 149
appearance, and then she called me a good-for-nothing
thing. I said that I was going to tell you, and she cried
yah! yah! yah! right in my face.’’
‘‘And that was dreadful, wasn’t it?”
“Oh, well, Joseph, if you want to take sides against
me youcan. But I didn’t think it of you.” —
“For gracious sake, don't cry right here where the
Father or any of the Councilmen might see you.”
“Tm not crying and I want you to understand that I
am not, too. I just don’t want to be imposed on and if
I tell you about it you say Iamcrying. But it makes
me so mad that I can hardly see. If you don’t'love me
tell me so and I will quit your house. There are plenty
of other places I can go, goodness knows.”’
Supper was waiting; the Father had just sat down.
‘* Joseph,”’ said the old man, ‘“several strangers appeared
in the midst of us something like an hour ago, and I
looked about for you but found you not. But they
remained a short time only, for they were idle and asked
questions that beseemed them, and we told them to go
their way. One of them carried his hand in a sling and
I asked him why, whereupon he replied that it had been
burnt with hot grease. And then I told him that unless
he quitted his idle prowling the burning which he might
_ get in the future would be something hotter ten times over
than any grease he had felt. They were disposed to laugh
150 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET, a
at us, -and I reminded them that oaken plants were
plentiful, whereupon they took the hint and straightway
left us.’’
‘‘T was over at the Witch Hole,’’ Bryce replied, ‘‘ and
saw the fellow when he burnt his hand. He made great
sport of my dress and was singing a bawdy song when
the grease in a blazing shower flew out of a pan and fell
upon him.”’
‘“Indeed!” the old man cried. ‘‘ A lesson in fire vis-
ited upon the graceless rascal. Councilman Boyle must
hear of this; it will do him good. Ah, and a strong text
it will make for you the next Sabbath. It will be the day
after to-morrow, and I wiil tell the brethren that you are
to speak upon a thrilling theme. It is well that you were
in the way at the time, for if it were a lesson to the ras-
cal, it were also an illustration to be drawn upon.”
‘(TF shall do the best Ican, Father, or rather the best
that the Lord permits me to do, but of late the coals have
had ashes upon them and no fresh fuel has been brought.
You told me not to blow the coals.”’
“'Tyue, Joseph, but let us pray for more fuel, and if our
prayers be uttered with faith, the fuel will come.”’
‘But, Father, should we not wait for inspiration in its
own good time?’’
‘‘Toseph, we are told to pray for grace, and inspiration
is a grace.”
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 151
There was no way out of it. He was to prod his brain,
jolt his jaded memory to fake another sermon. He hated
the sight of the temple, despised his own voice arising in
the rant of pretended fervor. Supper was over, and he
said that he was going out to commune, to pray for
inspiration. Judith asked if she might go with him, and
the Father commanded her to go to the house and wait
for her husband’s return. Bryce strolled toward the creek.
He passed the rock whereon he and Judith had sat; he
hated the sight of it. He went to the hollow rock where
the water poured with notes ever changing but always
deep. ‘The roar remained but the music was gone. He
wondered if he were going insane. What was that crawl-
ing through his mind? ‘‘A famous actor stricken with
paresis.’’ A sudden resolution came to him, and he felt
stronger, his mind grew clearer—he would run away.
He sat down and thought deeply. He felt that Benjamin
was keeping a close watch over him. If he should attempt
to run away and fail, the chosen people would kill him.
-At one moment he might be the God-appointed husband
‘of the Wives; at the next moment they could look upon
him as a traitor deserving of death. They would seek to
follow him, but how far? ‘They would know not which
direction to take ; they would not think of going to Nash-
ville, so far away. To go farther would be better, but he
had not money enough. With him he had not a penny,
152 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
and at home he had but little. His law books were valu-
able, but at a forced sale they would not bring more than
half their worth. But a new sadness crept into his heart
— the thought of leaving Alma. Away from the others
he felt that he could be happy with her. About her there
was a brightness, a softness that was ever pleasing to
him. But suppose he should grow weary even of her?
He could send her home. What! was he really thinking
of taking her with him? It would not do to take her to
the city ; that would be a scandal. But he could leave
her somewhere until he could dispose of his books and
other small interests ; then he could take her to some vil-
lage, far away, and there live happily with her. He
knew that she would go with him ; she had told him that
to live alone with him would be an endless bliss. But he
must wait a few days until he could be alone with her.
He thought of Judith at the house, waiting for him.
1»?
‘“ Tigress !’’ he muttered. Darkness had fallen, the stars
were out; it was time for him to return but still he sat
there. He loathed the memory of Judith’s arms, yet ~
round and soft were they. He thought of the time when
his lust was strong, when his blood leaped high to the
touch of a kiss, and he sighed like an old man nearing
decay, for his blood was cool, his passion—cinders.
The village dogs were barking. Bryce passed the
Father’s house and heard him at his evening prayer,
+> wae
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 153
heard the words: ‘‘ And O grant that Joseph may pour
out thy holy words and thrill each waiting heart.’’ He
stopped at the well to get a drink, but he turned loose
the windlass as soon as he had touched it; he was afraid
that its creak might call Judith to the door. Silently he
entered the house, stealthily he made his way to the room
in which he had sat the first night, waiting for the Father
to return. Here he stretched himself upon the floor. The
air was cool and he had no covering, but he had solitude,
and that was a blessing. He had primed himself with a
lie—he would tell Judith that he had fainted. A light
burned in her room; the other rooms were dark. He lay
there drawing a plan of escape. Heremembered that the
Father had told the revenue officer to take a horse, ride
him and turn him loose, that he would come back. ‘Two
horses could return as well asone. Alma could ride a
horse; he had heard her say that she could. They would
ride to a point far down the river and then take some sort
of a boat. He heard a door open. He peeped out and
saw Judith going toward the front door. She stood there,
looking out. Bryce felt the cold air that rushed past her,
that fluttered her night dress. ‘‘Joseph!’’ she called, and
Bryce sprang to his feet. ‘‘ Here, Judith. For gracious
sake don’t cry out that way; you'll alarm the whole
village.’’
She wheeled about and rapidly came toward him.
154 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
Bryce advanced to meet her. They halted under the
hanging lamp. She was pale and her lips were so tightly
drawn that they looked thin. ‘‘ What were you doing in
there, Joseph? ”’
‘‘T hardly know. I went into that room to get some-
thing and must have fainted.”’
Her eyes snapped. ‘‘Did you ever faint when Alma was
waiting for you?’ She laughed; it was almost a shriek.
‘You are coming to me with more of your petulant
nonsense,’’ he replied.
‘“Am I?’ she cried. She was crumpling a piece of
paper in her hand. ‘‘Ljisten to this!” she commanded,
smoothing out the paper.
‘‘ What is it?’’ he asked, moving toward her as if he
would snatch the paper. ‘‘ No you don’t, Joseph.’’ She
drew back; she was spitting at himlikeacat. ‘ Listen,
I will read it to you.’’ And then in contempt and bitter-
ness she read these lines:
TO ALMA.
Thy kiss is sweeter than the honeyed wax
That clings to thighs of clover-robbing bees;
Thy breath is purer than the gentle air
That stirs the poplar bloom at eventide.
Thy voice, oh Alma, daughter of the sun,
Is like unto a god’s creative call,
Commanding in my soul new loves to rise
Until my soul is full of souls of love.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 155
Unconscious witch’ry prompts thy feet to move;
And to thy step a thousand graces cling—
Thy laughter bursts the perfumed buds of spring.
One morn I slumbered softly toward the dawn,
And dreamed that from the diamon’d dome above
The morning and the evening stars came down.
I woke, and lo! the stars in truth were there—
Your eyes were fondly looking into mine—
Had twinkled morn-dreams through my drowsy lids,
Had lingered there to prove that dreams were true.
Oh, hallowed be the memory of that morn,
And unto death may all its sweetness last—
Upon my breast your sun-lit tresses lay—
You’d turned from bliss of night to joy of day.
She wadded the paper in her hand and stood glaring at
him. ‘‘ Well, what now?’’ he asked.
‘What zow, you brute! Isn’t this enough? You pre-
tend to love me and you write this miserable stuff to her.”
‘Tf the stuff is miserable, and I don’t dispute you
there, no harm has been done. Let me tear it.”
‘No! I won’t!’’ she cried, springing back.
‘Tf you'll just be calm a minute, Judith, I will tell you
all about it. I was writing one day and Alma was with
me. She innocently asked me to write something for her
and I idly scratched off those lines. They mean nothing.”
‘“Oh, of course not,’’ she replied scornfully. ‘‘ Noth-
ing that you do means anything. But I will make this
mean something ; I will take it to the Father.”’
156 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘Come back, Judith,” he cailed, following her to the
door. ‘‘ All right then, go and show it to him, and he
will tell you to go to bed.”’
She wheeled about and leoked as though she were ready
to spring upon him. ‘‘ He would never tell me to go to
your bed, wretch.’’
‘“And if he did,’’ Bryce replied, ‘‘I would swear to
him that I would not follow you.’’
‘“Infamous brute!’’ ‘she cried.
‘‘IT won't put up with your insults. Here, give me
that paper.”’
‘*T won't, scoundrel!’’
‘“But you will give it to me!’’ a voice cried, and
Alma stood there, pale, tremulous with rage.
““Will I?’ Judith shrieked. ‘‘WillI?”’ Shesprang
back, tore the paper into bits, threw them upon the floor, ©
stamped upon them, spat upon them.
PELUZEYe &
‘* She wolf!’’
They darted at each otner with fingers crooked and stiff-
ened, and Bryce strove to get between them. Their hands
were grabbled in each others hair ; they shrieked in their
fury. The other girls came running from their rooms.
‘‘Let them pull each other to pieces,’’ Rachel cried.
‘* Fight ; I don’t care if you kill’each other.’’
‘*Oh, shame on you!’’ Silvia exclaimed, striving to
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 157
help Bryce separate them. ‘They were like two dogs;
they had shut their eyes ; they were panting and tugging.
““Mary,’’ Bryce commanded, ‘“ go and tell the Father
and the Councilmen to come here.’’
\
i),
‘‘No!’’ Alma shrieked, try-
i | ing to shove Judith from her.
i | ‘‘Don’t do that, Mary ; for
y / | iil God’s sake don’t.’’ Bryce
\ i caught Judith about the waist,
lifted her off the floor and
carried her to the opposite side
ofthe room. He put her down; she fell upon the floor
and lay there, sobbing. Bryce bent over her, sought to
158 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
soothe her. ‘‘ Get away!” she cried, ‘‘I hate you, I hate
you all.’’
Bryce hastened to Alma and whispered: ‘‘ See if you
can quiet her. It will be better for you and me. ‘Tell
her that I wrote the lines for fun, that I told you they
meant nothing. If you love me, beg her pardon. ’’
‘* A strong test of love, Joseph.’ ’
‘‘T know, but if you love me you will.”
She went to Judith and bent over her. ‘‘I humbly beg
your pardon,” she said, speaking slowly and looking at
Bryce. ‘‘ He did not really mean those lines for me; he
said they were better intended for you. Yes, he did; I
will swear it.” She looked at Bryce. He nodded his
approval, and she continued: ‘‘I know that he does not
love me as much as he does you, but that is no fault of
his. And you know I always loved you, Judith; you
know I told them that unless you were elected a Wife of
the Prophet I did not want to serve. There, now, get up
and goto your room, won’t you? ‘The Father and the
Council know nothing of this and shall know nothing —
of it. Here, Joseph, she will go with you.”’
CHAPTER XILG
In the school-room the air was close, and drowsy was
the day. ‘The teacher was wont to look to the Sabbath
as a time of rest, that being the only day when school
was not kept, but now he thought upon it with disgust.
He was to stand in the midst of those long-haired fana-
tics and tell them that from a frying-pan the Lord had
called forth hot grease wherewith to blister a scoffer.
Troublously he mused over the scene of the night before,
and he said to himself: ‘‘ A lover or a politician is a fool
when you give him a pen.” At the breakfast-table all
had been smooth, and Boyle, who had eaten with the
Prophet and the Wives, had discovered no trace of their
disturbance.
The men were done gathering the corn, and the flax
was drying in the sun. It would soon be time to draw in
wood for the winter. Bryce reflected that the horses had
rested, and that now they could travel far in a night.
The day after the Sabbath he could be alone with Alma,
and on the night thereafter they must leave the village ;
it would not be wise to wait until the horses should be
jaded with the drawing of the wood.
159
160 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
The time came for the children to read their composi-
tions. Several of the parents were present, and an old
man stood near the doorway to catch the mumbled words
of a grandson. At last the school was dismissed and,
weary and with a headache, Bryce turned toward the
woods.
‘“T will go with you, Joseph.”’
He looked around and saw the Father approaching,
‘You are welcome, Father,” he-said, telling his groove-
worn lie. ‘‘ Indeed, I-was looking for you.”’
‘‘T thank you,’’ the old man replied, taking his arm.
‘Whither shall we walk?”
‘“Your way, Father, will be a pleasant path to me.”
The old man pressed Bryce’s arm close to him. “Ah,
Joseph, you are daily becoming more and more of a de-
light to us all, and it is with distress, my son, that I
sometimes mark your nervousness. Of late you have -
been keeping too close to your school; I told Councilman
Boyle that we would better relieve you of those confining
duties, but he has been loth to agree with me, so strong
a faith has he in your ability to teach the young. I think
that it would be well to grant you a hunting season.
Much game, I am told by Councilman ‘Trent, still
abounds in the woods. Ah, my_dear son,’’ and closer
still did he draw Bryce to him, ‘‘ our little Silvia has with
much modesty confided to her mother a glorious news of
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 161
herself. All is well, Joseph, and that was all I wished
to say. I will now leave you to walk alone, to commune,
for the brethren do expect much of you to-morrow.”
The old man turned back and Bryce walked slowly
onward, now under the trees where the yellow leaves
were falling, now down into the gulch whither the dead
leaves were drifting. He sat upon a stone with his feet
resting upon a mat of gray grass that clung to a patch of
soil. He uncovered his head that the cool air might fan
him. He thought of Solomon, the wise man, and won-
dered not that he had written of the vexation of the spirit.
Now he would not have argued that to follow the prompt-
ings of nature, no matter what those promptings might
be, was a pardonable philosophy. And how weak a pro-
tection was simple innocence. Throughout the whole
Christian world was not the education of girls a false and
dangerous training? Was it better to keep them in
ignorance of evil, to let them steal a knowlenge of that
evil? A wisdom stolen tempts a stealthy use. ‘‘ What
am I trying to think about?” he asked himself. ‘‘ What
do I know or what do I need to care about the education
of girls? In this world there is no woman to dis-
grace me. Why is it that men are so much afraid of
being humiliated by their daughters? They have no
such fear of their sons, and yet the penitentiary is full
of sons.’’
11
162 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
He heard something and looked up. Benjamin stood
near him. ‘‘ Have I disturbed you, Joseph?”’
‘No, I was not thinking, I was vaguely floundering’
about.” ‘This was so near a truth that Bryce wondered
at it, was surprised at his own voice as he uttered it.
‘Then you were not trying to eak an inspiration?”’
‘* Benjamin, your words are almost irreverent.”’
“ Pardon me, Joseph, I knew not what I was going to
say. ‘To break a colt we need one bridle; to break a
tongue, we need ten.”
‘*Sit down, Benjamin.”’
‘‘No, I will stand here. Joseph, did you ever think of
the anguish a man can endure for the sake of his religion ?”
‘‘For religion, Benjamin, the greatest anguish of this
world has been endured. Men have stood in fire praising
God.”’ | | :
‘Yes, but the fire consmmed them and they suffered
nomore. There is torture, though, that is worse than fire.
Ice on the heart is worse than fire, Joseph.”’
‘‘Yes, and a corpse shrouded and stretched stiff upon
the mind is worse than a fire, Benjamin.”
‘“What do you mean?” Benjamin cried, moving closer
to Bryce. ‘‘Who -has- a corpse on his mind ?793He
stood there with his hands pressed against his head.
‘“ Has such a vision been given you? God, man, you are
\ooking into my brain. ‘Take your eyes away.”’
ay Pd
wl a ee re
A oP . ~
he hy
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 163
Bryce looked down and he heard Benjamin’s iron shod
shoe heels striking hard against the rocks. He was alone.
Night was eoming on and dark shadows lay about him.
A wind came with the shadows and and dead leaves
whirled at his feet. Before dark he must return to the
village ; his footsteps were not steady and he was afraid
of falling.
The night had been feverish. Early at morning Bryce
heard the Cry Preparer ye: tor the day of worship is
come.’’ And he mused that once more he must torture
his weak and sickened brain until it should cry out in a
frenzied yeip. At the breakfast table old Boyle was wait-
ing for him. ‘The morning was bright and the merigolds
at the door having escaped the first frost, were blooming
afresh, but the old man’s face was severe. ‘“Joseph,’’ he
_said, when Bryce had sat down, ‘‘I hop? that the Lord
will be with you to-day.’’
‘I hope, sir,’’ Bryce replied, ‘‘that He may be with
me and you, not only to-day, but until time shall cease,
and then remain with us in eternity.’’
“Tt is well, Joseph. You speak as one who has medi-
tated, and I trust that in your sermon to-day you may
_ dwell upon the anguish of the sinners that scoff at salva-
tion. ‘Tell us not of flowers, for in a rosebud may lie hid-
den a seed of iniquity. The devil would deaden our
senses with a sweet perfume that he might easier steal
164 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
thesoul. Tell us of the thorn that pricks us onward toward
our duty. Inthe Temple I shall not attempt to preach
to day, for texts have flown me by, but I charge you and
your wives to come unto my house when your sermon is
done, for then will I unfold to you the hidden beauties of
our holy creed.’
Bryce felt that his flesh was raw, and that the old man ~
had given it a dash of powdered salt. Here was a galling
prospect: to sit within doors, and to hear that nasal-
twanged voice grate and grind on a subject that had
become sickening. He could force himself to preach his
own sermon, but again to listen to old Boyle was a strain
more than he could bear ; he fancied that he could hear
his nerves shrink ; he felt that they had been shredded .
and hung in the air about him.
‘‘Did you understand me, Joseph ?”’
‘‘T do, sir ; but I must tell you that I cannot be there.
I am not well, and to sit in a room after having gone
through the labor of my own sermon will be too severe a
tax. In your words, sir, there 1s wisdom; but a sick
man needs medicine, rather than wisdom, and unless the
Father commands otherwise I shall seek the tonic of
fresh air.”’ “4
The Wives had looked at one another, and now were
looking at Bryce. The Councilman had put down his
knife and fork, and had sathimself back from the table.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 165
‘“What, rebellion !’’ the old man said, slowly and
deeply pronouncing the words. °
‘“ No, sir; not rebellion, but protection. You have no.
authority to command me.”’
“Sir, Iam a Councilman of the chosen people of God.”’
‘“‘I grant you that, and I respect your office, but to
ge) ¥ Gj;
by y|
4
iy
oe
8 el
lecture me is not one of your duties.
I claim no privileges except those
om) which the creed has granted, but I
Ai Vy assert the individual right, while
et eZ, out of the Temple, to listen or not to
listen, to sit within doors or roam about. You have
taken it upon yourself to be my special adviser, but let
me tell you that I need no special advice.”’
“‘Rebellion!’’ muttered the old man, getting up; ‘‘rebel-
lion !” he repeated, turning toward the door. A shadow
fell upon the threshold and the Father stood there.
166 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘‘What did I hear you say, Councilman poe >? the
Father asked..
‘“Vou’ heard me say rebellion,’’ the Councilman
answered, ‘‘but I may have used the wrong word. It
was this way, Father, and when I have set it forth you
will see that I was indeed provoked: I told Joseph that
he must come to my house after preaching in the temple,
and that I would thereupon unfold the beauties of our
creed, whereupon he replied that he would not be there.
And does not that come near being rebellion?’’
‘Councilman Boyle,” said the Father, ‘‘ we all know
that to listen to you is to hear the words of true wisdom,
but Joseph is not well and therefore you should excuse
him.”’ |
‘“ Which I most heartily do,” replied Boyle, Steppilg
back and shaking hands with Bryce.
‘‘Ah, brethren,’’ the Father graciously said, ‘that is
the spirit that should prevail among the chosen of the
Lord. Let us give thanks that among us it is as much
our spirit to forgive as it is to ask forgiveness. But come,
my dear brothers, our people are going toward the tem-
ple, showing their eagerness to Bae Joseph, and it is not
right to keep them waiting.”
When Bryce stepped upon the platform aud turned
toward that array of solemn faces, he wondered what
Hartley would think could she see him now, striving to
: Se Ss
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 167
tear, to rip out of himself a tatter of words wherewith to
edify a congregation. His nervousness was plain upon
him, but his physical disturbance soon aroused a mental
emotion. Simple words came to him with new strength
in their meaning; pictures followed, pictures as bright
as the leaf rugs which the sun, the frost and fancy had
painted upon the sumac bushes, far away on the hill.
For weeks his brain had refused him light, and he had
compared it to a pile of wet straw, but now he had forced
it to burn, and he felt that he was standing in a smoke
anda glare. Striking out from him with his fists, he
thrust upon them the scoffer and the blazing pan. Loud
groans arose and amid them was a wild shout of joy, the
revenge cry of Councilman Boyle. Hesprang upon the
platform and caught Bryce in his arms, for the sermon
was brought to anend. He hugged him and shouted in
ecstasy. ‘‘The seal of glory is upon thy revenge, O
God!” he cried. ‘‘ Pour Thy blazing wrath upon the
scoffers of Thy people. Blister not only their hands, O
Lord, but burn their hearts to a dead crisp; burn their
blood and the blood of their children, born in sin and in
enmity to Thee. Let their flesh quiver in agony; let
their tongues be torn out and cast to the buzzards of
the air. Joseph, my dear brother, forgive me for the
harsh words I spoke unto you this morning, for I was
blind, and in my deafness I could not hear the inspiring
168 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
words that rumbled in your soul. Go to the woods, go
to the mountains, in the valley to seek your rest, for I
shall strive not to instruct you. You are far beyond me; ©
you are inspired of the Lord.”
The congregation was slowly filing out. The Father |
stood there with his arms folded. ‘‘ Yes, Joseph, ’ he
said, ‘‘seek your rest. Your words this day were born to
live forever. In the gorges of the mountains will they
lodge; into the rocks will they eat their way, and when
at last the pernicious of the earth shall refuse salvation,
those words like a fiery lash will scourge them into
torment.’’
Bryce walked home alone and no one followed him.
His wives were gathered in the circular room and they
whispered and looked in wonder at him when he entered.
They were stricken with remorse; they strove to be af-
fectionate toward one another.
‘‘Sit down in the midst of us, Joseph,’’ Judith re-
quested, making room for him. He sat on the settee and
there was no dissension as to who should take the place
beside him.
Rachel went swiftly to him, stood beside him and gently
putting back his hair asked if he would forgive them for
their wickedness. ‘‘Oh, we have been just as bad as we
could be,’’ she said, ‘‘ and we deserve to be punished, but
we do hope that you will forgive us. We all love you.”’
THE WIVES OF THE PP.OPHET. 169
He looked up and smiled at her. Judith saw the smile
and she said: ‘‘Rachel, you would better sit down.
Joseph is tired.’ ’
‘* But I am not leaning on him, sister.’ ’
““T know, but you might worry him.’’
‘“No I won’t. Let me alone, please.”
‘‘I’m not doing anything to you, I am sure. I just
told you not to worry Joseph when he is tired.’’
‘Oh, I know what you just told me, and I know also
that you never think of his being tired when you are near
him.”
“JT think it is time for both of you to hush,” said
Alma. ‘‘ The first thing you know you will be quarrel-
ing
‘“T am sure some people can talk without quarreling,’’
9?
°
Judith replied, and Alma rejoined: ‘‘I am sure some
people cannot.”
‘Do you mean that IJ am one of them ?’’ Judith asked.
‘“Am I indeed so vague that you have constantly to
ask me for my meaning? I have been told that my mean-
ing is nearly always clear.”’
‘Tf you are going to quarrel,’’ said Bryce, ‘‘I will go
to the woods. ‘‘I thought that you wanted forgiveness.
And is this the way you merit it ?”’
‘Please forgive us, dear Joseph,’’ Alma pleaded. ‘‘ It
was my fault again and I ask your pardon.”’
>. thn tg en see oe
4 cr
170 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘“No, Alma,” said Judith, ‘‘it was not your fault; it
was mine, and I beg of Joseph to forgive me."’
‘‘But can’t he forgive us both at once? ’’ Alma insisted.
“It won’t take him any longer and it won’t put him to
any more trouble to include me in his forgiveness.’’
‘“'That is just like you, Alma,” Judith declared.
‘You always want to be included in everything.’’
‘Are you going to hush, or must I go to the woods? ”
Bryce asked.
‘‘T am hushed,” Alma answered.
‘‘So am I,’’ said Judith.
‘* And it is time,’’ Rachel spoke up, ‘‘ for here comes
Benjamin.’
The young man came in and Silvia got up and gave
him her stool. With a bow and a smile he acknowledged
her courtesy, but he said that he preferred not to sit
down ; he had but a few moments to stay ; he simply de-
sired to speak to Joseph. ‘‘I have heard the Father say,”
he went on, ‘‘that you are not well, Joseph, that you
need rest, and I told him that I would take the school
off your hands for a few days.”
‘* Benjamin, you are exceedingly kind, and gratefully
shall I accept your offer,’’ Bryce replied. ‘‘ I think that
freedom from care, that lolling about in the woods for a
few days will bring my strength back, and I wish you
to tell the little people that I shall soon be with them
a
od Tee ll 7
v<é ay &
7 s¢
ae
js *
Hl
, ‘
‘
i
“ |=
\
4
\
=a
-
‘
, s
ee
‘
1
, i
,
©
on
+
‘
*
+
«
—
j
’
vat
LAIRD « Lee
“ Speak out, Benjamin,”
Page i745
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 171
again. Won’t you sit down. Stay and go to dinner
with us.”
‘‘No, I eat to-day with Councilman Trent. Will you
permit me to see you alone for a few moments ?’’
Bryce walked to the door with him and there they
halted. For atime Benjamin was silent ; he appeared to
be embarrassed. ‘‘Joseph,’’ he said, ‘‘in the strength
and fire of your eloquence you can do much; verily it
seems to me that you can almost move a mountain.’’ He
hesitated and looked down.
‘“What is it you would ask of me, Benjamin ?”
‘‘T am so weak of words and so fumbling, Joseph, that
I fear that my wish, no matter how I present it, will seem
rude and sudden to you. Let us walk out here.”
They walked out to the well, and Bryce stood with his
hand resting on the curbing. Benjamin looked down into
the dark water. He made several attempts to speak ; he
turned his back upon Bryce; he walked off a short dis-
tance and came back to gaze again into the well. |
‘‘ Speak out, Benjamin.”’
‘““T will try. I may have doubted at one time that you
were —I can not say that I doubted the truth of your
mission. Waita moment: At one time it seemed hard
that you should have come to claim the Wives ; that after
so many generations the fulfillment should have come
when my — my heart was at stake.” He was wiping his
172 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
face with a handkerchief. Bryce waited for him to con-
tinue. ‘‘ There are numerous mothers and grandmothers
here who’served as Wives of the Prophet, and afterward ©
they became the natural wives of loving husbands. And
to be a Wife of the Prophet was simply a postponement .
of the temporal marriage. Several of the girls who are
now your wives were engaged to be married, but your
coming forever set those engagements aside. You are
graceful and handsome, and upon seeing you they fell in
love with you, ah, and with a deeper love than it was
thought that a Wife of the Prophet would give unto him.
Among those girls, Joseph, is Alma. She was engaged
to marry me, but she was chosen. I could not object, for
I was proud of her. But the Prophet came.” He was
silent again ; he leaned far over and gazed down into the
well. ‘‘ When the temple bell rang, my heart shook,” he
continued, ‘‘and when I saw you my heart broke. I
stood there and beheld you marry her ; I heard you whis-
pering to her ; I saw her eye kindle, and I knew that she
had forgotten me.”
‘‘Wait a moment, Benjamin. What you say may all
be true, but. was it any fault of mine? When I was di-
rected to come hither, did I know that I was to break
hearts and set my feet upon the hopes and longings $:
‘* Joseph, I beg of you not to misunderstand me,” Ben-
jamin broke in. ‘‘I know that it was no fault of yours,.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 173
I know that you had not been consulted but had been di-
rected. But let thatpass. JI am now coming to my re-
quest. When I heard your sermon to-day, I felt that
nothing was beyond the influence of your words; I felt
that any request that you might make of the Council
would be granted, and therefore I beg of you to make a
request. Meet the Councilmen in the Temple, tell them
that Alma has received all the honors that could come—
I do not mean that, exactly. Tell them that Alma has
served faithfully as a Wife of the Prophet, and that in
view of the substitution of some other maiden, you will
consent to the setting aside of the ties that bind her to
you, that you will give her to me. Don’t say that it
cannot be done, Joseph; don’t say that they will: frown
upon it, for nearly all things are possible with you. It is
a bruised, a broken heart that is pleading now, and I im-
plore you not to turn from it. Took down deep into your
soul and see if something does not command you to heed
my request. I dreamed that God in His sweet mercy
would make this duty known to you, and I beg of you to
reflect, to see if He has not. “And if you think that He
has, tell the Council so.’?
Bryce knew not what tosay. It was his time to fumble
about for words, ‘‘ But Benjamin, suppose that Alma
should not feel that it is her duty to obey? Even grant-
ing that I could move the Council, what about her ?’’
174 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘* Make her feel that it is her duty ; make her tremble
under your words. _No, argue gently with her.”’
This indeed was a time for Bryce to lie and helied. He
saw that Benjamin had worked himself almost into a
frenzy and that not to humor him would be extremely
dangerous—might ruin the plans that he had laid for
Alma and himself. ‘‘ Benjamin,’’ he said, ‘‘I will do
what you ask, and I feel in my heart that my request will
be granted. But first I shall talk to Alma, for then I can
tell the Council that it is also her wish. Wait!’ Benja-
min had leaped over the well and was striving to grasp
Bryce by the hand. ‘‘ Be careful; some one might see
us. ‘To-morrow I shall be alone with Alma 5 we will
walk in the woods together, and the next day I will meet
the Council. Hush ; there comes a woman to tell us that
dinner is ready.”
oy
AT,
=
Pd
yf
CHAPTER XIV.
Harly at morning while Bryce was walking about the
village, he met Alma’s mother. She appeared happier
than usual and when she had drawn near, she said:
‘“God bless you, Joseph, you and my daughter, and God
bless a promise that is made known unto her.’’ She did
not stop, but straightway to the weaving room she went,
singing a quaint oldsong. Benjamin went into the school-
house, and Bryce saw the children slowly following him.
A little girl came along. She looked earnestly at Bryce
and told him that she was so sorry that he was not well.
‘*T shall be well within a few days,’’ he replied, ‘‘ and
then I will come back to you.” He lifted her from the
ground, kissed her and putting her down, told her to run
along, that school was takenin. He was waiting for
Alma who was at home putting her room in order. She
came smiling, singing, fresh as a hazel bud. She asked
him whither should they go, and he replied: ‘‘ Let us
climb the west mountain and sit on the top. Will that
suit you?”’
“To sit any where with you, dear, will suit me,”’
she answered.
175
176 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
They passed the school house and saw Benjamin eagerly
looking after them.
They climbed to the
spot where Bryce and
Rachel had sat, look-
ing down into the fad-
ing sun. They heard
the ringing of axes;
the men had begun to
cut the winter’s wood.
Alma spread a shawl
upon a rock and they
sat upon it.
‘* Joseph, it is heav-
enly to be alone with
you. And oh, the
time has been so long.
I wonder if it seems
so long to you?”’
‘It has been an eter-
nity, precious. Alma,
I wish that you and I
could live together,
away off somewhere;
I wish that we had
re
=
———
SS
<<
met in the world and were now of the world.’’
THE WIVES OF THE: PROPHET. ier
‘Do you really?” she asked, taking both his hands
and pressing them to her cheeks.
“Yes, in the world, of the world and alone. It is
impossible to keep up a pretense of love; it is a natural
impulse to smile upon the one we love, but when I smile
upon you there is jealousy and rage. I thought that I
could write my love and silently give it to you, but no, it
was louder than if it had been shouted from the top of
the T’emple.’’ :
‘I am so sorry that I lost those lines,’’ she said.
**And I don't see how I did. Won’t you write them
again?’’
‘‘ Ves, some time.’’ s
They sat in silence, she playing with his hand, he
wondering how he should make her, without a shock,
acquainted with his plans. One girl had run away from
the village and had come back miserable, degraded, to
beg for mercy and then to die. He was afraid bluntly to
tell her of his scheme, afraid to hear himself pronounce
- the words that should place him before her in a new and
unexpected position. He turned and looked down at the
village; he saw a woman at the well, saw a man anda
boy grinding an axe.
. “How plain everything is down there,’’ she said, fol-
lowing his eyes. ‘‘There is Benjamin standing in the
school house door.”’
12
Bete we ce
F
178 THE WIVES OF THE- PROPHET.
‘* Alma, if it were in my heart to hate a man I should
hate him.”
She looked searchingly at him. ‘‘ Why should you
hate him, Joseph ?”
‘* Because he was to be your husband, to kiss your soft
lips.” |
“Who told you that ?”
‘‘T dreamed it night after night until I knew that it
was true.”
‘“And I do not deny it, Joseph. Yes, he was to
marry me.”
‘“But did you love him ?”’
‘As love then went, I did; but as I have found love
to go, I did not. Between the love I gave him and the
love I give you, there are rivers and forests and mount-
ains, so great is the distance. He is strong and quick at
his books ; but you are noble and quick to find the beau-
tiful secrets that nature has hidden in the woods. He
could interest me, but you thrill me. My heart listened
to him, but my soul is eager to catch your words. I know
but little of the nature of the woman who lives in the
world to-day ; the life that I have read about lies far back
in the past when speech might not have meant so much,
but when it was adorned with figures. Women then pro-
fessed to love the noble and the brave. I am one of those
’
women, and you are noble and brave.’
\
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 179
“There are women of the world to-day who love the
noble and the brave,” Bryce replied, ‘‘ but their mothers
and their fathers would have them lovemoney. A woman
may marry for love, and yet she will teach her daughter
to marry for money. In the world the preachers tell us
that the love of money is the root of all evil, and the
next day they accept a call at a higher salary. In
the world we may respect a poor man, but in that
respect there is a shade of pity. It is hard to believe
that poverty is virtuous. But we are getting away
from the subject. You would have been happy with
Benjamin.”
“‘T should have been contented, but not happy, Joseph.
You brought happiness, and had you not come I should
never have known the true meaning of the word.’
**But, Alma, in that stream of happiness, which should
be so pure and clear, there are muddy streaks and the
drifting trash of jealousies.”’
‘* Yes, Joseph, for human nature lives even in this quiet
village, and who is so human as a wife?”
‘*A husband, Alma. And now, with religion put
aside, should we not love each other with a passion purely
human, strong, devoted?”
** What do you mean by putting religion aside ?”
**T mean that should we not love each other beyond
the command of our creed?”’
180 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘“ Love is born of God, Joseph, and no love is stronger
than God’s.’’
‘Have you forgotten that book you read, ‘The Age
of Reason’ ?”
‘“No; but that book did not teach me to disbelieve in
the love of God.’’
‘True; but it inveighed against creeds.’’
‘“Not against mine ; it knew nothing of my creed.”
He fell into a meditative, uneasy silence. She talked
on about the things that surrounded them, the high rocks
to the left, the view sloping down into the west. He
knew that she would go with him, that for him she would
trample upon her creed. In many respects she was
stronger than any woman he had known, and he knew
that she loved him with all her strength. In a sentence
he could tell her that she must run away with him, but
how could he do so without giving her a shock? He put
his arms about her and held her close against his breast,
told her that with her he could live the life of a woodcut-
ter in the mountains and be happy ; that without her he
could but look upon God’s heaven as a wilderness. And
fondly she kissed him, told him there was no heaven
sweeter than his smile. s
Now his time was come, and yet he could not speak the
words; he stumbled and fell short of an utterance of
them. The conditions were not favorable; the sun was
>
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 181
too bright; the ringing of the axes, far away, annoyed
him. He would wait for the coming of darkness.
They heard the dinner horn and homeward they slowly
strolled, picking red haws that grew by the way. At the
table Silvia said that after dinner Mr. Joseph must not
think that he could take himself off to the woods, that
the girls had too long been cheated of a story that was
due them. Alma protested. She said that Joseph was
tired.
‘‘No doubt he has talked all the morning,” Judith re-
plied, ‘‘ but he has not talked to us and I think that we
ought to share his vacation.”
‘* Won’t you please tell us a story,” Mary pleaded. ‘‘It
is so dull at the house when you are not there.’’
‘Ves, little one, I will tell a story,” Bryce answered.
‘“‘VYou wouldn’t agree to tell it when I asked you,”
Judith spoke up ; “‘but I suppose you will let me hear it.”’
They sat about him in the circular room and he told
them a story of love, of the devotion of a woman, her
bravery and the sacrifices she made. For the man she
loved she turned her back upon her father and her reli-
gion, and the neighbors said that misery would be her lot,
but God gave her days of happiness and sweetened her
nights with joyous dreams.
‘‘Oh, you must like that story yourself,’’ Rachel cried.
**You tell it better than you told any of the others.”’
"d
182 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘Ves, I like it,” Bryce answered, ‘‘ for it is full of the
devotion of woman, and her devotion is her glory. She
was created for sacrifice, to be the tenderest and purest
of God’s creatures, or the vilest scum of the earth.”
‘‘ But if she is tender and pure how could she be vile ?”
Mary asked. |
‘‘ Little one, the world sees to that; the world has
robbed purity of its bread and scornfully has commanded—
‘Go into the gutter and be filthy in order that you may
Catars: :
‘‘T don’t know what you mean,” said Silvia, “but I
don’t like to hear you talk that way. ‘Tell us another
story; something to make us laugh.” |
‘“’There was an echo from the world,’’ Bryce replied.
‘“Does the world want to laugh?’’ she asked. “‘If it
does it can’t be so very bad. When children laugh they
are good, but when they cry they are bad.”
‘‘Ladies,” said Bryce. laughing, ‘‘ You are too swift
forme. I can’t keep up with your little conceits.”’
He told them a story that made them laugh and they
skipped about him like children in @ frolic, and they were
teasing him for more when Benjamin looked in upon them.
‘“Joseph, may I see you a moment?” he asked.
_ Bryce went to the door and Benjamin motioned him to
come outside. Bryce followed him to the well. ‘‘ Have
you told her?’’ the young man asked.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 183
‘“‘T have lead her up to the very point. I found that I
had to be cautious, but I will tell her.’’
““'When?’’
‘To-night.’’
‘Did you ask her if she loved me?”
“Yes, and she said that she loved you devotedly.’’
‘‘God bless you, Joseph. I trembled all last night. I
thought over what I had asked you to do, and it seemed
an enormous piece of sacrilege, but where there is so deep
and true a love, Joseph, how could there be a sacrilege?
My heart and my soul yearn for her and should I be pun-
ished for that? I love my religion and I expect one day
to be the Father of the chosen, but I love Alma and who
put that love there? You say you will tell her to-night,
Joseph?”’ .
“‘Yes, we will go away in secret and I will then tell
her that she must obey my command.”
‘‘And do you believe that she will be willing even
though she loves me to leave the Prophet’s house?”
*“When I tell her that it is the will of the Council, she
will thank me with tears of joy in her eyes.’’
‘“Oh, can there be so much happiness on this earth?
Joseph, at the end of the street back of the temple there
is a house in which no one lives. Last night when I
could not sleep I got up and went to look at that house,
and I prayed that she and I might live there, and your
184 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
words make me feel that we shall. What time to-night
can you let me know, Joseph?”
‘Perhaps not at all to-night. Come to my house early
at morning. Go to your room and remain there all
night, praying. Do not move about as though you are
anxious. I don’t want the Council to suspect that you
prompted the request which I shall make.”
‘‘T will do as you direct, Joseph. I must now go back
to the school. Early to-morrow morning I shall be at
your door.”
CHAPTER XV.
When the day was done, when supper had been eaten
and the clatter of dishes was no longer heard, Bryce
strolled alone about the village. He went to the Stable,
into the room where the bridles were kept; he looked at
the horses and picked out two that he thought were the
strongest. He opened and shut the door time and again
to find out whether the hinges would creak. Sheep skins
served the purpose of saddles, and he selected two, put
them into a corner and covered them with straw.
He strode toward the Prophet’s house, he heard the
rocking of rude cradles and the songs that women were
singing to their children. He had told Alma that when
darkness should come he wanted her to go to the woods
with him, that he had something of most serious conse-
quence to say to her, dnd as he approached the house he
‘saw her standing in the door, and drawing near enough
for the light to fall upon him, he motioned her and she
came to him.
‘‘T am ready, Joseph.”’
“Don’t speak loud ; I want no one to hear us.”’
‘¢ Whither shall we go?”
185
186 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘To the beech tree near the hollow sounding rock.”
They made no noise, they met noone. ‘‘ Sit here on
the rock,’’ he said when they reached the tree. ‘‘Oh, you
are going to spread a shawl. You are considerate.’’
They heard the cry of an owl mingled with the roar of
the falling water. ‘‘ Alma, I am going to tell you some-
thing that may shock you.’’
‘Then you must be going to tell me that you do not
love me, for that alone could shock me.’’
‘“No; I am going to tell you that I worship you.”
‘‘ That warms my heart but does not shock me, Joseph.”
‘“But that worship may lead to a shock. You know
that I have many times spoken of the happiness that
would come to us if we were alone.”
‘“ Yes, Joseph, we are alone now and happiness is with
us.”’
‘Ves, we are alone for the moment but within a short
distance from here are others that have a claim upon
me; and I have grown to love you until I despise that
claim. Oh, that we were of the world, in the world and
alone. You have been taught to despise the world, but
the world belongs to God.”’
‘* But the people are not His chosen ones, Joseph.”
‘‘Some of them are. In cities, within hearing of the
_night-cry of vice, where the black shadows of sin are lying,
there is virtuesweet andsimple. But we care naught for
tu \ ei
™’*
.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 187
the world, but for each other. Alma, I want you to live
alone with me. Look,” he said rising and bending over
her, ‘‘the village is dark, the people are sinking to sleep.
Let us fly from this place, go far away and live in each
other’s love. I cannot endure it here any longer; I can
endure it no where without you. ‘The horses are waiting
for us, the sun has darkened the world that no one may
see us, and by the time the light of morning shall come we
can be faraway. Listen to me. Love is my religion
and you are mycreed. The religion of this village is
narrow and soul-stifling. Your mind is too broad to live
in it. Alma, you look for the Saviour of mankind. Hehas
come; He came nearly two thousand years ago and suffered
death on across. Your religion was the invention of a
fanatic, your fathers and your grandfathers were deceived.”
She sprang from the rock. ‘‘ What are you telling me!”
she cried.
‘That Iam a man; that I was not inspired to come
to this place ; that I love you; that I want you to be my
wife as the world knows a wife. ‘‘ Alma!” he cried,
catching at her, but she sprang back. ‘‘ Don’t touch
me !” she commanded. ‘‘ You were not inspired? And all
this has been a deception. Merciful God ! can this be true?”
“‘Alma, listen to me ; go away with me.”
‘‘T will not listen to you ; I will not go away with you.
If you have deceived God, you would deceive me. Don't
188 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
you touch me. Give me time to think. Oh, what have
you told me!” she sobbed. ‘‘ Oh, my heart is bleeding !”
She sank upon her knees, sobbing. ‘‘ What have I heard !
What have I heard !” she repeated over and over again.
He strove to lift her. ‘‘ Get away !” she shrieked, spring-
Ine tO chersiceticc.4 Gers pack. you base creature; I hate
you. To come among us—” She broke down. —
‘* Alma, it was my love that revealed all this to you.
The horses are ready : come with me. I will take you to
a city; I will show you what life is. Nothing but love
could have wrung such a confession from me. Come,
Alnia;” :
‘‘Tf you touch me I will try to kill you!” she cried.
‘* Don’t you follow me.’’
““Come back, Alma! What, you are not going back
to the village?”
‘‘T am going to my father’s house,”’ she sobbed.
‘*You shall not! Stop; I will choke you.”
She sprang away from him and was gone. He dared
not follow her. It was now a question of saving his own
life. She would soon reach the village and spread the
news of his infamy. The men would be after him like a,
pack of wolves. The moon was rising. He wheeled
about and started down the creek. |
‘*Stop !” a voice commanded. Benjamin stood in front
of him.
“Tt you touch me I will try to kill you !”’
Page 188,
oe
a
.
.
f]
ae
iw he
ae
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 189
‘* What do you want ?’’ Bryce asked.
‘Man, I don’t know what your name is, of all the
scoundrels that ever slimed the face of the earth you are
the lowest. I heard what
you said to Alma. I could
pray no longer, and I came
out here, not with the inten-
tion of watching you, for I
knew not which way you
‘went, but I heard you and
_ , - S —< ~ y
Perey Se “| ;
an 2 i yaa a tl
that is sufficient. You are going to the village with me.’
‘‘Ilam not; I am going my owh way.”’
190 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘Yes, and your way leads to hell; but first you are
going with me.”
‘“Stand aside! I don’t want to hurt you.”
Benjamin leaped forward to seize him. Bryce caught
up a stone with a sweep of his hand, and, still holding it,
struck Benjamin on the head, and senseless he fell to the
ground.
Down the creek Bryce ran, scrambling over the rocks,
plunging through the darkness, now in the black shadow
of a cliff, now in the glimmering light of the rising moon.
He stumbled and fell down a steep place, and a stone
dislodged by his scrambling, rolled down and fell upon
him. He was sure that one of his legs was broken and
he cried out in anguish, and frightened at the alarming
loudness of his voice, he listened breathlessly, expecting
to hear the tramp of hurrying feet. He got up, and limp-
ing, struggled onward, but in his eagerness he soon for-
got his lameness. Now he climbed the cliff whereon he
and Silvia had stood; the moonlight lay about him and
he hastened down the other side into the shadow. Where
the way was level, he ran; where it was rough he struggled
hard, taking dangerous chances at every jump. Here
were the dells, and across the creek was the deep gorge
that seemed to invite the stream to quit its ancient
course. Here was the Witch Hole. He halted, and
panting, stood for a moment on the brink. Again he
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 191
fancied that he saw a shudder, a cold chill running up
and down the creek. Moonlight fell upon the pool, and
he saw dead leaves floating round and round. He listened.
No sound save the far off cry of a night bird and the
whimsical bark of a fox. He wheeled about and ran
down to the river. His intention was to cross the stream,
and in the hope of finding a canoe he walked up and
down the bank, under the dark, overhanging trees. There
was no canoe. He heard thecold water rippling against a
snag. He gazed toward the opposite shore—an intangible
smear of black—dreary, frightening. But he must cross.
He found a drift log and hestrove to roll it into the water.
One end was buried, and he got down on his knees and
dug away the sand like a dog scratching after a mole.
He rolled the log into the water, pushing it out, and sprang
upon it. It turned and into the river he was soused.
He clawed at the log and it turned over and over. The
water benumbed him and his teeth chattered. His feet
touched a sand bar, and he pulled the log toward him and
got upon it, lay on his breast with his legs hanging in
the water, paddling with his hands. He must fight the
‘current and wait fora bend in the river to land him on
the opposite shore. He was below the place where the
steamboat had landed him, and he knew that the river
was crooked. The moon was above the timber and the water
was shimmering. He wondered whether he could be seen
192 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
from the shore, and-he tried to lie closer to the log. He
now was well out and he knew that the first bend to the
left would land him, but he saw no prospect of a bend.
An hour passed and he was slightly beyond the middle
of the stream. What if he should thus float until morn-
ing? They would shoot him, pick him off like a turtle.
He wondered if he had killed Benjamin. He thought
that he had felt his skull.crush. But no matter, it had
to be done; he would have dragged him back to the village
and old Boyle would have skinned him alive. Strange
that Alma should have refused to go with him. He had
not been adroit enough, he had been too sudden. How
was he to rid himself of his preposterous clothes? He
had no money, not a penny. ‘The plan had been badly
drawn, and miserably had it been executed.
Far below he saw the shore line jut out in a cape of
darkness, and he knew that he was nearing a bend in the
stream. Hard now he struggled against the current, but
the log began to turn and he had to scramble to stay on
top. Yes, it was a bend, the whirling of the current
proved it, proved also that it would be no easy place to
land—no low lying point, but a bluff of rocks. Faster
and faster the current flowed and the log seemed to be
moved by the spirit of excited flight. He heard a roar
as if a storm were struggling amid the tree tops. He saw
a wall of rock; saw the foaming water leap in the moon-
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 193
light. He strove against the current, to pull his treach-
erous craft out further into the stream. ‘The log turned,
whirled around, threw him off, sped away from him, was
gone. Over and over he was thrown, struck the rock feet
first, was tossed up, was caught again by the flood, sucked
under, spewed up; round and round he was whirled like
a chunk in a suck hole, struggling, almost exhausted.
Again he was thrown and this time he caught a point of
rock, threw his arms over it and held there. And how
sweet to him was this chancé to breathe. He.looked up,
far above into the dim lace work of the night, and he
thought to pray, but he was ashamed—ashamed to appeal
to Him who had forgiven a thief on the cross. He
thought of the criminals whom he had seen in court, ofa
wretch who had murdered an old woman, but in that
docket of crime he could find no one so little deserving of
mercy as himself.
The water was pulling at him and his arms were tired.
There was a whirlpool between him and the main rock.
Should he tempt it? He must needs do something; he
could not much longer hold his place. What was that
dark, bobbing streak between him and the bluff? He
reached forth with one hand, with difficulty holding on
with the other, and felt something. It was his log, braced
against the point of rock and the main wall. But should
he attempt to straddle it and to cross? And what might
13
194 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
he find at the end? He would make the trial. The log
danced up and down and the current almost sucked him
under it, but gradually he worked his way to the end.
The place was not wholly dark, but the circuiting moon
was leaving it in the shadow. Whatever he decided to
do must®be done at once. He felt along and founda
break in the rock, a bench, but what was above? He
could at least get out of the water. He climbed upon the
bench and feeling upward, found another breach, more
pronounced than the first one. He climbed upon the
second ledge. He walked along, crawled through a
broad seam and found another landing, higher up the
bluff. Now he was amid a struggling growth of cedars,
and he sat down torest. He wondered what time it
could be. It was not much beyond midnight and he was
many miles below the Witch Hole. He strove to picture
the scene in the village. He could see the Wives of the
Prophet, hurrying about in their excitement; he could
catch the features of Councilman Boyle, fury-stricken;
could see the Father’s sad face, could hear the mourning
over the dead body of Benjamin.
He resumed his climbing and soon was at the top of the
bluff. He rested again and then sheered off to the left,
going gradually down into the sweet gum timber of the
bottom lands. But now he was so worn that he could
scarcely walk, and coming toa place where leaves had
; THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 195
drifted, he lay down to sleep until morning. He awoke
with the sun in his eyes. There was no road and he
bore off from the river. He was faint and hungry and
wean rene
a aol
ma 1»\
i) Nat alk
Pee
Ms
sy
sas i
s¢ t
i ee. c wl ery }
Pee ALLA RN on i vf
: IE Ls «all R
iy, Re.
—— es,
his progress was slow. He
asked himself that if he
should come upon a house
would it be safe to stop and
ask for food? His appear-
ance would excite suspi-
cion, not indeed that he was a criminal but that he was
insane. He had no hat and his hair was tangied. There
was one thing that must be done; he must rid himself of
196 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
his clothes. He came to a road and he heard a saw mill,
but he dared not go near it, and he was walking along the
road, but not in the direction of the mill, when he met
an old negro. 3
‘* Good morning !”
The old man drew back. ‘‘ I doan’ know. sah, whuther
ter run er way fum you or not.”
‘“Tam not going to molest you, uncle.”
‘*T doan’ know ’bout dat, sah. Is you sho
you ain’
gwine grab me?”’
‘*T will not touch you.”
‘Well, sah, I’ll be ’bleeged ter you fur dat.”’
‘* How far am I from Campbell’s Bend ?”
‘* Doan’ know; sah ; neber wuz dar.”
That was good news. He had passed it, had come a
long distance.
‘* Well, how far is it to a town ?” ;
** Wall, sah, it ain’t so mighty fur ter Gum P’int, but
it ain’ much o’ er town w’en you gits dar ; but den I doan’
know whut you want wid er town no how. Peer like
most any place is good er nuff fur you.”
‘““Ves, for Iam a humble preacher of the gospel of the ~*
Lord.”’
‘‘Oh, is you. Den you oughter tole me fo’ I flung
dem sarcastics at you. T’ma mighty han’ ter fling dem
things, Itell you. Da waz talkin’ ’bout runnin’ me outen
Ph
‘Se
y
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 197
dis neighborm netghborhood once jest caze da feered 0’
me, I cuts ’em so wid dis yere tongue. So you is er
preacher. Wall, I has done er little 0’ dat sort 0’ bus-
ness mersef.’’
“Then I may call your brother,” said Bryce, slowly
advancing toward him.
‘“Doan know ’bout dat,’ the negro replied, drawing
back cautiously. ‘‘ Kain’t settle dat p’int till I knows
whut yo’ faif is; but ef you is one deze year Cam’llites
I’se feered 0’ you.”
‘*T am a Methodist,’’ Bryce said at a venture.
‘*Whut’s dat, er Meferdis? I’se wid you, fer I’se one
way down yere in dis yere heart,”
‘‘T am indeed glad to hear it, old man, for I have a
favor to ask of you?”
‘‘Whut is it, sah, but lemme tell you it ain’t quite time
0’ day to begin doin’ favors. But whut you want me ter
de?’
‘‘T want you to exchange coats with me. My coat is
better than yours and has twice as much cloth in it.
What do you say?”
‘*T says, sah, dat I ain’t pleased wid de cut o’ dat
gayrment, but I’1l swop on er count o’ de clof. Yere,
gimmy yo’ coat fust. I doan wan’ you ter take my coat
and run off widit. In dese days I’se sorter ’spicious
eben o’ bruders in de church. Bruder in de church tuck
198 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
er red hankerchuck fum me some time er go an’ I ain’
seed ’im since, Gimmy. Dat’s right; yere’s mine,
Thankee, sah, but doan’ ’sist on swoppin’ britches fur dar
ain’ ez much clof in ’em ez dar is in mine, an’ ef you try
to make me swop I'll hatter fight you.”’
‘“ Now can you give me something to eat?” Bryce asked.
‘What, is you got mo’ fabers ter ax? I’se got er
mouful yere in dis bucket dat I was gwine take wid me
whar I’se choppin’ wood, but I needs it merself caze my
appertite is monstus. But I kaint see er pusson suffer, so
I'll gin you haf o’ it.”’
‘*You are a gentleman ever if you are black.”
‘“Look yere, man, doan come talkin’ dat er way, caze
I’ll be fo’ced ter gib you de whole business. Nowy, sah,
yere you is, an’ I wushes you good luck; an’ good day.”
Onward Bryce went, greedily eating the old negro’s
corn bread and bacon. And in his brown jeans coat he
felt that he was one more degree removed from the village
of Bolga. But he must havea hat, and he must rid himself
of those knee breeches. He passed a cabin and saw a
negro woman washing under a tree, and on a fence a
short distance away he saw some clothes hanging. He
quickened his steps, for his mind was made up ; he would
sneak around to the fence to see if he could find a pair of
trousers. ‘The woman had not seen him. What if this
were the place where the humorous and kind-hearted old
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 199
negro lived? No matter; this was a time when gener-
osity must be placed under additional contribution. He
heard the woman singing. She straightened up to wring
out a garment and Bryce got down behind the fence. She
spread the garment on a bush and returned to her tub.
Bryce crept along the fence until he was under the clothes.
He reached up, snatched a pair of cottonade trousers and,
bending over, ran into the woods. He soon stopped run-
ning, but he walked some distance before he ventured to
try on the trousers. ‘They were too short for him, but
they were not nearly so short as his knee breeches. He
was wretched, but he had to smile at himself, at his
shrewdness.
Now it was his aim to go to some town, get shaved,
have his hair cut, return to the river far below, and on a
steamboat work his way home. A woman came along
the road, riding an old mare with a colt following. The
mare shied, the colt ran up, sniffed at Bryce, wheeled
about and. kicked at him.
‘‘He won’t hurt you,” the woman said. ‘‘ He’s just
full of his pranks; the children have spoiled him.”
He asked her how far it might be to Gum Point, and
she answered that it was not more than two miles. ‘‘ Are
you going there?’ she asked. ‘‘I left there not more
than half an hour ago, and there was considerable excite-
ment going on. Some men came into town with a lot of
200 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
hounds and were looking for some man that had got away
or something of the sort, I couldn’t exactly find out
what.”
‘You say they were looking for a man ?”’
‘‘ Yes, that’s what I understood.”
‘“Did they say what the man had done?”
‘As I say, I couldn’t exactly find out; but I gathered
that he ran away from some place up the river, I think.”
The woman rode on and Bryce turned off into the
woods. ‘They were on his track with bloodhounds, and
it was his floating down the river that had thrown them
off. He had seen dogs about the village, but had not
supposed that they were bloodhounds. He argued that
to go to Gum Point would be reckless. Would it not be
wise to return to the river, hide until night, and then float
down the stream? But would not those keen and rest-
less hounds sneak up and spring upon him in his hiding-
place? He wondered whether it would be well to sur-
render himself to the authorities, to demand the protec-
tion of the law. But he knew that the law would not
protect him against the demands of those stern men, com-
ing with justice as their plea, with vengeance as their
natural right. But he must do something. He heard a
twig snap, and he wheeled about with a cry of fright.
Then he tried to laugh at his timidity ; he had been
frightened by asquirrel. Off to the left the timber looked
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 201
thickest, the undergrowth rankest, and thither he went,
sneaking, startled at every noise. Painfully he worked his
way into the midst of a thick patch of blackberry briars,
and there he lay down; but his reason, active agent of
alarm, told him that the briars would not serve as a pro-
tection against the hounds, that they would glide through
them like a snake; and out he came to look for another
place, to push onward toward a spot where the timber
appeared thicker. He knew not that he was going in the
direction of the river; he might be going toward the
town. When in despair it is man’s nature to call upon
God, it is a final resort of the scoffer, the atheist, but
Bryce shuddered as he turned hiseyes upward. Strongly
now he believed in a revengeful God and in a personal
devil, and he fancied that if he shouid pray he could hear
the devil snicker. He remembered having said to Hart-
ley that the adage, ‘‘ virtue is its own reward,” was a
senseless phrase, but how full of meaning it now appeared.
“Tf I keep this up I shall go insane,” he mused. ‘‘ But
may I not be insane at this very moment? How do I
_know that I went to a village called Bolga? I don’t know
but that I have imagined it all, that I have been in these
woods for weeks. I once knew a man who trembled for
years lest he might be assassinated by agents sent over by
the English government. He believed that he had com-
mitted a great crime against that country; perhaps I
202 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
merely imagine that I have wronged a community called
Bolga.” But he rolled up his sleeves and gazed at the
pictures on his arms. ‘‘ But even this may be fancy.
Oh, hell! what is the use of this nonsense. I am worse
than Cain and the universe hates me. I am to be torn to
pieces by dogs and my bones are to be picked by buzzards.
But my soul, merciful Christ, what about my soul? Did
I not tell her that you had come, that you had been
crucified? But why did I tell her? Was it to acknowl-
edge a truth or to weaken her faith in her father’s creed?’’
He was so tired that he was compelled to rest and he
sat down with his back against a tree. He was deter-
mined not to think ; he would pull his thoughts to pieces
and scatter them. ‘The air hummed a drowsy tune and
he sank to sleep, and he dreamed, not of frightful things,
but of freedom, of pleasant walks amid scenes that mem-
ory, holding dear, had mellowed ; the thrill of a victory
at school came back to him, and he stirred in his sleep.
A girl whom he loved attempted to throw a ball and he
laughed at her charming awkwardness. He sprang to
his feet. A dog scampered away, ran a short distance
turned back and growled at him. He was not dreaming
now. Another dog, another, still another, five hounds
ran up, snarling, yelping. He heard a horn, he heard a
man shout. He turned and fled. ‘The hounds followed,
snapping at him, but they were cowardly and he caught
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 203
up a stick and fought them off. He thought that his
safety lay in the river ; the sun-was almost down and the
men might not see well enough to shoot him. He could
hear the horses floundering in the bushes far behind. ‘The
dogs were growing bolder and one of them snapped him
and he siezed a larger stick and fiercely turned upon them.
But they surrounded him and while he was fighting one,
another was snapping at him. They would tear him to
pieces. He seized a grape vine and climbed up amid the
thick branches of a beech tree. Here he was safe from
dogs, but the men were coming. His eyes fell upon an
open space: he saw the men gallop across it. They were
under the tree.
‘*Come down!” one of them cried. ‘‘Come down,
Toney, or we'll have to shoot you.”
What did they mean by calling him Toney? But he had
no time to ask questions; he saw a gun pointed at him.
‘““We give you credit for making a good race. Why,
hello here, Bill, this ain’t our man!” Bryce was now
holding the grape vine within full view of them. He
saw that they were not the men of Bolga. ‘‘ Gentlemen,
may I ask why you want me?”
] gad, that’s something we’ll have to ask you. We
are working a lot of convicts on a new railroad away up
the river and one of them got away, and these half hounds
simply got on the wrong track. Call ’em off, Bill. Not
204 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
worth pizen enough to kill’em. Mighty sorry, sir, that
we've put you to this trouble. Hope you ain’t bit.”
‘“No, not much, but I have been scared nearly to death.
I am a lone and wandering preacher, seeking to do good
in obscure places, but you have brought back a reminder
of the old days of persecution. But it was all a mistake
of those miserable dogs and I cannot charge you with an
evil intention. But you have caused me to lose my hat
and I have no money wherewith to buy another. It was”
an humble covering, sir, but it was the only one I had.”
‘‘Sorry. Say, Bill, give him your hat. You’ve got
another one at the stockade.”
‘‘Give him yours. You’ve another one, too.”
‘‘T’ll do it. Here you are, old man; hop down.’’
Bryce put on the hat, a wool slouch, thanked the giver,
and then asked him how far it was to Gum Point.
‘‘ About four miles. Want to go there? Well, hop up
here behind me.”’
It was village bed time when they clattered into the
town, and without having attracted much attention, Bryce
was put down near a shanty wherein a light was burning.
He asked a boy if there were a barber shop in the place,
and the boy pointed to the light in the shanty. Inside he
found a negro barber scraping the hot jowl of the village
drunkard. Bryce told the barber that he wanted a shave
and a hair-cut, but that he had no money. The negro
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 205
replied that years ago he had got out all the fun there
happened to be in the shaving and hair-cutting business,
and that now he looked upon it not as a dissipation but as
a necessity. The village drunkard got out of the chair,
looked at Bryce and said: ‘‘If you had come about the
time timothy was ripe some fellow might have mowed
your crop for you. Dinged if you don’t need it. Where
have you been ever since the sereech owls went to roost?
Hah, where have you been? -Preachin’? You look it.
Sort of a Sampson in the flock, I take it. But mebby
you oughtn’t cut off your hair; might lose your grip.
Yes, reckon you are a Sampson, and, by the way,
I’ve got some gate posts I’d like for you to move. Get
away from that door there, boys; go on to bed and be up
and at your books bright and early to-morrow. Wash,
cut the brother’s hair and scrape his hide and I’ll pay
you for it. And say, brother, can you sing? If you can,
we ll go out and have a time. I’ve got some peach
brandy that will pull a tooth. Ain’t that so, Wash?
Hah, ain’t it so? You bet it is. Don’t want any? All
right, sit down here now and Wash will fix you. Glad
to meet you; been looking for you a long time. Thought
you might get in yesterday, but you didn’t. Well, I
must go. Charge it to me, Wash.”’
The negro entertained Bryce with stories of his bene-
factor. He was the smartest lawyer in the county and
206 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
would have been in the legislature long ago had it not
been for whisky. He had saved many a man’s neck.
When the work was completed Bryce asked directions
to the nearest steamboat landing, and the negro told him
that the surest place to catch a boat was Smedley’s Bend,
about seven miles distant.
‘“By the way, have you anything to eat here?’’ Bryce
asked.
He had brought his dinner but had nothing left.
‘‘Look and see,’’ the hungry man requested. ‘The bar-
ber took down a basket, stirred up a piece of paper that
was in it, and said that there was nothing but a few
scraps. ‘‘ Well, give them tome. One who serves the
Lord in out-of-the-way places is satisfied with the scraps
that fall even from the poor man’s table. Now tell me
which road to take. Straight ahead? Thank you.
Good night.’’
CHAPTER XVI.
The east was aglow by the time Bryce reached the
landing. He found a negro asleep on a pile of corn sacks,
aroused him and asked him when a boat was likely to
pass down the river. The negro looked up, saw that his
questioner was meanly dressed and resented the disturb-
ance. (Human nature is stronger in no man than it is in
the negro. He is fond of smart sayings but they are
brighter when uttered by aman of wealth. He may
smile upon his own rags but he looks with contempt upon
the rags of a white man. ) lA
“T want to know what time a boat going down the
river is expected to land here,’’ said Bryce.
The negro told him that a boat would land there when-
ever it got ready. Bryce called him an impudent scoun-
drel and the negro got up. Hesaid that such a charge
would snatch him out of a feather bed even at the drowsi-
est time of morning and that if Bryce did not apologize
he would wallow him. Just then a white man came up
and asked to be enlightened as to the cause of the trouble.
Bryce told him, with several interruptions from the negro,
and the white man replied: ‘“That’s nothing to fight
207
208 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
about, but you oughtn’t come around here this time of
merning waking people up. We have to work; we
haven’t time to go tramping through the country.”’
‘‘T want work,’’ Bryce rejoined, ‘‘ and that’s the reason
Iam here. I want to work my way to Nashville and I
should like to know when you expect the first boat.’’
The man said that a boat would be along about noon
to take on a load of corn. Bryce asked if there were any
way by which he might earn something to eat, and the
man, pointing to a shanty not far away, answered: ‘‘Go
over there, split some wood, make a fire, and bring: a
bucket of water.’’
While he was splitting the wood the negro came up to
superintend the work. He told Bryce he was not split-
ting the wood small enough, and commanded him to goto
a spring quite a distance up the river, said that the water
there was better ; and by way of insult he added: ‘* An’
we’n you git through wid all dat you mout take my ole
shoes an’ gib ’em er lick er two wid de blackin’ bresh,
’caze I sorter wants ter shine ‘mong de ladies ter mor’.”’
‘‘T hope some time to meet you when the circumstances
may be different,” Bryce replied.
‘* Yes, sah, we’n you’se in de penetenchy, an’ I is one
o’ de bosses 0’ de job. Is dat it? Oh, you kain’ tell
whut gwine happen. You kin’ ’spect most anything fum
deze yere white tramps. Come, hurry up dar.”’
*60z aseq «Jesu JN0q, ssyo ,UryyNs AWIUITY ,,
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 209
‘““You infamous scoundrel! If I were not afraid of
having to stay here to explain I would knock you down
with this axe.”’
‘Wid my own axe at dat! I declar’, de white tramps
is a gittin so frisky deze days dat it takes er peart pusson
ter keep up wid ’em. Hurry up dar.”’
‘* Vou black spawn of the devil!”
‘‘Huh, dat’s fine; say dat er gir. I kin use dat er gin
deze niggers roun’ yere, an’ da’ll think I’se flyin’. Gimmy
suthin’ else ’bout myse’f.”’
After breakfast Bryce lay upon the corn sacks, and had
dozed off to sleep when the negro aroused him. ‘‘ De
boss say git up fum dar, an’ go an’ fetch er nuder bucket
o’ water. ‘Tain’ no hour o’ de day fur er pusson ter come
stretchin’ hisse’f roun’ yere. W’y, yander come de May
Ann now. Huh, dat lady is er head o’ time. Go on an’
fetch dat water, ur I’ll tell de cap’n not ter let you git on
boa’d.”’
The little craft had landed by the time Bryce returned
from the spring. It was the boat that had set him ashore
at Campbell’s Bend, and he was afraid that the captain
might recognize him, but he did not. Bryce asked him if
he might work his way to Nashville, and he replied: ‘‘@rab
a hold there and help load that corn.”’
Down the river he went, and he stood near the jack-
staff, and the deck hands were singing the same song
14
210 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
they had sung when he went up the stream. He was
still a long distance from home, but he felt that he was
safe. He wondered whether the brethren were searching
for him, but he knew that after their fury had spent
itself they would be cautious lest they might bring down
upon their creed an inquiry too strong and searching.
But would he be safe in Nashville? Might not their
search gradually extend to that city? They knew not
his name, knew not what business he had followed ; they
knew him not except as the husband of the Wives. He
had told them that he had come from England. ‘Then
let them search for him in England. If Alma had only
consented to go with him. By this time they could have
been safe, happy in some hidden place. She was a fool
to stay there among those bigots. Yes, he had frightened
her with his suddenness. He ought to have spent days,
weeks, months, if needs be, in converting her to a new
faith: the faith of absolute love for him. Now that his
fear was less intense, he could see her face, could hear
her laughter in the rippling of the water at the bow of the
boat.
They landed to take on more corn, and up the bank
Bry¢e was forgetfully walking when the mate struck him
with a clod: ‘‘ Hurry up there, slouch! Hurry up there,
snail! Where did we pick up such a thing us you, any-
way? Ill leave you ashore the first thing you know.”’
a eS i ST
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. Ot:
Bryce staggered under the heavy sacks. ‘‘ Hurry up
there, slouch!”’
‘Don’t you see, sir, that I am hurrying as fast as
Becanr?*
“Don’t talk back to me; T1l knock you into the river.
Hurry up there, slouch!”’
The sun went down, the deck hands sang their evening
song. The air wascool. Bryce lay down near the fur-
nace aid dropped off to sleep. A kick aroused him.
‘“Wood up here! Come, come! You are the laziest
devil I ever saw. Knock you into the river the first thing
you know!’’
Again he lay down near the furnace when the boat
swung round into the current, and this time he was per-
mitted to sleep until daylight. He sat upon a box, to eat
out of a tin pan his scrappy breakfast, and a negro, filthy
of body and foul of mouth, sat beside him. That mud-
executive, the mate, came along and told them to hurry
up, that they were going to land a short distance below
to take on a shipment of tobacco. ‘‘ And mark me,’’ he
c¢
said to Bryce, if you don’t do better than you have been
doing, I'll make you stay ashore.’’
‘*My dear sir, I have done the very best I could.”
‘*Don’t you dear sir me; I’ll knock you heels over head
into the river.”
Bryce looked at the fellow and it flashed upon his mind
DAP THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
that he remembered him. Years before, just after having
been admitted to the bar, the court appointed him to
defend that fellow against a charge of manslaughter.
Yes, and now he recalled the particulars of the case. The
fellow was a deck hand and
had killed a companion. And
it was his brutality that had
no doubt placed him in line for
oe
long toward
noon the boat
landed ata small
AN b, X 4 town ‘and a
UY DAN NN WY / is Yy 4 i
aE a i ME crowd of people,
\\4 \ /
Y MB
f ae
evidently the so-
cietyof the place,
came down to
the wharf to bid
a distinguished
, 2
looking man
adieu. : Bryce
eeeermeeeczsses——— >
. ae ~
recognized him
as he came upon the gang plank; he was a Methodist
bishop, hearty with many a “ God bless you,” stout with
many a feast, resonant of voice, conscious of the weakness
of others and of the strength of himself. A song arose as
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. _ 213
the boat was shoved off, handkerchiefs fluttered, the
bishop waved a benediction. The air above was too cut-
ting, the air below was just right, the eminent passenger
said, and for himself and his companion—a young man—
chairs were brought forward and placed near the bow.
Bryce hung about and heard the bishop and the young
man talk of the scenery, of the bracing air which God |
had sent to the bishop, of the delightful day which God
had given to the bishop, of the captain whom God had
inspired to take the bishop free of charge. It was a self-
importance born of the adoration of women, but with it
there was kindliness instead of bigotry. The old gentle-
man had seen so little of trouble that he was still in love
with the world which God had given him. ‘To him the
struggle for bread was a vague abstract; for him bread
was baked in many a house and affectionate and rever-
ential voices urged him to eat.
‘“My son,” the bishop said to his companion, ‘‘ kind-
ness rules this life. A simple kindness of heart is a wis-
dom, while viciousness, though it may be possessed by a
philosopher, is a stupid ignorance. In my minda satirist
is the most despicable creature that lives. And history
teaches us that he dies abjectedly. Addison, holding
until the last his gracious faculties, died a beautiful death;
Dean Swift rotted at the top. That part of a man which
tantalizes his fellow man, is soonest to decay. The sting
214 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
of a wasp dies last, but the sting of a man dies first and
leaves him helpless, pitiable. And I charge you to
remember these things for some day you may bea bishop.”
The young man shook his head. ‘‘ Not while Hartley —
is alive,’’ he replied.
‘“You speak wisely, my son, for Hartley is beceming
a power in this land, and deservedly so. He holds up an
example of what a man may do by study and the culti-
vation of the virtue of unselfishness.”
‘‘ Bishop, are you acquainted with Howard Bryce, the
lawyer whom Hartley talks so much about?”
‘‘T knew his father when he was state senator, and I
have held Howard on my knee, but I cannot say that I
know him now; years have passed since I have been
thrown with him. Our roads diverged. Hewas wont to
speak a sharp evil of his fellow man, I have been told.”
‘Ves, I have heard so. He is traveling in Europe —
now, I believe. Hartley says that he is one of the bright-
est and yet one of the most peculiar men he has ever
known.”’
‘‘T dare say,’’ the old gentleman replied, ‘‘ that at one
time he was material for a bishop, that is, had he been
properly directed. ‘The air is rather chilly here. Suppose
we go inside.” .
‘“What are you standing about here for?’’ the mate
shouted at Bryce. ‘‘Get a move on you! ‘There is
2 re
’ Sosy gt
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 21d
always something to doon board a boat. You'll lose your
job as soon as we get to town, I'll tell you that. Don’t
stand there looking at me! Hand me that stick of wood,
Steve; I’ll knock him overboard. You’d better move on!”
The sun was down, the stars were out; and Bryce saw
the lights of the city. Behind a wall of corn he stood,
hiding from the mate. The deck hands were singing.
And this was the end of his wild and lustful adventure.
But was it the end? He might escape the wrath of old
man Boyle, but could he escape the lash of conscience?
Yes, he could; hecould with humility sweep out Hartley's
church, humble himself at the mourner’s bench. But
would not that be a trick, and did not conscience under-
stand all trickery? He must shape some other course; —
but could he not in all sincerity beg of his conscience to
forgive him? And suppose it refused? He could kill his
conscience. But this he had already striven to do and had
failed. Was he not, however, more afraid of physical
punishment than of conscience-torture ?
They were nearing the wharf; the song of the deck
‘hands was hushed; they were ready to throw out the
plank. The mate came along andsworeat them. ‘‘Grab
hold there!’ he shouted at Bryce, and Bryce mused:
‘Why should he hate me? It must be the unconscious
resentment of ingratitude, and if he were to learn the true
cause of his brutality toward me, he would find that it
216 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
rests upon the fact that I have done him a service. The
fact that he does not remember me makes no difference;
the hatred is there though he may be ignorant of the
cause.’’
When the boat landed Bryce shouldered a sack of corn,
staggered up the levee with it, dropped it and ran away.
The mate swore after him, but no attempt was made to
bring him back.. He dodged behind a shanty, the home
of the old sailor who had picked the pictures on his arms.
He was afraid that some acquaintance might recognize
him. He remembered that hanging in his office closet
was a hunting suit, and dressed in it he could safely go to
his room. His course now lay through alleys and across
vacant places. His office was in one of the principal
streets, and an alley ran back of it. He had no key, and
how was he to let himself in? He wished that the hour
was later; his efforts to force an entrance might attract
the police. Had he been a robber he might not have
feared this, but he imagined that fate was seeking. to
expose him, and might not a policeman well serve as an
agent of perverse fate? He stole down an alley, and
stood under his own window. He wondered whether he had
fastened the catch, and hetried the sash. Yes, he had;
the sash could not be raised. He stole to the mouth of
the alley and peeped up and down the street. No police-
man was in sight. He returned to the window and,
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 217
with a stone, broke a pane of glass, quickly thrust his
arm through, slipped the catch, raised the sash, and
stepped inside. He fumbled about for a match; the tin
safe was empty. He felt over the green table, opened the
drawers ; he turned toward the closet. He stepped upon
amatch. It snapped, blazed, and he grabbed at it, but
the flame died. In the closet he found an old waistcoat,
and in one of the pockets was a match. He lighted
the gas. Fortunate that they had not shut it off. He put
on the hunting suit and sat down to rest. There was
everything undisturbed: his books covered with dust, his
papers just as had left them. He heard a church bell.
He knew the tone —the largest church in town; Hart-
ley’s church. His room was in a large building not far
away, and he was acquainted with many of the tenants,
among them a gossipping music teacher, but what differ-
ence could it nfake now if she should meet him in the hall-
way? ‘To-morrow he must begin the answering of ques-
tions about his travels in Europe. The music teacher
would want to know all about Italy; Hartley would
demand an account of his visit to Westminster Abbey,
and reporters might interview him upon the prospect of a
war on the continent. In the street he escaped recogni-
tion; he climbed the stairs, walked down the hall. A
door opened; the music teacher came out. ‘‘ Well, I
declare, if this ain’t Mr. Bryce. Why, how do you do?
218 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
I am so glad to see you. And you have been gone away
so long, haven’t you? And I understand that you didn’t
write toa single soul. It was awfully mean of you not
to let us know how you were enjoying yourself. Do
come in. Mommer is here and would like so much to
hear about your trip. Did you go to the Holy Land?
Oh, you must tell mommer all about that. And you must
have stood on the Mount of Olives. And did you see any
olives? Please do comein. Well, won’t you take break-
fast with us in the morning? Why, you know mommier.
Don’t you remember how badly she had rheumatism ?
She is nearly well; and what do you think of that? Do
you remember my bird? What do you think, a cat killed
it. I just had to sit down andcry. Oh, how you have
lost flesh. But I suppose that travel is awfully wearing.”’
At last he was in his room, with his door locked against
the prattle of that woman. How different¢rom the bright
talk of Alma, of Rachel, of either of the Wives.
Bryce lighted his long German pipe and stretched him-
self upon the sofa. There were the portraits of his mother
and his sister looking down upon him. He got up and
turned out the light, but in the darkness came pictures
that the light did not reveal. Again he lighted the gas.
He dozed off to sleep. A tap on the door aroused him.
He opened the door and Hartley stood there. He grabbed
Bryce by the shoulders and shook him. ‘‘Oh, my dear
ie -
= igh
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 219
boy,’’ he cried, ‘‘ you can’t sneak home without my find-
ing it out. There are music teachers in this neighborhood
you know. But what is the matter with you, Howard?
You don’t look well. Here, let us sit down.”
Bryce sat upon the sofa and motioned Hartley to-
take a rocking chair. ‘‘ My dear Hartley I don’t look
well for the reason that I have on this suit of clothes.
Got here all tired out and put it on at the prompting of a
senseless whim, you know. How are you getting along?
Tell me about yourself; tell me everything. Who is
dead? Who is going to die, and worse, who is married?”’
Hartley rocked himself, laughing. ‘‘ You come back
the same old Howard. I don’t remember how many
people have died since you left, I don’t know how many
are likely to die, but I know that I am married, and that
instead of being worse than death, my wife is the blessing
of my life. -But let us not enter into a discussion. ‘Tell
me about your trip. No, not now, you are too tired for
that. Wewill get down to it after awhile. I simply ran
in to see you, to assure myself that you were well.
Church was just out when I met the music teacher and she
tolel me that you had returned.”
‘‘But don’t go, Hartley. Please sit down; I don’t
want you to go. I find rest in your mere presence, an
undeserved consolation in your voice. Don’t leave
mesyet.’*
aa Sl - .
220 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. ©
‘““My dear Howard, something is troubling you.
What is it?”’
‘‘No, nothing is troubling me. I had fever in Italy
and I am not well.’’
But it wasn’t a brain fever, was it, Howard?”
‘“What the devil—excuse me, my dear Hartley, but
what put that into your head? No, it was just a malaria]
fever, and it has left we weak and irritable, but when I am
strong again I am going to make an effort to be some-
body. I shall read no more idle books; I am going to
study. From where you sit can you see that my hair is
turning gray?’’
‘“No, Howard. Is it turning gray?”’
‘Yes, come closer.”
The preacher moved his chair nearer the sofa. ‘‘ Oh,
I can see a few gray hairs, but that makes no difference.
Gray hair is no sign of weakness. Our bishop has white
hair and he is almost as strong as a lion.”’
‘* Yes, I came down on the boat with him—I mean that
I was on a steamboat excursion with him some time ago,
and I noticed then that his hair was white. Then you
don’t think that gray hairs on my head isa sign that I
am going as Swift did, rotting at the top?”
“My dear boy, you are not well yet and I think you
need a doctor.”’ .
‘“No, all I need is a little rest. But I can’t afford to
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 291
rest long. I haveno money and I have noincome. I am
tottering here on the experimental age of the present.
Why should the past be so clear and the future so dark?
Gibbon turned and the past was under his glance. He
could look back almost into the sunrise of Roman civili-
zation, but looking forward, he could not see as far as his
eye lashes.” He was silent, staring with expressionless
eye at the nothing in the air, and after a time he added:
““T owe Bentley a small debt and Iam going to sella part
‘of my library to raise money enough to pay him.”’
**He won’t demand that, Howard.”
‘*But honor demands it, Hartley. Yes, Iam going to
rest and then I shall strive to make of myself what you
desire to see me. ”
‘“You ought to marry some good woman, Howard.’’
‘No, don’t talk about marriage. My love is dead—I
mean that I don’t think I could love any one. I know all
about beauty, innocence, tenderness; I know as much
about women as anybody, and I would rather be in hell
than to marry a woman I could not love aside from—I
was going to say passion, but I'll let that pass. Ican
argue that marriage is a stupendous failure or that it isa
quiet blessing.’’
‘* Howard, to hear you talk one might take you to be
an old man.”’
‘* Yes, and having my experience one might think that
202, THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
Methuselah at the time of his death was a youngster.
And when I look at your fresh, blonde appearance, I can
but think that you are a child, that I ought: to take you
by the hand and lead you along, and yet in truth Iam
eee
\
| | ili ie at fi
Si a
Sse
_——
i
UY z y 4 ae G i y £ " yi) j
er Nn
GZ, ; Hp i)
a gal i)
‘ 9 Yy 4 | / }
Ui
* x.
: i
Iv WW yc
HW
not even eee to follow you. ButIam going to fol-
low you.’ ; :
The preacher, slowly rocking himself, smiled upon. his
friend and Bryce, looking at him, saw the light of an
unselfish heart. ‘‘ Howard, gratitude, and not egotism,
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. aba
prompts me to say that I hopeso. But you will not be
following me, but walking with me—for I shall walk
but slowly — you will pass me. I once heard a man say
that he was so happy that he was afraid that some evil
might come upon him. And I thought that he must
have done some evil, that he felt that his happiness was
stolen, that sooner or later it would be demanded of him.
But don’t you want to go to bed? You must be tired.”’
“No, don’t go away. Move your chair just a little
closer. That’s it.’”’ He stretched himself upon the sofa,
took Hartley’s hand and held it. He lay there with his
eyes closed and, now that the light of his countenance
was gone, the preacher marveled at the haggardness of
his face. What could be the cause of his trouble? Why
had he gone to Europe, and why should he return so
wretched of body, so disturbed in mind? He thought of
the time, years ago, when Bryce had helped him, when
his nimble wit at play had thrown light upon the
darkness of a dead tongue. Then he had felt proud of
him, now he could but look upon him with pity.
Bryce fell asleep, still holding the preacher’s hand. His
grasp was feverish, and when Hartley gently released
himself, the sleeping man’s fingers nervously clutched at
him: He spread a rug over him and softly he tip-toed
to the door. He looked back, gazed a moment, sadly
shook his head, stepped out, and closed the door.
ie” en eos th Sage, Cut al
pete Sap he *
CHAPTER XVIFE
There passed many a weary day and threatening night; ~
a month dragged by and still Bryce was not able to leave
his room. ‘The leading physician of the city had been in
constant attendance upon him and had held consultations
with other doctors ; and the patient’s condition had been
pronounced hopeless ; once they had thought that he was
dead. In his delriuim he lived through an age of anguish,
raved until it was feared he would die in a convulsion.
At night, people passing along the street heard his fright-
ening cries. _When reason returned, feebly feeling
its way back to him, he recognized Hartley, and
sniffed the scent of flowers that had been placed on a table
near him. And instantly he thought of something that
old man Boyle had said: ‘‘The devil deadens our senses
with a sweet perfume that he may better steal the soul.”’
A fear that in his delerium he might have raved over
Bolga seized upon him and shook him until again he was
almost unconscious, but when he asked a question, Hart-
ley held up his head and said: ‘‘ Not a word, my dear
boy. You are all right now but you must nottalk. Just
be patient a little longer.”’
224
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 225
Slowly he regained his strength, but the days were so
weary and the nights were almost endless; but to learn
that his wild words had meant nothing was a great relief
to him. One day when he was able to walk about the
room, Hartley brought the bishop to see him. ‘‘ Do you
think, sir, that I may rot at the top?”’ Bryce asked be-
fore he knew what he was saying. ‘The bishop looked
in astonishment at him.
‘““Why, my dear young man, what put that idea into
your head ?’’
**T don’t know, sir, unless it was that I dreamed of
you saying that Swift rotted at the top.”
“‘It is not a very elegant expression,’’ the bishop re-
| plied, laughing, ‘‘but I have said so. Strange, though,
that you should have dreamed it. But there is no ac-
counting for our thoughts at waking hours, then why
should we marvel at the vagaries of a dream? Do you
remember sitting on my knee when you were a boy?”
*“Yes ; you wore a large silver watch that shut with a
loud snap, and I remember ,hearing you say, ‘what can
aman give in exchange for his soul?’ and I wondered
if men were going about trying to exchange something
for their souls.’’
‘Ves, you do recall me. Your sister was older than
you. lJIremember her ; no one could forget her face. But
there, I am sorry I spoke of her. Well, you are getting
TS OE
226 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
along nicely, Brother Hartley tells me. Yes, and it will
not be long until you will be about again. And when
you are yourself, when you can reason and weigh evi-
dence, why not think about our church? Pardon me,
but you have lacked proper direction, and nothing so
directs a man as the true church of the living God.”’
Bryce got out of his rocking chair and walked slowly up
and down the room. ‘‘ Bishop, you have faith. Where
did you get it?”’
‘* It was given to me.”
‘‘ Ah, but why hasn’t it been given also to me?”’
‘“My son, God has giver you the evidence and you
accept it not.”’
‘‘No, that is what I beg for; I want evidence, but there
is, none.”
‘¢ Where is the bible?”
‘‘Oh, that’s what they all say. Your faith rests upon
the bible; what does the bible rest upon? Faith is well
enough, but simple faith is the reverse of reason; faith
bats its eyes like an owl in the,glare of alight. But then,
no good can come from such an argument. I will say
this to you, however: I will make an effort to come into
your church. I should like to be a useful man, and if I
am a free agent, why can I not become one? But here is
something I can’t understand: Within a man thereis a
constant see-sawing of good and bad intentions. Why
~ 3
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. O07
should that be? Ifthe bad within me is stronger than the
good, can I help it? If the good is unable to overthrow
the bad, is it my fault?’’
“‘T could preach a long sermon on the text you give
me,’’ said the bishop, ‘‘ but I fear that it would be use-
less. You have given us your word that you are going
to try to come into our church. - That is all we ask of
you; we will pray for the rest. But come, we have
brought a carriage and are going to take you driving.”’
Through Bryce’s mind there ran aconstant surmise; day
and night, awakeor sleeping, he wondered whether the men
of Bolga were searching for him. And what would they
do if they should find him? Upon the ground of fatalism
he rested his defense. What he had done, had to be done.
This was well enough, but what should be the end? Oute
day he went to the steamboat landing, when the May
Ann had come down, and asked the captain if he had
lately seen any of those peculiar people, the Bolgaites.
The captain answered that he had occasionally seen some
of those cranks but that he had paid no attention to them.
Bryce asked him if any of them had ever taken passage
on his boat, and he said that they had not. Bryce saw
the mate but the fellow did not recognize him; it was
evident that he, like the majority of the human family,
estimated a man by his garb rather than by his face, that
to change a man’s clothes was to make a stranger of him.
228 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
A political campaign opened with the coming of spring.
Bryce had regained his strength, and was resolved to take
the ‘‘stump’’ for his party. He made aspeech at a bar-
becue, and so completely did he catch the crowd that
when the state convention met he was selected as a presi-
dential elector. He traveled about, making speeches, but
went not into the mountain district. He was termed an
eagle orator, the man with a silver tongue. With one
bound he had sprung past the plodders and was leaving
them far behind., He had known that he could distance
them, and had simply waited for the time to come. Hart-
ley was delighted. One day he was on a train with Bryce,
going toward a town in the lowlands of the state.
‘Howard, you are now making the people see your
splendid talents. You will be governor after a while ;
you will be sent to congress, to the senate. Perhaps after
all you were wise when you were resolved to wait. For
so young a man to shove himself forward would not have
looked right. But I was so eager to see you advance. I
was talking to Bentley yesterday, and he said that you
had made one of the brightest and most telling speeches
he had ever heard. ‘The bishop heard you day before
yesterday, and he told me that you were unquestionably
a great man; that you would make a broad mark in poli-
tics, but that you should be in the church preaching the
gospel.”’
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 229
‘“The bishop is a big man,’’ Bryce replied, ‘‘ but he is
not big enough to get away from his shop. I heard him
preach not long ago, and he strove to reason with his
people. That is a mistake. With reason you catch a
reasoner here and there, but the people are caught by
entertainment, by word-flights, by jolts, by unexpected
utterances. Reason with the average man and you lead
him to surmise what you are going to say, and then he
loses respect for your intelligence. But pour out words
upon him, dazzle him with pictures, and he thinks that
he sees an inspiration. ” |
Bryce had no money when the campaign closed, but
clientscameto him. His flatterers came back, and women
smiled upon him. One day the bishop visited him at his
office. He called him Howard. ‘‘I have seen you in
church a number of times,’’ said he, ‘‘and I have won-
dered if you were earnestly trying to get into the fold,
striving to make up your mind. Is it true?”
‘‘T have thought something about it, but my mind is
not made up.” ‘The bishop moved in his chair as though
he were impatient. ‘‘Itis your fault,’ he said. ‘‘I saw
you in the congregation, and I reasoned especially for
you ; I presented truths which you cannot deny ; and now
that you have made your influence so deeply felt, more
than ever is it your duty to become one of us, to lead
others by your example. You may not think that you
IS) THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
are to be held accountable for the frailties of other
people, but you are. You are conscious of your strength,
and yet you refuse to wield it. Andon the day of judg-
ment that neglect will be looked upon as a crime.”
‘“Do you mean to tell me that I shall be punished
simply because I cannot become a hypocrite? I cannot
join your church because I cannot accept your doctrine.
And you may say that I ought to accept it. But suppose
I have no faith, what then? Bishop, there are in this
world hundreds of religions that are just as plausible as
yours, and their devotees wonder why all men do not ac-
cept them. You believe in a literal hell; I cannot. But
I will admit that there have been times when I believed
in a personal devil, but I was weak and frightened.”
‘‘ And may you not be weak and frightened when your
time comes to die?”’
‘‘Ves, that’s true,” Bryce admitted, and nervously he
fumbled a pen that lay on the table. Why could he not
be permitted to forget? He wondered if there might not
be a future punishment. Strength told him no, but weak-
ness told him yes. He wished that Hartley and the bishop
would leave him alone. It flashed upon him that he was
not safe, that old man Boyle might at any moment step
into his office and assassinate him. ‘The bishop noticed the
effect that his words had taken and he repeated them.
‘When do we need the most moral strength? At the
Sacer at
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. vod
time when death shall come. ‘To this question there
may be an uncertain side, but there is another side and
it is absolutely safe.’’
‘And you would have me join your church to escape
punishment. That would be cowardice, a palpable trick.”
‘Well,’ said the bishop getting up to go, ‘I see that
you are not quite ready yet. But do the best you can
and I will pray for you.”’
Yes, he was in danger; he was living too close to
Bolga. But he had not money enough to.go far, and no
matter whither he should go it would take him along time
toestablish a practice. But why not marry a fortune and
then go away? He shuddered at this but he accepted
the suggestion. He knew a widow, older than himself,
wrinkled indeed, but she had money. She would marry
him for his name, for the prospect of becoming the wife of
a governor.
He went out when the bishop was gone, and a strange
looking man stared at himinthestreet. The man passed
quickly on, but Bryce felt cold, and he thought of the
fancied chill, running up and down the creek at the Witch
Hole.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Three days passed and again the strange-looking man
stared at Bryce in the street. This time he halted longer,
and turned and looked back after he had passed on.
Bryce cautiously followed him, kept him in view until he
disappeared through the entrance to a wagon yard. It
was evening and he walked about the neighborhood until
dark, and then he went to the manager of the wagon
yard, described the man and requested information con-
cerning him. The manager, a blunt fellow, said that he
knew nothing about him, and cared less so long as he
paid his bills. ‘‘ Here he comes now and can speak for
himself,’’ he added. Bryce turned to leave, but the man
called after him. ‘‘ Do you want me?” he asked.
‘“‘T don’t know,” Bryce answered, halting, ‘‘ But per-
haps you can give me the information I want,’’ he added,
slowly approaching the man. ‘‘Some one has told me
that you are from the iron lands near Birmingham. I
have lost sight of a client of mine, and have heard that
he went down into that part of the country. His name is
Featherstone.”
‘‘T never was in that part of the country, sir; I live
232
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 233
down the river. This is Mr. Bryce, ain’t it? I heard you
speak not long ago, and I lowed to myself that you were
the man when I saw you a time or two in the street.”
It was simply a frightening shadow and was gone. But
how long was this dread to last? Must he continue to
shy like a horse, constantly look for something to scare
him? ‘The fault lay with his nerves; he was smoking too
much; he would give up tobacco. A week passed, his
nerves were worse; again he had been frightened. He
went to his room and lighted hisGerman pipe. ‘Tobacco,
beneficent plant, soothed his mind and sent off his
thoughts in an easy flow. He had been foolish. He was
in no danger. ‘Those bigots might rave among them-
selves, but they were afraid of the light of a city. They
dared not molest hit: to murder him would bring ruin-
upon them; an appeal to the law would expose their creed.
Yes, he was safe; he would not marry that wrinkled
woman. But would not oid Boyle hire a wretch to stab
him? His pipe was out and his fears had returned. He
filled it and lighted it, but the fears remained.
During the day when he was in court, powerful before
a jury, he stood in strong defiance, bu. alone in his office
or in his room, he was a coward. One evening while he
was in a nervous meditation, he heard Hartley’s foot-steps
in the hall. He unlocked the door and cried, ‘‘ Come in;
you don’t know how glad I am to see you. Take that arm
234 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
chair. How are you, anyway? What, wearing gloves?
Is that carrying out the doctrine of humility?”
Hartley laughed, ‘‘It is my wife’s whim,” he replied.
‘‘She says that as Iam the pastor of a fashionable con-
gregation, to dress becomingly is one of my duties. And
I agree with her; but mark me, if I find that gloves give
offence to my fellow man, I will take them off and cast
them from me. Howard, you are making a great name.”’
‘“Welk, I am not sliding backward, at any rate. By
the way, you have often advised me to marry some good
woman. Well, that is exactly what I am going to do.’’
‘‘Good! Now you are in the right direction. May I
ask the name of the lady?”
‘The Widow Buckney.’’
‘‘ What! You don’t mean it?”
‘“Yes, I do; we are engaged.’’
‘‘ Why, she is much older than you.’
‘« That’s true.”
‘* But do you love her?’’
‘‘QOh, that’s another question. But to be frank, I do
not love her. She is wrinkled, and a man may venerate
a wrinkle but he can’t love it. However, there is one
charm about her: she has money.’’
‘Howard, you grieve me. Why should you marry her
for money when you will soon have plenty of your own?
Don’t marry her. You cannot afford it.”
i. ©
A Rares
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 235
‘“But, my dear fellow, I have given her my word and
there stands honor, commanding me. I carp upon points
of honor. I suppose that I am the most honorable wretch
that ever lived. Yes, sir, I shall take that withered lady
to my heart and softly whisper, ‘my own, you are very
dear tome. Give me your money.’ ”’
The preacher took off his gloves and threw them into
the grate. ‘‘ What’s that for?” Bryce asked.
‘They have given me offence by causing you to be
flippant with me. You saw in them an evidence of world-
liness, and you thought to be more worldly than I.
Howard, I don’t know what to say. I thought that I was
getting at a complete understanding of you, but you have
thrown me farther off than ever. Do you know that
woman well? Have you heard that her character is not
good?”’
_ “Why should I have heard such a thing, Hartley? I
don’t belong to the church. So her character is not good.
But has any aspersion been cast upon her money? I care
nothing for her name in society. In strictest confidence,
let me tell you something. I am going to marry her and
leave here. I am going, well, say to Australia. And she
is simply the ship that is to take me over.”’
‘‘ Howard, what in the world could have prompted such
a move?”’
‘‘ Nothing in the world, but something out of it,’’
236 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
For along time they sat in silence. The preacher arose
to go. ‘‘I must bid you good-bye,’’ he said.
‘Going out of town. Hartley?’’
‘“No, but I must
bid you good-bye, for
when I meet you
again I shall not
know you. Listen to
me. I have been de-
voted to you. When
others have spoken
against you, I have
stood in your defense.
There was something
about you that I could
not understand, but I i
believed that your
heart was right. But
now I know that your
heart is black. You
are a scoundrel.”
Bryce sprang to his
feet. ‘‘ By God, you shan’t talk to me this way!’
‘‘ Be quiet!” the preacher commanded with a motion of
his hand. ‘‘I amin your own house, but I stand here
to tell you the truth. You area scoundrel!”’
PA ee
Ss eam
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 237
Bryce pointed toward the door. The preacher bowed
and withdrew. Bryce ran to the door. ‘‘ Come back,
Hartley !” ‘he cried. ‘‘Yes, I am a scoundrel. Come
back and I will tell you why.’’
The preacher did not look around, and slowly he walked
down the stairs.
Bryce sat down to think. He lighted his pipe, but it
went out. ‘The loss of that man’s friendship wrung him.
But he must not lose it. He would write to him, beg for
forgiveness. He grabbed up a pen and covered sheet
after sheet, but tore them to pieces. Evening came ; the
church bells rang for prayer meeting. He listened to the
bell of Hartley’s church. ‘‘Scoun-scoundrel !’’ it said;
“scoun-scoundrel !”’
He would go to prayer meeting. He went, and took a
seat far in front, among the old men and old women who
had come to beg of God to bless their fading lives.
Hartley looked not at Bryce, and when the services were
ended he walked past him without speaking. Bryce
returned home angry, resentful. He would send Hartley
a letter to sting him as with a thousand nettles. ‘‘ Most
righteous one,’’ he began, ‘‘ when were you appointed to
bring men to judgment? I thought that you were a
streng and unselfish man, but you have shown me that
you have the petulance of a vanity-stricken clown, and
the weakness of a fool. You called me a scoundrel and I
238 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
begged of you to forgive me, to forgive me for being the
scoundrel that you had called me. You heeded me not.
I went to your church to pray with you, and you treated
me with contempt. And yet you knelt there and prayed
to Him who died that men might be forgiven. I may be
a scoundrel, but Iam nota bigot.’’ He tore the paper
to pieces. ‘‘It would be foolish to send it to him,’’ he
said. ‘‘Why should I care? I can get along without
his friendship. He has never benefited me. ‘There was
simply a sentiment between us, and a puff of wind has
blown it away.”’
At early morning he went to his office and was writing
when some one spoke his name. He looked up ; Hartley
stood in the door. ‘‘ Howard, may I come in?”
‘Yes, sit down.”
‘*Not until you say that you forgive me.’’
‘You have committed no offence and are in no need of
forgiveness. You were there to tell truth and you told it.”
‘* Howard, don’t bring back my thoughtless words and
sting me with them.’’
He sat down and a silence in which there was embar-
rassment fell between them. ‘‘Last night I could not
sleep for thinking of you,’’ the preacher said. ‘‘I could
see your sad face appealing to me and I was wretched.
I came down town and stood at your door, but i was
afraid to knock lest in your just resentment you might
HES WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 239
turn upon me; and so I went home again, but I could
not sleep.”’
With his old air of affection Bryce got up and put
his hand on Hartley’s shoulder. aay My dear fellow, don’t
think about it. I said enough to provoke you and I beg
your pardon ; you must not beg mine.’’
** Howard, you have a noble heart.”’
Bryce smiled: ‘‘ There is but one noble trait about
me’’ he said, ‘‘and that is my friendship for you.’’
“You must not talk that way,’’ the preacher replied,
‘“‘you make me ashamed of myself. Now let me set myself
aright. I have heard idle talk about that widow, but as
to whether or not her character is bad I cannot say. It
was contemptible of me to speak of her as I did.”’
‘“Don’t let it worry you, my dear boy; put it out of
your mind. I will investigate her character and if it is
not straight, I will not marry her. When I engaged
myself to her it was of course with the implied under-
standing that she was allright. I can’t afford to let
her soil my name.”
_**No, for yours is an honorable name, Howard.’’ And
after a moment’s silence he added: ‘‘ Can you take din-
ner with us to-morrow ?”’ |
*‘T’m afraid not. I may be called out of town.”
‘*T have a number of times asked you to my house and
240 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
you have always declined. Is it because you don’t care
to meet my wife?”’
‘“It might be—it is. She expects too much of me and
I don’t wish to disappoint her.”’
‘“You are the most whimsical man in the world. It is
true that she has heard a great deal of you, but I am not
afraid of her being disappointed.’’
‘“Wait until I marry some good woman and then I
shall come with my wife.’’
‘“All right, since you enforce your own conditions, but
I wish you could be with us to-morrow. Well, I must
get back home. I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.”’
‘‘And did you come off down here without your break-
fast, and merely to ask me to forgive you? Had you been
one of the virgins, you would have been one of the fool-
ish. You might have known that I held no resentment
against you.”’
Along toward noon a client, the representative of a
railway, came in and paid Bryce a large fee, and when he
had taken the check to a bank, he turned away, musing -;
‘* Don’t think I can marry that widow. I don’t need her
money and God knows I don’t want her. But suppose’
she sues me. I can tell her that I have found a bad flaw
in her name and that if she goes to court it can but result
_ badly for her. Everything is coming my way and I can’t
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 241
afford to leave here; and why should I leave? The dan-
ger is gone.”
When he returned to the office he found a rich client
waiting for him, and before evening another one came.
His railway case was a good advertisement.
On the following Sunday he went to Hartley’s church
and dropped a thousand dollars into the contribution box.
His generosity was discovered and was whispered about
the congregation, for at no place does a gift win so quick
a reputation as at a church. As he was going out, a
woman in a faded gown blocked the way. A deacon
frowned upon her and pleasantly smiled upon Bryce.
16
CHAPTER XIX.
The summer was gone, the weather was growing cold.
Many a day had passed since Bryce had received a scare.
One day he talked with a man who had just passed
through the village of Bolga. It wasa peculiar place, the
man said. He could learn nothing with regard to the
affairs of the people, but they appeared to be contented.
Yes, they had forgotten. Bryce and were praying for the
_ true Prophet to come. He would have liked to ask the
man if he had seen the Wives, but caution restrained him.
One evening he was busy in his office, preparing an
important case, when Hartley appeared at the door.
‘‘Come in; I am never too busy to see you. ‘There is
your chair always waiting for you. Iam really glad you
came, for I am tired of this thing.’’
‘* Howard, you told me yesterday that you were about
ready to join my church, that you thought you had
experienced a change of heart.’’
‘Yes, I told you that, and I am now ready.’’
‘“’'Thank God for those words. I have prayed earnestly
for you, always believing that my prayer would be
answered, and now it is answered.”’
242
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 243
**Yes, Hartley, I think it is. I believe that I have
experienced a change of heart. A peacefulness has come
to me, and I know that this isa change. I used to fear
that some evil were about to come upon me, but that fear
is gone. I have hanging there in the closet an old vest
that I want to burn in your presence. It is a relic of the
days of my wickedness, and I want you to see me destroy
it, but I must request you to ask no question concern-
ano it.?
He went to the closet, struck a match and looked in.
‘‘That’s strange,’ he said. ‘‘ Now, I wonder what
became of that thing, I wonder if that office boy could
have taken it. I have had him but a short time and he
already assumes to disobey me. ‘That’s a strange thing.
I saw it here yesterday and was going to burn it then,
but thought that I would wait until I could have you
with me; wanted to make a sort of ceremony of it. Well,’’
he added, resuming his seat, ‘‘if that boy has taken it
away I will make him bring it back. Hartley, you
remember that widow?”
‘Ves: are you going to marry her?’’
‘*No; she’s crooked. Oh, she was rather dramatic
when I broke the engagement, but I put the case very
plainly to her, gave her to understand that a fight in court
would ruin her, and she was angry when I left her, but
was wise enough to know that silence was her best course.
244 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
But I am going to marry. Are you acquainted with
Miss Laura Neil ?”’
‘Yes, and she is a charming
girl.’’
““We are engaged. I don’t
think that she is devoted to me,
but we have found that we are
companions and that is all I can
ask. ‘There was atime when I
should have insisted upon abso-
lute love, but that time is forever
dead. I once loved awoman, and
how deeply I did not know until
she was beyond my reach. She
thought that she was my wife.”
‘Thought so? Why, what do
you thean?”’
‘‘ Hartley, if Miss Neil knew
my life, she would die rather than
marry me. Ihave turned my
back upon an awful sin, and I
pray God to blot it from my
: He took
off his coat and rolled up his
memory. Look here.”
shirt sleeve. ‘‘See these pictures, see those names?
There is the story of a crime darker—what are you doing
ee
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 249
a dead man in there?’’ some one asked, riding along by
the side of the wagon.
*“No,’’ a voice answered. ‘‘ We are taking a horse
thief back to the mountains.’’
‘“Good, and I hope you will treat him all right when
you get him there. Country’s getting pretty thick with
them lately. Manin my neighborhood had a fine horse
stolen night before last, and I shouldn’t wonder but this
is the very chap. Suppose you drive by with me.”
“We know that this is not the man. He fled straight
from the mountains, and we followed so close that he had
no time to turn aside to steal another horse.”
‘“ What have you got that stick in his mouth for ?”’
“To keep him from blaspheming the name of the
dora.”
**You ought to stop right here and hang him. How
far have you got to go?’’
‘* A very long distance. So you turn off here? Good
morning. ”’
Bryce, raising up, saw two men on a seat in front of
him, and just behind them in the bottom of the wagon a
boy was asleep on the straw. On Bryce’s breast lay
something that was not a part of the blanket — it was the
waistcoat- that had hung in his closet. He strove to
sit up, but, stiffened and numb, it was some time
before he succeeded. ‘The country was growing wilder,
250 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
and it was evident that they were taking the loneliest
way.
One of the men looked around. ‘‘ Ha! our patient is
sitting up. But we must warn him not to exert himself.
Mister — we don’t know your other name—TI will take
that thing out of your mouth, for it is not our instruc-
tions nor our desire to visit petty punishments upon you,
but I must warn you that if you cry out or talk to any
one whom we may chance to meet, that I shall be com-
pelled to cut your throat.”
Bryce nodded and the man came back and took away
the gag. ‘‘I will keep you company,” he said. ‘‘ Turn
to the right there, Brother Furgerson. Mister, it has
been a long time since you left us, two years or more.”
‘“Mr. Hallett, I remember you, and I must beg of you
not to twit me. ‘To torture a fellow creature is not the
province of a godly man.’’
‘‘ Mister, that is true, nor shall I attempt it. We were
not instructed by the Council to torture you. You will
notice that we have cut our hair. And I wish to tell you
that it was a dispensation of the Council. It was our
religious duty not to attract attention. Ah, I have looked
jong and wearily for you. When you first left us we
knew not which way to turn. It was remembered that
you had said that you were from Devonshire, England.
We were simple, and I was sent thither. Yes, we sold
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 251
all our linen to get money enough for the journey. I trod
on many an acre of that country, and returned weary and
discouraged. Then we sent men to different towns in this
state. One of them heard you make a great speech. He
was almost certain that you were the man, but we were
instructed to be absolute in our knowledge of you, to see
those pictures on your arms. ‘The time was long but it
came. Our little son went to your office to serve you.
But you are a wise man; you know it all.”’
‘“Ves, and I know another thing, Mr. Hallett ; I know
that my disappearance will cause a great sensation.”
‘“Yes, it did cause one, something more than two years
ago.”
‘* And it will result in the breaking up of your com-
munity, Mr. Hallett.”
‘“Mister, you area lawyer. Did you ever know a man
to be punished for killing the destroyer of his home? A
daughter is ruined ; the law that is not written justifies
the vengeance of the father. You cannot threaten us
into mercy, and I advise you to employ some other force.”
The man on the wagon seat did not look round. The
boy was still asleep. ‘‘I am willing to be tried by the
written law,’’ Bryce replied.
‘‘ Mister, it is kind of you to be so pliant, but we are
asking no concession.”’
‘Will you please untie my hands?”
252 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘‘Mercy might yield, but justice says no, and justice
should be stronger than mercy.’’
‘*T don’t suppose that I have a right to ask for any-
thing.”
‘‘ No, you should not even ask God to forgive you.
That would be a mockery, and to mock God is to run
toward eternal punishment.’’
‘* Of all the beings that ever lived, I am the most mis-
erable,” Bryce groaned. ‘‘I am the most inhuman of all
wretches ; I am beyond forgiveness.”’
‘“ That is for the Council to determine.”
This gave Bryce ahope. It was for the Council to
determine, and had he not seen that Council ecstatic
under the influence of his words? He would plead with
them, tell them that the devil had tempted him out of
hatred of the chosen people, that he had fallen and that
he implored them not indeed to spare his life, but to inter-
cede for his soul. ‘This would prove to them that he still
believed in their faith, and scorning to plead simply for
his life would stimulate a respect for him. He lay down
again and strove to picture the newspaper head lines an-
nouncing his mysterious disappearance. Reporters would
interview Hartley and sentimentalities would be gushed
over Miss Neil. Detectives would be sent out, but would
they think of going to Bolga? And suppose they did;
might it not be toolate? ‘The chosen people would dare
-
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 2a
to kill him, for enraged fanaticism looks upon blood as a
sweet cordial; but could they resist his pleading? ‘They
could not. Again he sat up and looked about him. No
fences, no houses within sight.
*““How far are we from the city, Mr. Hallett?” he
asked.
““Our company lengthens or shortens a distance,’’ he
answered.
‘‘T thought that you were not going to twit me.”
‘Pardon me. I don’t know how far we are.”’
‘“ How long will it take us to reach Bolga?”’
‘“We should be there by the end of the fourth day.’’
‘*So long as that?’
‘“Your impatience to reach the village is peculiar.”’
‘“‘And a desire to remain here, tied hand and foot,
would be more peculiar. Tell me about Benjamin.”
He looked away as he said this; he was afraid to hear.
‘‘Benjamin,” said Hallett, ‘‘is well, and he often
speaks of you.”’
‘* No doubt. But was he badly hurt?’’
““Ves, and we thought that he should die. His coun-
tenance is much changed.’’
‘‘It has grown graver, I suppose.”
‘«'There is a scar on his forehead,’”’ Hallett replied.
‘¢ What time that night did they find him?’’
“They found him not at night, but at morning.”
954 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET,
‘‘Wasn’t the alarm given that night?”
‘We knew nothing until morning.”
‘‘Didn’t Alma go to her father’s house?”
‘‘She went to the house of the Prophet, to her own
room, to weep there. The other wives heard her and
sought to comfort her, but she begged of them to go
away, and they left her alone, but she came out and
started toward the woods, and they stopped her and
thinking that she had been bereft of her reason, they
worked with her until morning. Then some one told the
Councilman Boyle, and when he came she told him 4ll
about you.’’ |
‘‘Mr. Hallett, I wish I had died that night.”
‘* Mister, I wish you had died ere you were born.”
‘“Let me tell you, Mr. Hallett, that the devil tempted
me
‘To do what? ‘To come among us or to go away?”
‘To go away. He was afraid of the Saviour of man-
kind.”
Hallett touched Bryce’s neck and then touched the
handle of a knife. ‘‘I cannot control your thoughts,”’
said he, ‘‘ but there are words that you must not utter.”
‘‘ Pardon me if I have wounded you.’’
‘Vou have not wounded me; you offend God, and if I
do not cut your throat when you next offend Him, I shall
offend Him also. Turn to the left, Brother Furgerson,
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 255
and let us stop at the creek where we may get water for
breakfast.”
The boy awoke, but without looking at Bryce, climbed
upon the seat with the man and rode on in silence.
‘‘Ts that your son?” Bryce asked.
‘‘No, the son of Councilman Blake.”’
‘* And I used to teach him at school. I ought to have
known him.”
‘«'We made him look older with the sap stewed out of
roots. You taught him well; he is a smart boy.”’
The road was rough and they bumped along in silence.
Snow had ceased to fall; the air was warmer and seemed
to be coming up the river, but the clouds were still dark.
They halted at the creek, a wild looking place, and Fur-
gerson got out to water the horses.
*‘T will untie your hands and let you eat breakfast,”
Hallett said to Bryce.
, ‘*JT thank you.”
When his hands had been untied Bryce asked if he
might stand up, and Hallett granted him that privilege.
Within a few hours what a change had come upon the
world, Bryce thought, as he stood there, looking at the
hills far away. But he refused to brood over his condi-
tion ; he needed his strength for defense.
‘“We are ready to go, and you have eaten nothing,”
Hallett remarked. ‘‘Hold out your hands; I must tie you.”
256 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘T pledge you my word and honor as a gentleman that
I will not try to escape.”’
‘‘Asa what? A gentleman? But I suppose you are
a gentleman as the world knows one. Hold out your
hands. Now you are more of a gentleman,’’ he added,
when he had tied the rope. ‘‘ Yes, quite a harmless
gentleman.”
‘“Mr. Hallett, you are sarcastic enough for a United
States judge.”
‘“But too much so for a gentleman, I fear. Let me see
what time it is by your watch. Thank you. Brother
Furgerson, we are going to have rain.”
‘“Yes, I think so,’’ Furgerson replied; ‘‘ but if we
push onward we may sleep in a house to-night.”
‘‘ Will you also let me sleep in the house?’ Bryce
asked. »
‘‘Oh, yes,’’ Hallett answered. ‘‘ There is one house
on the road wherein we may stop for the night, but only
ane, s
‘*'Why only one ?’’
‘“ Because we may stop there, and the man of the place
will say nothing of having entertained us. You may
want to know why. And I can tell you that the man has
led an adventurous life ; that he is aware of our knowledge
of it, and would not run the risk of having the law reach
back after him.”
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 257
Far ahead the sky was bordered with a blacker rim,
and by noon they were ina sifting rain. Continuously
Bryce strove to fight off the sharpest sense of his trouble,
but in ceaseless vibration it came back to strike him.
Over our gravest misfortunes we do not brood with words,
but with pictures ; and Bryce saw the excitement that his
disappearance would cause, the anxiety of Hartley, the
distress of Miss Neil; but these were merely the dimmest of
etchings, the drawings of an idle moment in comparison
with one scene—the end of it all. If it were to be deter-
mined that he should die, what form of death would they
prescribe? He saw himself hanging from the tree at the
well, saw himself thrown headlong from the cliff whereon
he and Silvia had stood, pictured himself ina flame at
a stake in front of the Temple, on the spot where The
Age of Reason had been burned. But with a constant
batting of his inner eye, he strove to blur these scenes.
He would hoard his fancies as though they were the fibres
of a vital force, for when the time of his trial should
come, those mind essences must vivify his sorrow
and his humility, must move those grave old men to
pity.
Still wilder the country grew and in this there was to
Bryce a sort of hopelessness ; it destroyed the possibility
of rescue. But there had been no such possibility, for
several days must pass before his disappearance should
i
258 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
begin to excite alarm. No, there was no hope save in
the power of his own words. a
They passed an abandoned coal mine. Once there had
been a bloody fight at this place—between the miners, and
th e mine owners who
is { NT ae Rae «ef~~ had attempted to
ik ru (“introduce convict labor,
and now froma tree flap-
ere ped the tattered remains
of a sheriff hanged in ef-
figy. To Bryce’s mind this was a
scare-crow and he brooded over it.
‘“Let us stop here and eat our
dinner,” said Hallett.
“‘Can’t we goon just a little
SSS
—s
Lave)
G
+
ay
oy
@)
Lan y
~v
we)
|
4
QO
(@)
0
ep
Aa
a?)
os
—
‘‘ Mister, I am pleased to see
Za z =
Za
= See ahs & Se
Se SS he
Cy eA. | *
Cee Re Eten * AG
es eee ao, \ a
rae
=
you anxious to be nearer the
Ge
village.”
‘‘It isnot that. I want to get
away from that infernal thing
hanging there.”’
‘‘ Brother Furgerson, there is
no water further on. Let us stop here. Mister, I will
untie your hands.”’
When Furgerson announced that the horses were
tle
ks
ay -
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 259
done eating, Hallett commanded: ‘‘Give me your ,
hands.’’
““Can’t you leave the rope off just a little longer?”
Bryce pleaded. ‘‘ Man, you don’t know what an outrage
you are committing in using methis way. ‘The people of
this state look upon me as their next governor.”
‘* Ah, and if elected you will have an opportunity to
pardon your own crimes. Few men have been so fort-
unate. Hold out your hands.”
‘“’That cord is cutting my ankles in two.”’
‘* But still,” Hallett replied, ‘‘it is not so sharp as the
cord that has cut hearts in two.”’
‘Mr. Hallett, the noblest quality of man is mercy.”
‘* Mister, the most godly quality of man is justices:
‘*You so aptly set forth the principles of your creed
that it is a wonder you had not been selected as a mem-
ber of the Council.’’
‘This would be a compliment were it not meant in
contempt. Among my people I talk but little, I think ;
but with you I need not think, I can talk.’’
‘‘T wonder, Mr. Hallett, that I had not become better
acquainted with you.’’
‘‘ And I grieve, Mister, that we were all forced into so
intimate an acquaintance with you.”’
Bryce was silent, brooding over the flapping effigy.
Evening was coming on; they passed a buzzard roost.
260 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
‘‘’Those birds, ”’’ said Hallett, ‘‘ will eat a dead dog,
but they are fonder of the carcass of a man.”
“Ves,” Bryce replied, ‘“‘for I suppose they have a |
creed.”’
Hallett opened his coat, showed the handle of his knife;
and they drove on in silence. Night came ; they saw a
light, heard the barking of dogs. ‘‘ We are going to stop
at that house,’’ said Hallett, ‘‘and we are going to per-
mit you to sit by the fire, but if you contradict anything
I say I must cut your throat.’’
‘But can you say anything that is not true?’
‘‘ Mister, religion is for the ultimate good of all men,
and a lie told for religion finds its way to heaven asa
truth. Brother Furgerson, stop the wagon here, and the
Mister and I will get out. You and our son put up the
horses, and then come to the house.’’
A man stood in a doorway, scolding his dogs. ‘* Got
back, have you?” he said when the light fell upon Hal-
lett. ‘‘Long time in comin’, but I reckon you are all
right. Step in. Got a good fire for you, but, Nan,’ he
added, speaking to a lank woman, ‘‘reckon you better
fetch a little more wood. Sorter have to drag your friend
along. What's the trouble with him? Got him tied, eh?
Well, set him down here.”’
Bryce was acquainted with the host — Mr. Tuck Ben-
son. ‘‘ What has he been doin’ ?” Benson asked.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 261
“Stealing horses,” Hallett replied.
‘That so? Well, then, what’s the use in takin’ him
any furder ; why not hang him right here? I’ve gota
good rope back thar’ under the bed, and as the weather
is a little bad we can hang him in here from one of these
here beams. What do you say ?”
“No, Pll take him on. Don’t you remember him?
He stood guard over you one day.”
“Yes, sir, he’s the man. Say, let me slip that rope
around him, will you? I wouldn’t trust him three feet,
and if he gits away from you he’ll go right straight and
tell the gover’ment that I used to make whisky. It
don’t make no difference to him even if I have give up
whisky an’ come away off down here; a hoss thief will
do anything. If you don’t want to hang him stand
him out thar an’ let me take a crack at him with my
fuzee. No? Wall, now be shore that you take good
kere o’ him. Don’t want no gover’ment fellers a comin’
on me at this late day. Put the wood on the fire, Nan.
Look thar! we’ve got a hoss thief.”’
The woman dropped the wood and _ started back.
‘“That’s all right, Nan; he's tied. Stir about now an’
git us all a bite to eat. Two mo’ fellers to come.”
Furgerson and the boy came in, and Bryce, speaking
to the youngster said: ‘‘I owe you about three dollars.
When I told you to come around to-morrow so that I
262 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
might pay you, I did not think that the day following
was Sunday. I have money in my pocket. Get it out.”
The boy paid no attention to him, did not look at him.
The woman stepped in between Bryce and the boy, raked
out a bed of coals, threw on slices of bacon and then
busied herself with arranging the table.
‘*Come, all hands,’’ said Benson when his wife with
along fork began to take up the bacon. ‘‘Jest fall to
now an’ devour what’s set before you. I don’t mean
you,” he added, nodding at Bryce. ‘‘ No hoss thief kin
sit down at my table with me. Nan, give him something
on a tin plate. Ontie his hands, Cap’n. If he tries to
git away I’ll kill him befo’ he gits to the do’.”
After supper Mr. Benson sought to entertain his guests.
He had slipped through many a dangerous place, and sev-
eral times the revenue men hadcaptured him. Once they
were about to hang him to a tree, and for the only time
in his life he got down to what he termed solid praying.
‘‘ An’ I tell him that it was the prar that saved him,”’
said the woman.
‘“That mout be,’’ Benson replied, ‘‘ but I rather think
it was Alf an’ them other fellers that come a crawlin’
down the creek. But atter all, if it is intended fur a man
to be hung he’s goin’ that way, an’ that’s all thar’ is to
it. I’m putty much of a Hard Shell Baptist. Whut’s
yo’ belief, Cap’n?” he asked, nodding at Hallett.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 263
‘“T believe in God,” Hallett answered.
“Yes, that’s nachul, but in whut sort of a dose do you
swollow yo’ religion? Do you believe in baptisin’ by
sousin’ or by jest sorter dabbin’ water on a feller?’’
‘‘T know nothing of baptising, for such trickery appeals
not tome. Well, make your arrangements for the night,
for we are tired and desire to liedown. You have but
one bed, I notice.”
‘*One bed in this room an’ one in the little shed room
a jinin’. You fellers may have this room. The do’ twixt
this an’ the shed room is fastened by a heavy bar on yon
side, an’ one of you kin lay down in front of this here do’
that goes out, to keep the hoss thief frum gittin’ away.”
‘*Mister,’’ said Hallett to Bryce, ‘‘you may sleep in
the bed. I will lie down by the door, Brother Furgerson
will lie under the window and our son will sleep in front
of the fire.”
‘‘T thank you, sir,” said Bryce, ‘‘but will you untie
me so that I may sleep?”
‘“Mister, we may tie a man’s hands and feet but we
cannot bind him so fast that he may not slip into slumber.
You need remove nothing. Lie down on the bed.’
Bryce stretched himself upon the feather bed, and
although his wrists and ankles pained him, swelling and
throbbing, he soon fell asleep. It must have been mid-
night when the pain awoke him. The fire was low, the
264 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
room was almost dark. He raised up and looked about
the room. The men and the boy were asleep. His
hands were not tied behind him, and he turned over on
his breast and with his teeth began to tug at the knot.
He thought of cabinet tricksters who could untie them-
selves in a moment and he wished that he had taken a
lesson of them. He heard one of the men turn over and
he lay still, listening. All was silent and again he began
to gnaw the rope. An hour must have passed—but his
hands were free. And now, after rubbing his wrists, he
began cautiously to work at the rope that bound his
ankles. But the knot wasso hard that he could do noth-
ing. So, after all, he must give up. He straightened
himself out with a groan. Suddenly he thrust his fingers
into his waistcoat pocket and took out a small knife. It
was a mere toy but it was big enough. He cut the rope
and for a few moments he lay there, rubbing his swollen
ankles. Now what? To get out through the window or
the door was impossible. Perhaps he could make
his way through the roof. He knew that nails were
sometimes so scarce in the back woods that clap-boards
were often heid in place by poles laid along the roof. He
stood on the bed and could easily reach a cross-beam. He
climbed upon it, he shoved hard against the roof. The
boards yielded. He worked until he got his hand
through, and after that it took but a short time to make
- y. = Riess .
. ; = st
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 265
an opening large enough to admit his body. He got his
head and his arms through the opening. One foot was
off the beam. Something touched his leg. He hung
there, motionless. His heart had almost ceased to beat.
‘Mister, has the devil tempted you again?” It was
Hallett. ‘‘ Come back or I'll stab you. Easy now; put
your foot on the beam. That’sit. Now you are all
right. Brother Furgerson, give me that other rope.”
CHAPTER 2036
The journey was resumed at early morning. A dark
mist lay low to the earth, the air was cold, motionless;
and when the team was stopped midway a hill to blow,
Bryce looked up at a dead tree and wished that it might
fall upon him. Not again did he ask them to untie his
hands, for he felt that he had thrust himself beyond the
province of a privilege. How earnestly Benson had
begged for permission to kill him, when he saw the hole
that had been made in his roof, and how gravely had the
woman demanded the right to scald him when she found
that by exposing her best bed to the weather he had
abused her hospitality.
Hallett sat beside Bryce. ‘‘When I am brought to
trial,’’ said the prisoner, ‘‘I suppose you will tell the
Council that I tried to get away.”
‘‘T shall tell them nothing ; they know enough. It
was but natural that you should try to get away.”’
‘‘T am glad, Mr. Hallett, that you look at it in so
humane a light.’’
‘You may express it that way if you choose, but you
might simply have reminded me that I excused the dog
for running from the broom handle.’’
266
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 267
‘*Mr. Hallett, did you ever think that the cruelest
creature in this life is man ?”’
‘* Yes, and it has been proved to me that his victim is
woman.”’
‘That may be true, but man’s cruelty to woman is not
exercised alone for the sake of cruelty ; he has another
motive and cruelty may be the result.’”’
‘“ Mister, a gentleman might put it that way to excuse
himself, but God has another estimate. Let them pull
ahead now, Brother Furgerson. Mister, it may not be a
cheering opinion, but I will tell you that at the present
rate of travel we may reach the village by to-morrow
night.”
‘Mr. Hallett, almost any prospect is better than this
certainty. I would rather die than to remain much longer
tied like a calf hauled to market. I don’t see how I
could get away if you were to untie my feet.”
‘“And I don’t see, Mister, how you can get away if I
keep them tied.’’
Bryce mused that by this time there must be spreading
an anxiety concerning his disappearance. No, not. yet,
for among his friends it was known that he was wont to
close his office, should he take the notion, and go away,
no one knew whither ; therefore, it was useless to look
backward for help—he must look forward. In his mind
he framed a speech, and he startled himself with its power.
268 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
It was not possible that those men, so simple, so imagi-
native, could resist him. He would catch Boyle’s fury
and pass it back to him, mellowed with pity: he would
take up the Father’s sorrow and turn it into a forgiveness.
Over and over he repeated his argument and it grew
stronger in expression and deeper in its appeal for
sympathy.
That night they slept in the woods; they had traveled
all day in a cloud, and their campfire wrought monstrous
shapes in the mist. At early morning they were astir—
onward through a valley and up the side of a mountain.
Over and over Bryce continued to repeat his speech, until
now he csuld hear the words as though someone were
shouting them. Once he was so moved that he cried out,
‘“ Good.”
‘‘ Mister, can it be that you are taiking to yourself?”
Hallett asked.
Bryce started, stammered in embarrassment and an-
swered: ‘‘ Yes, it must be so.”
‘*But you cried ‘Good.’ Could that have been
addressed to yourself?”
‘The word might not have applied to myself.”’
“Tt surely did not.”
‘“Mr. Hallett, your torture of me will soon be at an end.
I am ready to meet the Council. ‘Those just men know
how weak it is to sin and how strong it is to forgive.”
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 269
Hallett slowly turned and looked at him. ‘‘’That is the
nearest to a sensible remark that I have heard you make,
but like many a sensible saying, it carries a flaw. To for-
ceive the weakness of a sin is sometimes a strength; but
sometimes forgiveness is of itself a weakness, almost
a sin.”
‘‘Mr. Hallett, to permit me to hope is as little as you
can do.”’ |
‘* Perhaps it is less.”’
Bryce looked at the stern face of the Bolgaite and
replied: ‘‘I have never known a hangman that would
render his victim utterly hopeless.”
“Ah! perhaps your acquaintance with a hangman has
not been so intimate as it may become.”’
‘*T don’t care to talk to you.”
‘‘Mister, the domain of silence is free. There no
claims are marked off; a privilege awaits every comer.”’
‘*Very good, Mr. Hallett, but I have ceased to be sur-
prised at anything a Bolga man might say. You could
not astonish me so much with a speech as you might by
repeating the multiplication table.’’
They made good time, skirting the sides of the mount-
ains, bearing to the right and to the left, like a vessel
tacking, and late in the afternoon they came to the base
of a long slope, slanting from the east. Here they halted,
and Hallett untied Bryce’s feet. ‘‘ You and our son and
270 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
I will walk up a nearer way,’’ he said. ‘‘ Brother Fur-
gerson will drive round.”’ |
Bryce could scarcely walk at first, but to permit him to
try, though it was painful, was a great favor to him, and
he said: ‘‘ Mr. Haliett, this is a piece of kindness, and I
thank you for it.’’
The Bolgaite smiled grimly but replied not. Hour
after hour they walked, silent; and Bryce, looking back,
saw that the clouds had parted far below, saw the dim
sun going down.
‘‘For a time we will rest here,” said Hallett, pointing
toa rock. Bryce advanced a few steps, looked about
him, over the brow of the rock, and quickly caught his
breath. Hewas on the summit of the west mountain,
and below him lay the village. On this rock he had sat
with Alma, looking at the sinking sun, and at Benjamin
standing in the door of the schoolhouse. A weary age
had passed since then; an age of night disturbed by
dreams. He stood leaning against the cold rock ; he saw
the house of the Prophet, saw a woman at the well. But
he must not brood over what had passed ; he must nerve
himself to meet that which was to come. And back to
him came his speech, his argument for life, and through
his mind it swept like a wind. :
‘‘ Mister, what think you of the view? I am speaking
to you, Mister.” He touched Bryce’s arm.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. QUA
‘‘FHxcuse me ; I did not hear you.”
“‘Tt-1is well that you are so thoughtful. What think
you of the view ?’’
‘A scene spread out by
the hand of peace,’’ Bryce
auswered.
ome
—s—
The Bolgaite, pulling
his beard, looked hard at
Mice if you could’
=e
surprise me,’’ he said, ‘‘I
should wonder that you
could say that. Once it
was spread out by the hand of peace, and it may be again
in the years to come. Mister, my relationship with you
he ae Rike m4 a /~
TG Miata ae “THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET, 2
* ’ craig
will soon come as an end. We will remain
dark, and then go down into the village. oa
in the dark, and i in the dark you ‘shall return
a
ae Furgerson will reach there first, and the Council wi
-—-- ready to receive you. Here at this rock we cease
poet to. each other.
AES pet.
x
CHAPTER XXI.
Through the darkness Bryce was led, down into the
village. Nowhere was there a light, the houses were
closed and no evening lullaby was heard. Through the
prisoner’s mind his speech was sweeping, strong, like a
rush of water, and though like a dog he was led, with a
rope about his neck, he walked with a confident tread.
Under the brow of the Temple a lone man stood, waiting,
and when Hallet and his prisoner drew near, a voice said:
“Follow me.’’? They followed him to the bath room,
where a dim light was burning. The man whom they
had followed was Councilman Blake. ‘‘ Untie his hands,”
the Councilman commanded, and as Hallett began to
untie the rope the Councilman continued: ‘‘ Mister, we
shall leave you here alone. And when you have washed
yourself, put on this robe. Soon I shall come and
conduct you into the presence of the Father and the
brethren.”
The water was cold and made him shudder, but it was
soothing to his swollen legs and arms, and when he had
tempered his body to its chill, he stretched himself in the
stone basin and lay there, listening. Heheard the faint
18 273
274. THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
cry of a child, and he splashed the water in scrambling to
his feet, and he stood on the edge of the basin and by
tiptoeing gazed through the small window. He could»
discern the house of the Prophet. Again he heard the
child cry, and he saw a light flash in one of the rooms;
in Alma’s room he thought. He stood there with his
chin resting on the cold ledge of the window, gazing at
the light, and a new, a strange sympathy was in his
heart, but through his mind his speech was sweeping.
There came a knock at the door, and a voice cried:
‘‘ Are you ready?” He answered that he would be ina
moment, and he climbed down and put on the robe, a
robe blacker than the darkness through which Hallett
had led him, with a rope about his neck, like a dog. ‘‘I
am ready,’’ he cried, and the Councilman opened the
door. And there stood Hallett with his ropes. ‘‘ Bind
him,’ said the Councilman. This time his hands were
tied behind him, and a rope was also bound about his
ankles, but with a slack so that he could walk. Now it
was the Councilman instead of Hallett who put the rope
about his neck, and holding one end, he said: ‘‘ Come
with me. Brother Hallett,’ he added, ‘‘ good night.”
The prisoner was led into the black room of the temple.
For a moment after entering he could see nothing save a
small lamp dimly burning on the altar, but gradually
arose the forms of four men, the Father and the
The prisoner was led into the blackroom of the temple.
Page 274.
THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET. 2D
Councilmen, arrayed in black. Councilman Blake
dropped the rope, took up a black robe and wrapped him-
self in it. Nota word had been spoken, and motionless
they stood, black statues in the dim light. When was
that silence to be broken, the prisoner wondered, and how
could they break it without a rude shock to that deep
solemnity? But his speech! It was gone, it had swept
out of his mind, and he stood there, helpless, his knees
smiting together, dumb, .cold with the dew of despair
upon his brow. And still not a word was uttered. He
gazed with a curious eagerness from one to another, but
the glance of no eye met his own.
‘“ Merciful God !” he cried, and upon the floor he fell,
sobbing.
‘‘TIf you are a man instead of a creature that crawls,
get up,’ a voice commanded, and he knew that the Father
had spoken to him. He got up, and now he looked not
from one to another, to catch the expression of an eye,
but gazed at the floor, the blackness under his feet
‘* Mister,” said the Father, ‘‘ look at me.’’
Bryce slowly lifted his eyes until they rested upon the
worn and grief-stricken face of that old man. ‘‘ Mister,
since you left us we have learned many things about the
world and its heartless treacheries. To look for you our
brethren went abroad into the fields of sin, and we know
now what means you employed to impose upon us. And
276 THE WIVES OF THE PROPHET.
now you are brought to judgment for a crime blacker
than the spirit of hell. It is but natural that you should
seek to defend yourself, and we shall give you an oppor-
tunity to do this, to influence a setting aside of the judg-
ment that already has been passed upon you, but first I
request you to tell us how you discovered the secret of
our creed.”
Bryce briefly told them that while lying upon a rock in
a cave he had heard them renew the covenant of their
faith. The old man shook his head. ‘‘ It was com-
manded,”’ said he, ‘‘ that we should go into a place not
made by hands, and in that place we were beset with a
devil.- But God knows best.” For a few moments he
was silent, but not motionless, with his arms folded; he
was turning helplessly about from one to another. “ Oh,
you have almost swept-from me the faith that has kept
my soul alive!’ he cried: ‘‘ You found a pure religion,
and into it you poured a deadly poison. How could you
have done so cruel a thing? It seems beyond the reach ~
of human meanness. = Publishers
263 and 265 Wabash Avenue, Chicago 5
Adv LL
>
bis os *
<-2
emer
2 ais alla
The Century Cook Book
By JENNIE A. HANSEY, Expert Cook and Caterer
... AND...
Family Medical Adviser
By an Eminent Physician
368 PAGES. 30! ILLUSTRATIONS
It contains more genuine, carefully selected, tried
and tested recipes than any other work of corre-
sponding size.
It can be readily understood by anyone; even a
child who can read. No foreign or ambiguous terms
are used; no mysterious formulas or bewildering
phrases. Simplicity and consistency have been aimed
at and attained in the compilation of the recipes.
It is thoroughly illustrated, the engravings num-
bering over 300, ably assisting the printed instruc-
tions by characteristic portrayal.
Itis systematically classified—treating not only of the labor of the kitchen
but of all other departments of household duties as well. The dining-room,
the laundry, the sick chamber, each having ample space allowed them.
It embraces a thorough, comprehensive medical department, conscienti-
ously compiled by an eminent physician of long and varied experience, whose
practical knowledge will prove of incalculable service in the family for the
treatment of simple ills and unforseen accidents that may occur at any time.
A Book for the Family os
ee A Household Treasure
It furnishes recipes for preparing and cooking anything. Soups, Fish,
Poultry, Game, Meats, Entrees and Removes, Salads, Relishes, Vegetables and
Fancy Dishes, Pies, Puddings, Cakes, Ices, Candies, and other delicacies.
It tells how to make Washing Fluids, Blueing, Soaps, and many household
necessities. It supplies formulas for Liniments, Ointments and medical pre-
parations, as well as reliable recipes for Face Powders, Perfumes and Toilet
Requisites.
A feature of importance will be found in a number of blank pages in the
back part of the volume providing a handy means for adding any new recipe
obtained by reading or imparted by a chance visitor.
AN ATTRACTIVE BOOK. RETAIL PRICE, 25 CENTS
LAIRD & LEE ~ = 2 Publishers
263 and 265 Wabash Avenue, Chicago
f Thisbeck contains 300 mvalratenama
red
NM Sees
(gy fee CENTURY ~ ¥
hy) ~ GOK Book
Adv N
Br igt eo Ste Pace A OS nea ay er eRe
ee Tay ayo Se sol cn a Bae ds eS el
“A MARKED INNOVATION —
THE PASTIMB SERIES |
The most popular collection of Standard Novels now before oan 3
the public has had recently added the complete works of
WI. H. THOMES
These thrilling stories of travel and adventure have never been
sold for less than 50 cents in paper covers. When first published =
in cloth they so!ld for $2.00 per volume. Now offered complete —
unabridged, unchanged, at 25 cents. as
READ THE TITLES
A GOLD HUNTER’S ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA.
A WHALEMAN’S ADVENTURES ON SEA AND LAND.
THE BUSHRANGERS; A Yankee’s Adventures During a Second is
Trip to Australia.
A SLAVER’S ADVENTURES ON SEA AND LAND.
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. :