Part 18 (1/2)

”That, indeed, was very foolish,” said Susannah.

”Nay, but it was small blame to them, for that which they said is true.

But among the Gentiles the political demagogues began to be afraid that we should rule the country by the number of our votes. The Gentiles gathered together in the town of Independence, and three hundred of them signed a declaration demanding that every one in Zion should sell all that he possessed and leave the country within a certain time, and that none other of us should settle there.”

”But forced sale would mean that no fair value would be given for the property; it would be simple robbery,” she cried; ”and they call this the land of freedom!”

”They appealed to the Governor of Missouri, but they found that the Lieutenant-Governor, a man called Boggs, was among the fiercest of the persecutors. As for the Governor himself, he advised them to resort to the courts for damages.”

”What next?” She was impatient at a pause he made.

He knelt down upon the floor in front of her, laying a calming hand upon her shoulder. ”Susannah, there is this one great cause for our deep grat.i.tude to heaven, that this time all our elders with one voice called upon our people to bear with patience, to cry to G.o.d to cleanse their hearts from all anger and revenge.”

”I suppose that was well,” she said, but with hesitation.

By the gentle pressure of his hand he still expressed his sympathy for her pain in listening. ”Lawyers were engaged to carry the matter through the courts. But no sooner was it known that the thing was to be publicly tried than the Gentiles rose in arms. For three nights they entered the houses of the Saints, beating the men, burning their barns, and in many cases unroofing the houses. Some of our brethren went to Lexington for a peace warrant, but the judge was frightened at the mob, and, moreover, if he had offended them he would have lost much money, so he told the Saints to arm and defend themselves.”

Halsey had paused again. The moral question here involved was to him of deep importance.

”If it was only for self-defence, Angel--” she began.

He shook his head. ”Nay, it was a fierce temptation, and our people are not yet sanctified, but G.o.d in his great mercy withheld them from sinning against him. For they had no sooner obtained arms than Lilburn Boggs, the Lieutenant-Governor, came and disarmed them.”

”And then?”

”Our people were driven from their homes. In the cold storms of November, women and little children and wounded men were forced to flee out upon the open prairie, and up and down the banks of the Missouri River. At last they gathered together on the river-side, and many of them have now crossed it, remaining in the opposite county, and the others have dispersed, poor and homeless, into less unfriendly parts of the State. These elders have come here that the prophet may send back some revelation at their hand, and that we may all gather together what we can spare from our abundance for the relief of our fugitive brethren.”

His eyes were s.h.i.+ning with triumphant faith, even though the close of his narrative seemed to admit of so little hope.

”And will Mr. Smith still teach them that they must not strike a blow for their rights?” she asked.

This was fast becoming the critical question of the hour.

In February the snow lay deep on the land. Susannah, like all her neighbours, spent some days isolated by the drifts, the men only going abroad. On one of these afternoons the prophet tapped at her door. His visit in Halsey's absence was unprecedented.

Without preface he began to make a statement as to the affairs of the Church in Missouri.

”The greater part of our fugitive brethren have at my desire gathered together upon a large tract of uncleared land that lies just across the river from Zion. It is the desire of the Lord that they should there await until it is his will to open the gates of Zion once more.”

”It is _your_ desire that they should gather and wait there.”

She spoke with no rude emphasis, but he understood. This man could read her thought before it was expressed. He pushed his thick hair from his forehead with a heavy hand.

”Understand, Mrs. Halsey, that I _believe_ the voice of the Lord has spoken, but it is also my desire.”

”Does the voice of the Lord ever speak but in accordance with your desire?”

The answer burst from him with almost hysterical force, ”I would to heaven it did not.”