Part 14 (2/2)

Next, coming down from Eagle Gate, they pa.s.s the Mormon theatre with its peculiar cla.s.sic front made up of two different kinds of Greek architecture, and so on to East Temple Street, by G.o.dby's drug store, and the great block of Zion's Mercantile Co-operative Inst.i.tution, till they come to Warden Bussey's Bank, upon which Erma and Mr. Livingston have letters of credit.

So they enter here, draw some money, and are kindly received by Mr.

Bussey himself, their letters from the East bringing them favor in this Gentile banker's eyes, who has just made a large fortune by speculating in Emma stock. He shows them over the new banking-house he has just erected, and tells them he is going to open it with a grand ball, and hopes they will come to the same; remarking that Mrs. Bussey will call upon them and do all she can for their entertainment during their stay in this Western city.

Then they return to the Townsend House, but during all this drive, though Erma Travenion's eyes, which are quite far-sighted, have searched the pa.s.sing crowd of speculators, Mormons and Western business men, seeking for one form and one face--her father's--she has not seen it. As the afternoon pa.s.ses she becomes more impatient, and says, ”I have lost a day in which his dear face might have been beside me.”

Then an idea coming to her, she mutters: ”Why did I not think of it before? I will go where I address my father's letters; there they will know where he is.” And calling a hack, says to the driver, ”The Deseret Co-operative Bank!”

Arriving there, shortly before the hour of closing, three o'clock, she hurriedly asks the paying-teller if he can tell her the address of Mr.

Ralph Travenion.

To her astonishment, the man answers quite politely that he does not know the individual.

”Why, I have directed a hundred letters to him here,” she says hurriedly, surprise in her voice, and a moment after asks: ”Can I see the cas.h.i.+er or the president?”

”Certainly. The president is in.”

In an inner office, she meets the head of the bank, and to her question as to whether he knows the address of Ralph Travenion, he hesitates a moment--then answers that they frequently have letters addressed to their care, though they do not always keep run of the parties who call for them.

”Very well,” replies the young lady. ”Would you be kind enough to give orders to this effect, that in case Mr. Travenion calls, or sends for his letters, that he is to be informed that Mr. Travenion's daughter is at present at the Townsend House waiting anxiously to see him?”

”Ah, you are Mr. Travenion's daughter,” replies the official, as he shows her politely to the door and puts her in her carriage, a rather curious expression coming over his face as he gazes after the beautiful girl as she is driven away; for this bank is a Mormon one, and its president is well up in the Church of Zion, and knows a good deal of the counsels and doings of its leaders and nearly every one else in Salt Lake City.

Then the evening comes, and the whole party go to the old Salt Lake Theatre, where Mr. Ollie's dress-coat makes a great sensation, such costume not being usual in the Mormon temple of Thespis; this gentleman's entrance being greeted by a very audible buzz from the female portion of the audience.

Here they see the arm-chair that is placed conspicuously in the orchestra, for the use of the President of the Mormon Church; likewise, a third of the dress circle, which is his family's private box. This portion of the auditorium is pretty well occupied by some of his wives and his numerous progeny, as well as a number of the daughters and plural help-mates of other leaders and prophets of Zion, who drop in upon them and pa.s.s the compliments of the season and talk of the crops and Bishop Jenkins's last wife.

The performance on the stage is composed of a couple of light comedies, very pa.s.sably given by a Mormon stock company, several of them being members of President Young's family, one or two of whom have since emigrated to the Gentile stage and secured recognition upon the boards of New York and San Francisco.

But this visit to the theatre is not altogether an evening of delight to Erma; to her astonishment, Mr. Livingston has suddenly changed from the complacent, pa.s.sive suitor of former times, to as impetuous a lover as such a man can make, and his attentions embarra.s.s her. This Romeo business has partly been brought about by Mr. Ollie's jealousy and partly by the remarks of his diplomatic mother.

This lady has had an interview with her son, caused chiefly by Miss Travenion's adventures in Ogden, and has given her offspring the following advice: ”If you do not settle your marriage with Erma during this trip, she will probably marry somebody else.”

”Impossible! She is as good as engaged to me,” cries out Ollie, hotly.

”Engaged! Why? Because her father and your father came to some understanding when you were children?”

”Because Mr. Travenion has settled a million dollars on his daughter!

Why did he put that big sum apart for her sole use and benefit? He wishes his daughter to take the position that I can give her in New York.”

”Because he has settled a million dollars on her,” answers his mother, ”she is all the more difficult to win. It is a marvel to me that she, the belle of New York last season and of Newport this summer, has kept herself apart from entangling alliances with other men. Two months ago, if she had loved that young Polo Blazer, you would have lost her then.”

”You don't mean to say she loves that Vigilante--that mining fellow?”

says Oliver, turning pale at his mother's suggestion.

”If she doesn't love him she will love some man,” returns his mother grimly. ”Don't you know that a girl with her beauty and her money is bound to be sought after and will be won by somebody?”

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