Part 22 (1/2)

”You know where this Bishop Kruger lives?”

”No, but I can easily find out.”

”Very well. Will you take a note to him for me?”

”With pleasure!” he cries, as if glad she has given him a chance to do her service. So, sitting down, she writes a few lines hurriedly, and gives the epistle to Mr. Chauncey.

Half an hour afterward he returns, and knocks on her door. She is engaged with her maid, who has become frightened at being left behind the Livingston party, and says she wishes to return to New York.

Answering his summons, Erma asks anxiously, ”Did you deliver it?”

”Yes; he was in his s.h.i.+rt sleeves, but he read it, and said he would be down in the morning. He seemed to chuckle over it. I don't think I would trust your father's friend any too much,” suggests the boy.

”Thank you,” cries the girl, ”for your advice and your kindness,” and being desperately grateful for this one act of consideration shown to her this night, she says to him suddenly: ”Good-bye. G.o.d bless you, Ferdie!” and gives him an impetuous kiss--the sweetest he has ever had in his life, though with it she leaves a tear upon his cheek.

Then she comes in and says with business-like directness to her faltering abigail, ”You wish to leave me, Marie, here alone?”

”Yes, I am afraid. Mademoiselle will pardon me.”

”Certainly. Here are your wages! Here is money for your ticket to New York. Now go.”

”Mademoiselle will pardon me?”

”Yes, leave me,” and Marie departing, Erma Travenion feels that she is indeed alone in a strange country, for she hears the noise of the Livingstons' trunks as they are packing them and getting ready to depart in a hurry that does not seem altogether flattering to her.

Early the next morning, the widow, Louise, Mr. Livingston, and Ferdie depart for Ogden, though the California train does not start from that town until the evening; they are so desperately anxious to shake the dust of Salt Lake City from their feet.

At the depot, Ferdie notices Bishop Kruger, who gazes at the party as they board the train, and approaching Mr. Chauncey, remarks, ”I'll see Miss Ermie up at the hotel. She ain't going with ye, _sure_?” peering about with curious eyes, as if to be certain of this fact. Then the train runs out, bearing the Livingstons toward the Pacific Coast, and Bishop Kruger, about eight o'clock on this day, finds Miss Travenion waiting for him at the Townsend House.

The girl comes down into the parlor very simply dressed, but perhaps more beautiful than ever, to his pastoral eyes, for he remarks to himself, ”Be Gos.h.!.+ She looks homelike and domestic.”

”My father!” she says shortly. Then gazing round, she goes on impetuously: ”He is not here--he feared to see me--he is ashamed!”

”What! that he's a Mormon?” yells Kruger, savagely. ”A true man glories in that; so does your daddy. Perhaps some day you'll jine him.”

”Hus.h.!.+” says Erma. ”Don't speak of it,” and she shudders. Then she asks, ”Where's my father now?”

”In town! But I ain't told him you was here yit. I thought he might be----”

”Ashamed!” cries the girl, but suddenly pauses. Kruger's looks alarm her.

”If I thought as how R. H. Travenion was ashamed of the holy Church of our Latter-Day Saints, I'd cut him off root and branch in this world and the next,” he says, the wild gleam of fanaticism coming into his deep eyes. ”I swear it, by the Book of Mormon!” Erma knows this man means his words, for Lot Kruger is a fanatic, and believes in his creed and in Joseph Smith, as truly as the Dervish believes in Allah and Mahomet.

”Your daddy is in town,” he goes on more calmly, ”but I feared he might be fl.u.s.tered if he knew you had come upon him, as it were, in the night, and so I kept my mouth shut.”

”Will you bring him to me now?”

”Yes, in an hour!”

So, Mr. Kruger departs on his errand, but shortly re-appears, and says, ”We have missed him agin. Your daddy's left for Tintic on the stage this morning at eight o'clock.”

”Very well,” answers Miss Travenion shortly. ”I'll go to Tintic also.”