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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1889)
THE WEST SHORE: 120 OUT OF ZION. IMiT II. "GOODNESS!" exclaimed Chalcy, as she wes VJ helping wash the dinner dishes the next day, " tomeMy's comin' to-day, sore; I dropped the dish rag, an' the rooster crowed afore the door, an' my Doe eacbes; an' it's some one that's never be'n here afore, too, 'cause the broom fell right across the bo'rth; an' lawsa-massy there comes the bishop, an' of they haint a woman with him! " and Chalcy was, for onco, speechless at this speedy fulfillment of her predictions. " A woman! " echoed Martha and Serena, rushing to tho window. " It's bit first wife, cs true es I live," declared Se rena, Tho two women drew in their under lips and looked at each other significantly, then toward Clar isoy. " I never knowed uv his takin' her anywheres afore," remarked Chalcy, craning her neck to see. " (to loll yer paw," cried Martha. " Hurry now, limlwdogs." Silas hurried to tho bouse, a little uncertaia how to Ml Clarissy what was expected of her. He came in, nervously wiping the perspiration from his face with bit sleeve. " That the bishop comin' ?" he asked, carelessly, dipping tho pint cup in the water bucket with a trem bling band, but watching his daughter closely. She smiled to herself as if roused from pleasant thoughts. " I do' kuow," dreamily, " I gooes so." Silas lan liked respectful attention when he poke to any one, and Clarissy's indifference irritated him. "ClariMy, you've got a chance before ye as don t come to every girl." Me tried to speak smooth ly, but his tone was menacing. "J lWt know whllt ye mean," said Clarissy. Mm wm a hasty man. Wal, then," he said rougly, Uking hold of her arm, if. time ye knowed I mean this, tho bishop wants to marry ye, an' hs Com' to, that's all." 3 7 ' M 1168 Cu7Tfhf,r MCh Pushing CUrimy t.fore him ,nto tho other room, he hurried out to grea tho visitors. Clari.By was numlxvL She spoko to them and book hands with them, but .U l.u Dd . .... uu n'sponse to ltt thej two pr looft v . - Well, my do- At lhe Mft , vr " K 1JM ,or "fy w if. their her eo too " Sh-sh, you mustn't talk that a-way," said the other sharply, then softening her tone, " come now I've given the bishop four wives, but none so purty er smart es you be, an' I hope you'll make us both happy by sayin' you'll make one of the jewels in his crown. Clarissy shuddered. " Mis' Yelkton," she asked abruptly, "do you believe in polygamy? " " Gracious!" exclaimed the startled lady, "don't call it that If you mean do I believe in plural mar. riage, I say yes. Why shouldn't I? Solomon and David did, and it was given in a revelation to the saints. I hope you're not an unbeliever," looking keenly at her. Clarissy's courage sank . She wished she was brave and dared to speak out and say how she hated Mormonism; but the fear of a lifetime weighed down her courage. " Are you happy ? " she asked, earnestly. Mrs. Yelkton smiled rather grimly. " I guess I'm happy es most folks. Ef I ain't, likely it's my own fault. Well, you say yes, don't you?" She was willing to humor a girl's whims, but this was getting tiresome. " You don't know how impatient the bishop is," she continued with a sigh, thinking, perhaps, of a time when his impatience was flattering to herself. " But I see," she nodded her head wisely, " you want him to coax you; all right" Before the girl could protest, Mrs. Yelkton was out of the room, and her husband came in so quickly that Clarissy involuntarily wondered if he had been listening. She rose quickly, and with a childish idea of running away, ran to the outer door. It was locked. She leaned against it, shaking with anger. The bishop stood a little way off, looking at her with an indulgent smile. "Clarissy," he said very gently, " you need not try to get away from me, yon are delivered into my hands, blessed be the Lord." He stood smiling at her and stroking his beard, until she fancied she could almost hear him purr, he looked so cat-like. She did not cry or storm, and so wear out her opposition, as he had hoped she would. Her first feeling had been one of intense anger that confused her. As she became calmer her spirit row against her tormenter. " I'll never be a plural wife," she said, as soon ai she could speak quietly. The bishop became officious. " The divine hw of plural and celestial marriage," he began sternly, Mf revealed to us by the prophet, Joseph Smith. Those ho embrace the divine privilege, verily they shall have their reward; those who reject it shall be pufl lined even as the Lord wills. As one of the anoint of God, I command you, Clarissy, to no longer reject the teachings of the prophet and the divine wiH hich you have set at naught, lest you bring upon