Marion Marlowe in Salt Lake City — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘ LO MY QUEEN. silent! Oh, my dear, dear child! Fly from Salt Lake City! Hly from this baneful temptation which is coming to you! I warn you for your own good, yet, oh, how cruellv I have suffered!” | Marion sank back upon her chair, while this flood of words was being poured forth. Her eves were still Staring, but she was be- ginning to understand a little. She must do something at once to quiet her guest, but the pitiful voice was in her ears again before she could come to any~ thing like a decision. ~And to think that he is looked up to and respected, Miss Marlowe. Oh, if the Gov- ernment only knew how he laughed at their laws, and how stealthily he is working to undermine them! TI could tell so much if I only dared! I have overheard them so often, always whispering, whispering! -when I heard them last night, oh, God, how I suffered, and yet it is only a part of my re- ligion! We Mormon women have so much to bear! We are born and reared in the faith of our ancestors, Miss Marlowe, and oh, how hard we try to obey our great Mas- ter!” . -~ Marion moved a little nearer to her now, and laid her hand upon the woman’s arm. She felt.sure that she was demented, and she was determined to soothe her. ‘But that is all over now,” she began, in a timid voice. “You have all been taught that your religion was wrong; that women do have souls, and that they are in their own keeping, but pray tell me why you come to me? I cannot think of any way that I can possibly help you.” As the last words left her lips the woman sprang to her feet; her pale face had grown livid and her eyes were blazing. “Our religion is not wrong; it is right!” she cried, wildly. “We belong to our hus- bands, and they should be made to protect us! Think of it, Miss Marlowe! I was married in the Tabernacle! The priests and elders of the Mormon church sanctioned my marriage, yet, oh, ‘Miss Marlowe, how shall [ tell you! I am scorned, spurned, despised, and by what—the law of man! Adam's law, the law of the Mormon church in which I was baptized, has been set aside and I and And s my children are, in the eyes of the world common outcasts!” | “Oh, no! Not. that!’- cried Marion, springing to her feet. “Tf you were married in the church and by the laws of your State at that time, no law that has been made since then can alter your marriage! Ido not un- derstand how you can condemn yourself in ) aie, any such manner!” There was a look of perplexity on her face, but it vanished in a minute as the woman folded her hands in a hopeless man- ner. “Iam a plural wife,” she began, in a strained voice, “and I married him after polygamy was abolished.” _ Marion uttered a cry that made her guest glance up in terror. The young girl was standing over her with horror stamped on every feature. : - “And you come to me for sympathy!” she cried out, hotly. “Why, madam, you are wicked¥ How could you do it? How did - you dare rob another wortan of her hus- band’s love, and oh, how could you be so- guilty as to hand down your sins to innocent children?” a The woman looked at her, but there was only a dull, apathetic lfght in her eyes. “It was my religion,’ she began, faintly, but Marion interrupted her. “It is the most horrible thing that I ever heard of,” she said, sharply. “You have a heart in your bosom, I suppose! How would you like to have your husband marrv another woman?” There was a flush on the pale face now as the woman answered her. “That is exactly what I came here for to- day, Miss Marlowe,” she said, sharply. “He is going to marry again, and you are the woman! I heard them plotting it all last night, my husband ahd the President !” If a thunderbolt had dropped at her feet, Marion could not have been more astounded. Before she could move or speak the woman opened the door. As she closed it behind her the reaction came; Marion sat down upon the nearest chair and burst out laughing. Eomichbooks.com .