"I am perfectly capable of
self-protection. And I expect to remain a friend of Mrs. Montoyo as long
as she permits me. For your bluster and Daniel's I care not a sou. In
fact, I consider you a pair of damned body-snatchers. Good-evening."

Then out I stormed, boiling within, reckless of opposition--even courting
it; but met none, Daniel least of all (for he was elsewhere), until as I
passed on along the lined-up wagons I heard my name uttered breathlessly.

"Mr. Beeson."

It was not My Lady; her I had not glimpsed. The gentle English girl
Rachael had intercepted me. She stood between two wagons, whither she had
hastened.

"You will be careful?"

"How far, madam?"

"Of yourself, and for her. Oh, be careful. You can gain nothing."

Her face and tone entreated me. She was much in earnest, the roses of her
round cheeks paled, her hands clasped.

"I shall only look out for myself," said I. "That seems necessary."

"You should keep away from our camp, and from Daniel. There is nothing you
can do. You--if you could only understand." Her hands tightened upon each
other. "Won't you be careful? More careful? For I know. You cannot
interfere; there is no way. You but run great risk. Sister Edna will be
happy."

"Did she send you, madam?" I asked.

"N-no; yes. Yes, she wishes it. Her place has been found. The Lord so
wills. We all are happy in Zion, under the Lord. Surely you would not try
to interfere, sir?"

"I have no desire to interfere with the future happiness of Mrs. Montoyo,"
I stiffly answered. "She is not the root of the business between Daniel
and me, although he would have it appear so. And you yourself, a woman,
are satisfied to have her forced into Mormonism?"

"She has been living in sin, sir. The truth is appointed only among the
Latter Day Saints. We have the book and the word--the Gentile priests are
not ordained of the Lord for laying on of hands. In Zion Edna shall be
purged and set free; there she shall be brought to salvation. Our bishops,
perhaps Brigham Young himself, will show her the way. But no woman in Zion
is married without consent. The Lord directs through our prophets. Oh,
sir, if you could only see!"

An angel could not have pleaded more sweetly. To have argued with her
would have been sacrilege, for I verily believed that she was pure of
heart.

"There is nothing for me to say, madam," I responded. "As far as I can do
so with self-respect I will avoid Daniel. I certainly shall no