rged through him like a mighty rush of waters. In the
moment's glorious certainty he rested until she stirred nervously under
his devouring look, and spoke.
"Come, kiss me now and let me go."
He kissed her eyes so that she shut them; then he kissed her
lips--long--letting her go at last, grudgingly, fearfully, unsatisfied.
"You scare me when you look that way. You mustn't be so fierce."
"I told him he didn't know you."
"Who didn't know me, sir?"
"A man who said I wasn't sure of you."
"So you _are_ sure of me, are you, Mr. Preacherman? Is it because we've
been sweethearts since so long? But remember you've been much away. I've
seen you--let me count--but one little time of two weeks in three years.
You _would_ go on that horrid mission."
"Is not religion made up of obedience, let life or death come?"
"Is there no room for loving one's sweetheart in it?"
"One must obey, and I am a better man for having denied myself and gone.
I can love you better. I have been taught to think of others. I was sent
to open up the gospel in the Eastern States because I had been endowed
with almost the open vision. It was my call to help in the setting up of
the Messiah's latter-day kingdom. Besides, we may never question the
commands of the holy priesthood, even if our wicked hearts rebel in
secret."
"If you had questioned the right person sharply enough, you might have
had an answer as to why you were sent."
"What do you mean? How could I have questioned? How could I have
rebelled against the stepping-stone of my exaltation?"
His face relaxed a little, and he concluded almost quizzically:
"Was not Satan hurled from high heaven for resisting authority?"
She pouted, caught him by the lapels of his coat and prettily tried to
shake him.
"There--horrid!--you're preaching again. Please remember you're not on
mission now. Indeed, sir, you were called back for being too--too--why,
do you know, even old Elder Munsel, 'Fire-brand Munsel,' they call him,
said you were too fanatical."
His face grew serious.
"I'm glad to be called back to you, at any rate,--and yet, think of all
those poor benighted infidels who believe there are no longer
revelations nor prophecies nor gifts nor healings nor speaking with
tongues,--this miserable generation so blind in these last days when the
time of God's wrath is at hand. Oh, I burn in my heart for them, night
after night, suffering for the tortures that must come upon
them-
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