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that my father had already disappeared； and in despite of
reason； I connected in my mind the loss of that dear
protector with the ribbon of foul smoke that trailed along
the mountains。
Days passed； and still my mother and I waited in vain for
news； a week went by； a second followed； but we heard no word
of the father and husband。 As smoke dissipates； as the image
glides from the mirror； so in the ten or twenty minutes that
I had spent in getting my horse and following upon his trail；
had that strong and brave man vanished out of life。 Hope； if
any hope we had； fled with every hour； the worst was now
certain for my father； the worst was to be dreaded for his
defenceless family。 Without weakness； with a desperate calm
at which I marvel when I look back upon it； the widow and the
orphan awaited the event。 On the last day of the third week
we rose in the morning to find ourselves alone in the house；
alone； so far as we searched； on the estate； all our
attendants； with one accord； had fled： and as we knew them
to be gratefully devoted； we drew the darkest intimations
from their flight。 The day passed； indeed； without event；
but in the fall of the evening we were called at last into
the verandah by the approaching clink of horse's hoofs。
The doctor； mounted on an Indian pony； rode into the garden；
dismounted； and saluted us。 He seemed much more bent； and
his hair more silvery than ever； but his demeanour was
composed； serious； and not unkind。
'Madam；' said he； 'I am come upon a weighty errand； and I
would have you recognise it as an effect of kindness in the
President； that he should send as his ambassador your only
neighbour and your husband's oldest friend in Utah。'
'Sir；' said my mother； 'I have but one concern； one thought。
You know well what it is。 Speak： my husband？'
'Madam；' returned the doctor； taking a chair on the verandah；
'if you were a silly child； my position would now be
painfully embarrassing。 You are； on the other hand； a woman
of great intelligence and fortitude： you have； by my
forethought； been allowed three weeks to draw your own
conclusions and to accept the inevitable。 Farther words from
me are； I conceive； superfluous。'
My mother was as pale as death； and trembled like a reed； I
gave her my hand； and she kept it in the folds of her dress
and wrung it till I could have cried aloud。 'Then； sir；'
said she at last； 'you speak to deaf ears。 If this be indeed
so； what have I to do with errands？ What do I ask of Heaven
but to die？'
'Come；' said the doctor； 'command yourself。 I bid you
dismiss all thoughts of your late husband； and bring a clear
mind to bear upon your own future and the fate of that young
girl。'
'You bid me dismiss … ' began my mother。 'Then you know！'
she cried。
'I know；' replied the doctor。
'You know？' broke out the poor woman。 'Then it was you who
did the deed！ I tear off the mask； and with dread and
loathing see you as you are … you； whom the poor fugitive
beholds in nightmares； and awakes raving … you； the
Destroying Angel！'
'Well； madam； and what then？' returned the doctor。 'Have not
my fate and yours been similar？ Are we not both immured in
this strong prison of Utah？ Have you not tried to flee； and
did not the Open Eye confront you in the canyon？ Who can
escape the watch of that unsleeping eye of Utah？ Not I； at
least。 Horrible tasks have； indeed； been laid upon me； and
the most ungrateful was the last； but had I refused my
offices； would that have spared your husband？ You know well
it would not。 I； too； had perished along with him； nor would
I have been able to alleviate his last moments； nor could I
to…day have stood between his family and the hand of Brigham
Young。'
'Ah！' cried I； 'and could you purchase life by such
concessions？'
'Young lady；' answered the doctor； 'I both could and did； and
you will live to thank me for that baseness。 You have a
spirit； Asenath； that it pleases me to recognise。 But we
waste time。 Mr。 Fonblanque's estate reverts； as you
doubtless imagine； to the Church； but some part of it has
been reserved for him who is to marry the family； and that
person； I should perhaps tell you without more delay； is no
other than myself。'
At this odious proposal my mother and I cried out aloud； and
clung together like lost souls。
'It is as I supposed；' resumed the doctor； with the same
measured utterance。 'You recoil from this arrangement。 Do
you expect me to convince you？ You know very well that I
have never held the Mormon view of women。 Absorbed in the
most arduous studies； I have left the slatterns whom they
call my wives to scratch and quarrel among themselves； of me；
they have had nothing but my purse； such was not the union I
desired； even if I had the leisure to pursue it。 No： you
need not； madam； and my old friend' … and here the doctor
rose and bowed with something of gallantry … 'you need not
apprehend my importunities。 On the contrary； I am rejoiced
to read in you a Roman spirit； and if I am obliged to bid you
follow me at once； and that in the name； not of my wish； but
of my orders； I hope it will be found that we are of a common
mind。'
So； bidding us dress for the road； he took a lamp （for the
night had now fallen） and set off to the stable to prepare
our horses。
'What does it mean？ … what will become of us？' I cried。
'Not that； at least；' replied my mother； shuddering。 'So far
we can trust him。 I seem to read among his words a certain
tragic promise。 Asenath； if I leave you； if I die； you will
not forget your miserable parents？'
Thereupon we fell to cross…purposes： I beseeching her to
explain her words； she putting me by； and continuing to
recommend the doctor for a friend。 'The doctor！' I cried at
last； 'the man who killed my father？'
'Nay；' said she； 'let us be just。 I do believe before；
Heaven； he played the friendliest part。 And he alone；
Asenath； can protect you in this land of death。'
At this the doctor returned； leading our two horses； and when
we were all in the saddle； he bade me ride on before； as he
had matter to discuss with Mrs。 Fonblanque。 They came at a
foot's pace； eagerly conversing in a whisper； and presently
after the moon rose and showed them looking eagerly in each
other's faces as they went； my mother laying her hand upon
the doctor's arm； and the doctor himself； against his usual
custom； making vigorous gestures of protest or asseveration。
At the foot of the track which ascended the talus of the
mountain to his door； the doctor overtook me at a trot。
'Here；' he said； 'we shall dismount； and as your mother
prefers to be alone； you and I shall walk together to my
house。'
'Shall I see her again？' I asked。
'I give you my word；' he said； and helped me to alight。 'We
leave the horses here；' he added。 'There are no thieves in
this stone wilderness。'
The track mounted gradually； keeping the house in view。 The
windows were once more bright； the chimney once more vomited
smoke； but the most absolute silence reigned； and； but for