THAT MORMON AGAIN.

Some months had passed away since the Elder took his departure from Westminster, and during this time his name had been on everybody's lips, both for good and evil. The principles advanced by him had taken such root in the minds of many that it seemed impossible for them to lay the doctrine aside. Among this class were the Marshalls, who, by the way, had increased their family by the addition of a son-in-law, their daughter Claire having, as was anticipated, changed her name from Marshall to Sutherland.

Herbert Sutherland was a rising young man of Westminster, well and favorably known to most of the people. He had for several years been very much attached to Miss Marshall, and, as the love was mutual, of course no one appeared surprised in the least when the wedding took place. Joy, and promise of an unclouded life, seemed to be the portion of the young couple.

Breakfast had been waiting for over an hour for Mr. Marshall, and his good wife had become almost impatient when the gate opened and he entered, saying to his wife, "You must overlook this delay, as I have been detained at the station. While passing, I noticed a familiar friend and could not resist the temptation of spending with him the forty minutes given for transferring baggage, even when aware that the detention kept you and the breakfast waiting."

"Well I declare," said Mrs. Marshall, "you must have met a very esteemed friend indeed, to have remained so long at the expense of so many."

"Who was it, papa?" remarked Claire; "it's no use asking us to guess, for you know we are not Yankees enough for that."

"One would imagine you had been in the presence of a number of friends," said Mr. Sutherland, "judging from the pleased expression on your face."

"Well, why not tell us who it was?" said Mrs. Marshall.

"It was one whose visit with us was very short, but whose name has been mentioned since scores of times," Mr. Marshall answered; "and now we will go to the dining room, and, in the meantime, I will tell you what my conversation was with Mr. Charles Durant, of Salt Lake City, our Mormon friend.

"I had learned that he promised while here to visit you again," remarked Mr. Sutherland, "and is it possible, he has been so near and yet failed to keep his promise? I did not think this of Mr. Durant, for, while I have not had the pleasure of his acquaintance, I had formed a very good opinion of him from remarks made by others, and was in hopes of seeing him myself some day."

"And so you shall," answered Mr. Marshall, "I tell you he has not forgotten. He is on his way home, it is true, but has taken a trip up the country for a few days, and intends visiting us when he returns."

"That's better," said Sutherland; "I do not wish to miss what you people claimed was a treat to you."

With this the family adjourned to the dining room, where Mr. Marshall acquainted them with all the facts received from Mr. Durant. He had performed his work to the entire satisfaction of the president of the Southern States Mission, and had been given a leave of absence to return home; but he had received word while en route that some Elders had been terribly beaten by a band of fanatics. He was instructed to pay his fellow laborers a visit, and administer to their wants before continuing his homeward journey. While he had in view a pleasant visit with the Marshalls, he could not think of enjoying the same before performing a duty to the brethren in distress. He would be with the Marshalls in a day or two and would then remain some days in their company.

"He has promised," said Mr. Marshall, "to answer all the questions we have been accumulating for him, and will be pleased indeed to have as many of our neighbors spend the evening with him as we are willing to invite."

"Exactly what Herbert has been wishing for," exclaimed Claire, "knowing so well that Mr. Durant and the Mormon gospel doctrines have made a deep impression on us, he has been very anxious to converse with this missionary."

"Yes," answered Sutherland, "if all I have heard from you is correct, then I am surprised that this peculiar people are despised to such an extent. The principles you have explained to me, as received from him, are logical and good, and Mr. Brown tells me they have had such an influence with him, that nothing short of a visit to Salt Lake City will satisfy the longing he has to study the Mormon question as he desires; and as for Claire, why she has gone over her Bible and marked the passages quoted by the Elder, until the Sacred Book looks like a Chinese record."

"And better than that," exclaimed his young wife, "I have committed the most of them to memory, and should he desire an assistant, I can surprise not only him but all of you with my knowledge of those principles. I realize how much happiness God has given me in this world, and how much I should endeavor to please Him, and have therefore devoted more time to reading His word than ever before, and, strange to say, I have found passages quoted by Mr. Durant whenever I have read, and the verses marked in my Bible seem to lead to something else that he has said. His testimony is so deeply rooted in my heart that I almost believe his people will yet be my people, and his faith will be my faith."

"Why, Claire," said her mother, "if you are not careful, you will be a Mormon before you are aware."

"And should you become one," said her husband, "think of your many friends, and the opinions they will have of you."

"Well, I haven't joined the Mormons yet," said Claire; "but if I do, it will be because I believe them to be right; and if I have your good will, Herbert, and that of papa and mamma, what care I for the opinions of others?"

"Well said," answered Herbert, with a smile; "but we will see if we cannot 'corner' your missionary, get him into an argumentative jail, if you please, from which it will be difficult or impossible for him to escape. Should he be able to make the gospel he teaches as plain and as reasonable as the doctrines that are set forth in the tracts which he left here, I can see no reason why any earnest, sincere searcher after knowledge cannot adopt that gospel as a living truth."

It was agreed, thereupon, that when the promised telegram from Durant should be received, giving the date of his arrival, the neighbors were to be invited, and the large dining room would be turned into an informal meeting place where the principles of the gospel, as believed in by the Mormons, could be further explained. This was accordingly done.