"Well, madam," said Rev. Fitzallan, "I thought my services in this connection would be received graciously and thankfully. As they are not I occupy the position of an intruder and will take my leave."
"Not on my account, I hope," said Mr. Durant. "If there is an intruder here it is I, and it would be my duty to depart."
"You must not go under such circumstances," said Mrs. Marshall.
The girl's looks seconded her mother's words, and the irate churchman permitted his passion to overcome his judgment.
"Excuse me," he said, "but I will take my leave. Under the circumstances my presence must be altogether unwelcome. I have heard of the fascinating character of some of the features of Mormonism, and the persuasiveness of those who advocate it. Violation of the laws of God and man by practicing polygamy is one of the seductive usages of that creed, I believe."
"Your belief is erroneous, then," said Durant.
"Whatever my people may have believed in the past as to the correctness of doctrines taught by the Bible and the prophets of old, they now obey the laws of the land in which they live."
"Marvelous! I have heard otherwise. I have even taken the pains to bring with me a newspaper which I received from a traveler, and in which information of a different character is obtained. It is published in Salt Lake City and should be correct. Here is part of a sermon delivered by a Mormon Bishop; and here an account of several arrests for violating the law against polygamy and kindred offenses, while an editorial in the same paper comments strongly on the deception and falsity pervading the Mormon people. There must be a mistake somewhere."
"No, there is no mistake at all, but much falsehood and misrepresentation. It is true that since the law against polygamy was enacted there have been many prosecutions of members of our Church chiefly because of their inability instantly to sever the happy associations of a lifetime which had been formed before the law went into effect, or their lack of exact knowledge as to what the law required of them. It was a difficult, I may say an impossible matter, for them to break away entirely from a part of their families and never go near them, to give a word of counsel, or it may be hurriedly to embrace the little ones from whom the law had separated them. When thus found they have been apprehended, tried, convicted and punished, often without an effort to defend themselves. The Bishop named by the paper, does not, and never did exist, and the sermon referred to was never delivered, as the same paper has been compelled to admit on several occasions; and the editor's views, or rather sayings, are the words of a man whose chief interest in the community is to fan the flames of discord so that his nefarious business may prosper. His statements are utterly and entirely false."
After these remarks the reverend went to his room, and shortly afterward took his departure.