“I hope so,” exclaimed the poor girl, shrinking into her chair miserably.
But we must not blame her for her lack of courage. Remember, that she had been brought up by a man who was granite straight through to the heart.
“Well, now is the time to show it then, my child. We shall fight for you, the girls and I, and we will stand by you, but you must make some effort yourself. You cannot be made to marry if you don’t want to, and there is no law that I know of that would require you to return against your will to your father. You are not a child.”
Fortunately that morning the dining room was quite empty, and only a poor waitress saw the two armies lined up for battle. The opposing forces now entered. John James Stone and his relative, Ebenezer, marched quietly into the field, looking very formidable, it must be owned, with their white, expressionless faces and black clothes. General Helen Eustace Campbell and Captain Billie lead the other army, which marched gallantly out to meet them. The battle was a brief one.
“Evelyn, disobedient and wicked girl, how dare you mortify me as you have done?” began John James in a voice of thunder.
Evelyn shook with fear.
“And how dare you,” exclaimed the intrepid Helen, “interrupt me and my guests at breakfast? This young woman, twenty years of age, has placed herself in my care. She declines to marry your relative and there is no law in this country by which you can force her to do so. She also declines your support and protection and there is no law which will force her to accept it if she does not wish. She is not a child.”
“Madam, do you know who I am that you dare to interfere with me and my affairs?” cried the infuriated Mormon.
“I do,” exclaimed Miss Campbell in a high, clear voice, folding her arms. “I know that you are a scoundrel and that you are willing to cheat and lie in order to obtain your ends. I am not afraid of you and I do not consider you of the least importance. Your daughter is at this moment my guest, and I refuse to have her annoyed.”
The tall man and the little woman faced each other while the poor, craven bridegroom that was to have been, shrank back in amazement.