[The Mormon Prophet by Lily Dougall]@TWC D-Link bookThe Mormon Prophet CHAPTER X 3/11
"I remember when my father--" She had not the faith that Smith required of her. Without a frown, with perfect gentleness, Smith fetched the water and, lifting the sick man's head, allowed him to drink eagerly.
Halsey was obviously comforted. Smith had something else to say.
If he had not been who he was Susannah might have perceived that he was somewhat perplexed, even embarrassed. Just as a child does not easily attribute to the adult such hindering emotions, so she supposed him to be upon a plane above them. He lingered by the bedside, apparently watching the sufferer.
At length he said, "You set out with this young man--yesterday morning ?" "Yes, very early." There was another pause, then he said, "Did you go before a justice of the peace ?" "A justice of the peace ?" Then she added inconsequently, "My uncle is a justice of the peace." She had never heard of a civil marriage; she did not know in the least what he meant. "Or--or a minister ?" She began to understand now. "I married you myself, sister, and it was sealed in heaven, but I haven't got a license to marry, so that the Gentiles would say--that the knot wasn't tied, ye know." The last words were a lapse into common parlance.
She had grown accustomed to the hybrid nature of his mannerism. He had expected and feared to see her white face flame into excitement, but to Susannah it seemed a small thing now what the Gentiles might say. If the marriage was indeed sealed in heaven, then all was well.
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