Her smiles and tears seemingly dazed him. Presently as
something like calmness returned, she went to Lassiter's weary
horse.
"I will water him myself," she said, and she led the horse to a
trough under a huge old cottonwood. With nimble fingers she
loosened the bridle and removed the bit. The horse snorted and
bent his head. The trough was of solid stone, hollowed out,
moss-covered and green and wet and cool, and the clear brown
water that fed it spouted and splashed from a wooden pipe.
"He has brought you far to-day?"
"Yes, ma'am, a matter of over sixty miles, mebbe seventy."
"A long ride--a ride that--Ah, he is blind!"
"Yes, ma'am," replied Lassiter.
"What blinded him?"
"Some men once roped an' tied him, an' then held white-iron close
to his eyes."
"Oh! Men? You mean devils....Were they your
enemies--Mormons?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"To take revenge on a horse! Lassiter, the men of my creed are
unnaturally cruel. To my everlasting sorrow I confess it. They
have been driven, hated, scourged till their hearts have
hardened. But we women hope and pray for the time when our men
will soften."
"Beggin' your pardon, ma'am--that time will never come."
"Oh, it will!...Lassiter, do you think Mormon women wicked? Has
your hand been against them, too?"
"No. I believe Mormon women are the best and noblest, the most
long-sufferin', and the blindest, unhappiest women on earth.
Pages:
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33