What of the Home-Coming? A Narrative Based on Real Life

WHAT OF THE HOME-COMING? A NARRATIVE BASED ON REAL LIFE. BY D. H. FOWLER. The Virginia creepers were pushed aside by a shapely feminine hand, and a pair of hazel eyes peered from behind their thick recesses. There was mingled in their depths a look of expectation, joy and sadness. Their owner, after a long, eager glance down the paved walk, sank back in a seat hidden from view by the trailing creepers which overhung the veranda at nearly every point. She sat in deep thought. AH day she had gone about her household duties as one in a dream. She could not realize that tomorrow she must look on his face for the last time — till he returned, two years or more hence, bearing sheaves of success and glory that come from duty well done. If she could only fall into a deep slumber, and so remain till time should drag out its slow cycles! Still she would not lay a straw in his way. He had been called to go forth in the face of a frowning world to represent a cause for which his parents and hers had sacrificed much. She felt, also, that there was glory in the end for them both, if she remained true and faithful to him, during the long separation. She was roused from her reverie by a well-known step on the pavement, and a moment later confronted by a broad-shouldered, manly youth. She had stepped from her cover to greet him, and stood in the glov: of the setting sun whose touch like that of Midas changed to gold her crown of gold-brown hair. It revealed a form slightly taller than the medium of her sex, but withal so well moulded and symmetrical that at once one was struck with its simple beauty. Her face was lighted by the delicate crimson on

WHAT OF THE HOME-COMING? 331 her cheeks, and her lips were of the proverbial rose-bud type, specially designed to tempt the sterner sex . She gave him her hand, and tried to hide her real feelings behind a faint smile. "How late you are tonight! I suppose you had business so much more important than this that you were justified in remaining away as long as possible?" "Thank you," he returned with a sad smile, "I have received so many thrusts of late that my heart is pretty well calloused and can receive one more quite gracefully, I hope." And he took the proifered seat by her side. She cast a smiling glance into his face which portrayed to his love-sharpened eyes more than she had deigned to admit before. The look rewarded him for all his past efforts to gain her affection. ' 'You are still inclined to take my observations in their most serious light," she said apologetically. "You must learn to look on the sunny side of life, and remember you are going to scatter light to a world that we believe has less than we have." "I had almost forgotten there is any sun, at times, during the events of the last few days; especially when my thoughts turned to this bower. But you are right. I am to be a carrier of increased light to a people who do not feel its need on the activities and researches of modern life. They cannot conceive of the idea that the great All-wise would deem it necessary, in this professedly enlightened day, to illuminate men with the heaven-light that comes only from His divine presence. And yet I have a feeling of joy and satisfaction in my heart that I never experienced while engaged in the activities of common business pursuits. Tomorrow I leave behind me an aged father, an invalid mother, brothers and sisters, friends, and llife associates, chances of worldly gain, and last, but not least, your own dear self." Here she feigned to be re-arranging the folds of her gown, so that her eyes failed to meet his. "God willing, I shall be parted from them at least two years," he continued. "During that time I shall pay my own way in the world, as hundreds of our missionaries have done before me, and give my time and energies to the work of proclaiming a new message of heaven-revealed light to an ungrateful world. Few will believe my words; many will revile, scoff

332 IMPROVEMENT ERA. at, and falsify me, as they have always done to our people, and all advocates of new truth ever since time was. Yet in the face of all, I feel in my very soul that if I betray not this trust, and execute well this commission, that the great Rewarder of all who answer duty's call, will prosper me beyond my fondest hope." "Yet it seems hard to spend two of the very best years of your life isolated from your friends. But, of course, I would go if I were in your place, '^she ventured. "I have but one regret, and that is leaving you behind. 0 Marval, I tremble to think what changes there might be here when I return. Yet, I cannot ask you to remain true to me; you may meet someone with whom it would be to your advantage to cast your lot. And yet, I cannot bear the thought . It pierces my heart like a point of steel to think of you by another's side. Marval, speak to me. Don't you see how I have loved you since first I came into your path? Ah, but I should not ask it." And he struggled to master his feelings. Slowly she raised her head and met the gaze of ardent love. Marval Hall clasped her hands across his shoulders and the glow of her face lit his inmost soul. Their eyes met, and almost simultaneously the golden head fell on the clasped hands, and the supple form trembled convulsively. So, rascally Cupid of ancient renown bound together these two hearts which had fallen prey to his wily archery. The sharp ring of the telephone brought them back from this reverie to cruel earth. She raised her head and sank back in the settee . The answer was satisfactory — so much so that it exceeded his most sanguine hopes. Still, no word had she volunteered, and he longed to hear some expression from her lips. But he was cautious . "0 that I had a right to ask you to wait. But the sacrifice is too great. I cannot! I cannot!" he exclaimed, and impulsively clasped her slender hands in his strong ones and clung to them as one clings to a treasure that any moment may be torn away forever. Again the hazel eyes raised to his, and one word escaped the parted lips— "Why?"

WHAT OF THE HOME-COMLYGf 333 Again her eyes fell, and she drew back as though maiden modesty had exceeded her bounds. The ardent wooer was quick to grasp the significance of the single monosyllable. A kiss was his impulsive reply, and never was reply more eloquent. They sat and talked of future bliss, after duty should have had her claim upon his activities. And they almost forgot, for a time, that twenty-four hours would see him with his back turned on their dear old Utah home. The next day was a memorable one for our Elder. In the forenoon he attended tD some miscellaneous preparations for the journey, and checked his baggage. Six-thirty p. m. saw the pair at the railway depot. They had twenty minutes only to wait, yet neither had aught to say, except that at times half meaning sentences would escape from the lips of one to be answered by the other in the same far-away manner. Soon two other elders arrived, and Marval attemi)ted to smile, and politely recognized them as they were being formally presented. The train rolled into the station and stopped. The elders boarded it and chose their seats, placed on them their small grips, and returned to step their feet again on native soil, and there greet for the last time those whom they held near and dear. One of our heroes had his grey-haired mother on whose lips to press his parting caress, and from whose lips to receive his last benediction: "God bless you, my son; he will, if you do your duty." The third elder was from Idaho, and had passed through his parting the day previous. The "ail-aboard" of the conductor rang out on the air, our hero's lips met Marval's in a heartfelt kiss, and he sprang to the steps of the car and watched the beautiful, dejected form of a young girl walk slowly away, as one in a dream. The train swung round a curve, and she was lost to sight. He had turned his back on his home, and something within him seemed to say, "perhaps forever!" ■ Two travel-stained youths stopped in front of a large , crossless church. It was the third day since their parting from the stronghold of the Saints. The June sun shone through the smoke of a metropolitan city. Their thoughts had been somewhat di-

334 IMPR 0 YEMEN T ERA . verted from their loved ones left behind, by the ever-changing scenes that came to vie>v along the way. The spectre of the great, murky cities contrasted greatly with the clear mountain air of their b -loved Zion. One of their number had dropped out of the company, a thousand miles behind, to make his way to another field of labor. So, as these two stood at last at the headquarters of that particular mission, they raised their eyes to the stately building and read the inscription, "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." They ambled up the stairway of the office department, and soon faced the office clerk. They were informed that the mission president was out of the city. Our Elder asked for paper, and sat down to inform her of his safe arrival, and to enlarge upon some of the new scenes through which he had recently passed, closing with a few tender sentiments that young hearts delight to exchange . Three months later, and in a northern city. A group of people stand huddled together on the principal business corner. They seem intently listening to what appears to be a recital of peculiar interest. The earnest tones of the speaker float out on the evening air. "It is a message of the greatest importance to all mankind, if they but understood it," he was saying. "It is essentially a message of truth, and mankind have never looked favorably on that, at the first. Galileo was persecuted when he declared the earth was not the centre of the universe, but was one of a family of planets which revolved around the sun. Columbus was called a fool for thinking he could sail around it. Even the Savior of the world was hounded and killed because his message did not agree with the accepted dogmas of the hypocritical Pharisees ; yet his teachings were as far above theirs as the heavens are above the earth. The poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, in his estimable poem on 'Truth,' says: The time is racked with birth pangs ; every hour Brings forth some gasping truth, and truth, new-born, Looks a misshapen and untimely growth, The terror of the household and its shame; A monster coiling in its nurse's lap,

WHAT OF THE HOME-COMING? 335 That some would strangle, some would only starve; But still it breathes, and passed from hand to hand, And suckled at a hundred half-clad breasts, Comes slowly to its stature and its form; Calms the rough ridges of its dragon scales. Changes to shining locks its snaky hair, And moves, transfigured into angel-guise, Welcomed by all that cursed its hour of birth; And folded in the same encircling arms. That cast it like a serpent from their fold. "So the tidings we have to bear to the world are not in accord with the accepted Christian dogmas of today. But does that make them untrue? We bring you the information that God has again <>pened the heavens as of old, and made known his will to his earth-children. And we hear the old cry of 'fools/ 'imposture,' 'away with them.' Churchmen of today tell us that there is no need of new revelation, but is there? Paul spoke of apostles and prophets to remain in the Church 'till we all come to a unity of the faith.' Is Christianity at present coming nearer to that ideal condition, or receding from it? Are there more creeds arising, and all differing from one another, or are they growing fewer? I know of no time in the history of the world when light from heaven was more needed to illume the problems that confront the ■Christian world than today. Besides its being logical, it is scriptural. 'Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants, the prophets,' says Amos. Also John, the Divine, saw that a heavenly messenger should come to earth in the last days. "Now what are the fruits of the teachings of Latter-day Saints? In short, they are these: they adhere to the doctrines of prophets, Christ and the apostles; they stand in the foremost ranks of education ; they maintain a high standard of morality in their everyday life, notwithstanding the belief some of you may have to the contrary; they are spiritually-minded. They are honest; and the advanced industrial conditions that prevail among them may well be held up as a standard to the world. These statements are borne out by statistics and actual facts. The man and woman who are disposed to look down on what they please to term ^Mormonism,' do not know the truth about it. Because one does

336 IMPROVEMENT ERA. not understand an institution is no reason why one should judge it. 'Judge not,' said the Master, 'lest ye be judged.' My people stand for all that is elevating and uplifting, and the time will come that the world will know it." For more than an hour, he found eager listeners to the message he had to give; and after closing, men came and gave him the welcome hand. They seemed deeply impressed by the earnestness of his manner, and the evident purity of his mind. During his advent in their city, many people believed his words, and could see in him uprightness and cleanness of life; but few seemed disposed to ally themselves with his creed— it was unpopular. Time rolled on. Summer had again conquered the icy chill of the frost giants. The Elder and Marval Hall had kept up a continual correspondence. She had been true and faithful. , As for him, his heart oft dwelt on the glad meeting when his duty abroad should be finished and he be again returned to the open arms of his loved ones. He felt that each day she was dearer than the last. And what would she say and how would she receive him as he came through the old gate, and up to the dear old vine-covered bower? It would not be long now till these dreams should be realized, he tried to tell himself. The time thus far had seemed to fly on the wings of the wind, for he found an abundance of activities to employ his time, and withal he felt a quiet joy that comes to men when they know their acts merit the approbation of the Perfect One. But on this particular summer day, as he made his way with measured tread toward his plainly furnished rooms, his heart was singularly sad and his manner dejected. He could not understand why. He thought over the experiences of his trip to the outlying country towns, from which he was just returning. He had been gone two weeks, during which time he had traveled "without purse or scrip" depending on the arm of the Lord to provide him the necessaries of life, as in old time. He had found friends who had readily provided for all his wants, as he went from village to village, crying repentance to what he considered to be a generation steeped in false religious tradition, error, and only too often the sins incident to man's fallen nature. He left booklets

WHAT OF THE HOME-COMING? 337 in his wake which would inform the reader of some of the principles of the restored gospel, and the will of the Father concerning them. He felt that his expedition had been entirely successful from his standpoint, namely: to warn the children of men. So, as he found himself and companion drawing near their humble abode, he could not fcithom this depression of spirit, which he had heard often came to men as a precursor of some impending evil. His fellow wayfarer noted his despondent air, and tried to draw his mind from what he guessed to be the subject of his thoughts. "Cheer up, it will be all right with her, if perchance she is the one whom the All-wise has designed to be your helpmeet." "Brother S ," he replied, evading the subject, "I cannot understand my mood this morning, myself; I think I shall rest today. Let us borrow Brother? 's skiff and sink our cares in yonder river. (to be concluded in next number.) Independence , Mo. Photo by C. R. Savage. Wasatch Mountains — Scene in Ogden Canyon.