The Lions of the Lord: A Tale of the Old West
praying, with a power that will surely draw me.’ You will come somehow. Perhaps, when I reach winter quarters, you will have changed your mind. One never knows how God may fashion these little providences. But He will bring you safe to me out of that Gentile perdition. Remember, child, God has set his hand in these last days to save the human family from the ruins of the fall, and some way, He alone knows how, you will come to me and find me waiting.” 

 “As if you needed to wait for me when I am here now ready for you, willing to be taken!” 

 “Don’t, don’t, dear! There are two of me now, and one can’t stand the pain. There is a man in me, sworn to do a man’s work like a man, and duty to God and the priesthood has big chains around his heart dragging it across the river. But, low, now—there is a little, forlorn boy in me, too—a poor, crying, whimpering, babyish little boy, who dreamed of you and longed for you and was promised you, and who will never get well of losing you. Oh, I know it well enough—his tears will never dry, his heart will always have a big hurt in it—and your face will always be so fresh and clear in it!” 

 He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down into the face under the bonnet. 

 “Let me make sure I shall lose no look of you, from little tilted chin, and lips of scarlet thread, and little teeth like grains of rice, and eyes into which I used to wander and wonder so far—” 

 She looked past him and stepped back. 

 “Captain Girnway is coming for me—yonder, away down the street. He takes me to Carthage.” 

 His face hardened as he looked over his shoulder. 

 “I shall never wed any woman but you. Can you feel as deeply as that? Will you wed no man but me?” 

 She fluttered the cherry ribbons on the bonnet and fixed a stray curl in front of one ear. 

 “Have you a right to ask that? I might wait a time for you to come back—to your senses and to me, but—” 

 “Good-bye, darling!”. 

 “What, will you go that way—not kiss me? He is still two blocks away.” 

 “I am so weak for you, sweet—the little boy in me is crying for you, but he must not have what he wants. What he wants would leave his heart rebellious and not perfect with the Lord. It’s best not,” he 
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