ove. Uncle Jim never rested well after that. But it never
worried me.

"One day, over a year ago, while I was across the valley, I heard
strange shouts, and then screams. I ran to our camp. I came upon men
with ropes and guns. Uncle Jim was tied, and a rope was round his neck.
Mother Jane was lying on the ground. I thought she was dead until I
heard her moan. I was not afraid. I screamed and flew at Uncle Jim to
tear the ropes off him. The men held me back. They called me a pretty
cat. Then they talked together, and some were for hanging Lassiter--that
was the first time I ever knew any name for him but Uncle Jim--and some
were for leaving him in the valley. Finally they decided to hang him.
But Mother Jane pleaded so and I screamed and fought so that they left
off. Then they went away and we saw them climb out of the valley.

"Uncle Jim said they were Mormons, and some among them had been born in
Cottonwoods. I was not told why they had such a terrible hate for him.
He said they would come back and kill him. Uncle Jim had no guns to
fight with.

"We watched and watched. In five days they did come back, with more men,
and some of them wore black masks. They came to our cave with ropes and
guns. One was tall. He had a cruel voice. The others ran to obey him. I
could see white hair and sharp eyes behind the mask. The men caught me
and brought me before him.

"He said Lassiter had killed many Mormons. He said Lassiter had killed
his father and should be hanged. But Lassiter would be let live and
Mother Jane could stay with him, both prisoners there in the valley, if
I would marry the Mormon. I must marry him, accept the Mormon faith, and
bring up my children as Mormons. If I refused they would hang Lassiter,
leave the heretic Jane Withersteen alone in the valley, and take me and
break me to their rule.

"I agreed. But Mother Jane absolutely forbade me to marry him. Then the
Mormons took me away. It nearly killed me to leave Uncle Jim and Mother
Jane. I was carried and lifted out of the valley, and rode a long way
on a horse. They brought me here, to the cabin where I live, and I have
never been away except that--that time--to--Stonebridge. Only little by
little did I learn my position. Bishop Kane was kind, but stern, because
I could not be quick to learn the faith.

"I am not a sealed wife. But they're trying to make me one. The master
Mormon--he visited me often--at night--till lately. He threatened me. He
never t