proudest woman in the world. But we HAVE been very hasty, for
people who have been mere acquaintances. And mother is dreadfully
opposed to such affairs--she is of the old style, you know."

"It was all my fault," said I. "I'll apologize promptly and
handsomely. The time and agony which I didn't consume in laying
siege to your heart I'll devote to the task of gaining your
mother's good graces."

The look I received in reply to this remark would have richly
repaid me had my task been to conciliate as many mothers-in-law as
Brigham Young possesses. But her smile faded as she said:--

"You don't know what a task you have before you. Mother has a very
tender heart, but it's thoroughly fenced in by proprieties. In her
day and set, courtship was a very slow, stately affair, and mother
believes it the proper way now; so do I, but I admit possible
exceptions, and mother doesn't. I'm afraid she won't be patient if
she knows the whole truth, yet I can't bear to keep it from her.
I'm her only child, you know."

"DON'T keep it from her," said I, "unless for some reason of your
own. Let me tell the whole story, take all the responsibility, and
accept the penalties, if there are any. Your mother is right in
principle, if there IS a certain delightful exception that we know
of."

"My only fear is for YOU," said my darling, nestling closer to me.
"She comes of a family that can display most glorious indignation
when there's a good excuse for it, and I can't bear to think of