Story of Chester Lawrence | Page 6

tiresome, call my attention to the porpoises,
or declare that you can see a whale."
"I promise," laughed the other.
"Well, to begin at the very beginning, I was born in a suburb of
Chicago, and lived in and near that city most of my life. My mother's
name was Anna Lawrence. I never knew my father, not even his name.
Yes, I can talk freely about it to you. The time was when I shunned
even the thoughts of my earthly origin and my childhood days, but I
have gotten over that. I have learned to face the world and all the truth
it has for me.
"When I was but a child, my mother married Hugh Elston. Shortly after,
they both heard the gospel preached by a 'Mormon' elder, and they
accepted it. I had been placed in the care of some of my relatives, and
when my mother now wished to take me, they would not give me up.
They were, of course, fearful that I, too, would become a 'Mormon.' Mr.
Elston and my mother went west to Utah. I was sent to school, obtained
a fairly good education, and while yet a young man, was conducting a
successful business.
"I had nearly forgotten that I had a parent at all, when one day, my
mother, without announcement, came to Chicago. She had left her
husband. Mother did not say much to any of us, but I took it for granted
that she had been abused among the 'terrible Mormons.' After a time I
took a trip out to Utah to see about it, meaning to find this Mr. Elston
and compel him to do the right thing for my mother. Well, I went, I saw,
and was conquered. Mr. Elston was a widower living in a spot of green
called Piney Ridge Cottage amid the sage-brush desert,--living there
alone with his daughter Julia. And this Julia--well--Do you see any
porpoises, Brother Malby?"
"Not yet. Go on."
"Mr. Elston is a fine, good-hearted man,--a gentleman in very deed. He
soon found out who I was and invited me to his home. Julia was

mistress there. In the midst of the desert, these two had created a
beautiful home. I went to their Sunday School and their meetings. I
read Mormon books. My eyes were opened to the truth, and I was ready
to accept it."
"Thanks to Julia," suggested the listener with a sly glance at Chester.
"Yes; thanks to Julia, Brother Malby; but not in the sense you hint at. I
think I would have accepted the gospel, even had there been no Julia
mixed up with the finding of it. But Julia helped. She was a living
example of what 'Mormonism' can do for a person, and when I looked
at her, learned her thoughts through her words, and saw her life by her
every-day deeds, I said to myself, 'A system of religion that produces
such a soul, cannot be bad.' Yes; she was a wonderful help; but I repeat
that had the truth come to me by other means and other ways, I believe
I should have accepted it."
"Forgive me for the thoughtless remark," said Elder Malby.
"O, I know how justifiable you are for it, so you are forgiven."
"Did you join the Church in Utah?"
"No; I went back to Chicago. Away from Utah, from Piney Ridge
Cottage and its influence. I pondered and prayed. I found the elders
there and was baptized. Then I went to Salt Lake City, where Julia had
gone to attend school while her father was away on a mission to
England." Chester paused, looking out on the sea. "You don't blame me
for falling in love with Julia, do you?" asked he.
"I don't blame you a bit."
"But there was someone else, a young fellow who had grown up as a
neighbor to her. He also went on a mission, and then I believe Julia
discovered that she thought more of Glen Curtis than of me. I do not
now blame Julia for that. She told me plainly her feelings. I persisted
for a time, but in vain--then I went away, and have never been to Utah
since."

"And that's the end of your story?"
"Oh, no; while I was roaming aimlessly about the country trying to
mend a broken heart, mother, becoming uneasy about me, and thinking
I was yet in Utah, journeyed out west to find me. The team on the
stage-coach which took her out to Julia's home, ran away from the
drunken driver, and just before they got to Piney Ridge Cottage the
wagon upset on a dug-way, and mother was mortally hurt. She died
under Julia's care, and now lies in Mr. Elston's private graveyard near
Piney Ridge Cottage