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Chapter 27

           Thestreetswerealmostdeserted,exceptinthevicinityofthetemple,whichtheyonlyreachedafterhavingtraversedseveralquarterssurroundedbypalisades.Thereweremanywomen,whichwaseasilyaccountedforbythe"peculiarinstitution"oftheMormons;butitmustnotbesupposedthatalltheMormonsarepolygamists.Theyarefreetomarryornot,astheyplease;butitisworthnotingthatitismainlythefemalecitizensofUtahwhoareanxioustomarry,as,accordingtotheMormonreligion,maidenladiesarenotadmittedtothepossessionofitshighestjoys.Thesepoorcreaturesseemedtobeneitherwelloffnorhappy.Somethemorewell-to-do,nodoubtworeshort,open,blacksilkdresses,underahoodormodestshawl;otherswerehabitedinIndianfashion.

           Passepartoutcouldnotbeholdwithoutacertainfrightthesewomen,charged,ingroups,withconferringhappinessonasingleMormon.Hiscommonsensepitied,aboveall,thehusband.Itseemedtohimaterriblethingtohavetoguidesomanywivesatonceacrossthevicissitudesoflife,andtoconductthem,asitwere,inabodytotheMormonparadisewiththeprospectofseeingtheminthecompanyofthegloriousSmith,whodoubtlesswasthechiefornamentofthatdelightfulplace,toalleternity.Hefeltdecidedlyrepelledfromsuchavocation,andheimaginedperhapshewasmistakenthatthefaironesofSaltLakeCitycastratheralarmingglancesonhisperson.Happily,hisstaytherewasbutbrief.Atfourthepartyfoundthemselvesagainatthestation,tooktheirplacesinthetrain,andthewhistlesoundedforstarting.Justatthemoment,however,thatthelocomotivewheelsbegantomove,criesof"Stop!stop!"wereheard.

           Trains,liketimeandtide,stopfornoone.ThegentlemanwhoutteredthecrieswasevidentlyabelatedMormon.Hewasbreathlesswithrunning.Happilyforhim,thestationhadneithergatesnorbarriers.Herushedalongthetrack,jumpedontherearplatformofthetrain,andfell,exhausted,intooneoftheseats.

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