Breakfast had been waiting for over an hour for Mr. Marshall, and his good wife had become almost impatient when the gate opened and he entered, saying to his wife, "You must overlook this delay, as I have been detained at the station. While passing, I noticed a familiar friend and could not resist the temptation of spending with him the forty minutes given for transferring baggage, even when aware that the detention kept you and the breakfast waiting." "Well I declare," said Mrs. Marshall, "you must have met a very esteemed friend indeed, to have remained so long at the expense of so many." "Who was it, papa?" remarked Claire; "it's no use asking us to guess, for you know we are not Yankees enough for that." "One would imagine you had been in the presence of a number of friends," said Mr. Sutherland, "judging from the pleased expression on your face." "Well, why not tell us who it was?" said Mrs. Marshall. "It was one whose visit with us was very short, but whose name has been mentioned since scores of times," Mr. Marshall answered; "and now we will go to the dining room, and, in the meantime, I will tell you what my conversation was with Mr. Charles Durant, of Salt Lake City, our Mormon friend. "I had learned that he promised while here to visit you again," remarked Mr. Sutherland, "and is it possible, he has been so near and yet failed to keep his promise? I did not think this of Mr. Durant, for, while I have not had the pleasure of his acquaintance, I had formed a very good opinion of him from remarks made by others, and was in hopes of seeing him myself some day." "And so you shall," answered Mr. Marshall, "I tell you he has not forgotten. He is on his way home, it is true, but has taken a trip up the country for a few days, and intends visiting us when he returns." "That's better," said Sutherland; "I do not wish to miss what you people claimed was a treat to you." With this the family adjourned to the dining room, where Mr. Marshall acquainted them with all the facts received from Mr. Durant. He had performed his work to the entire satisfaction of the president of the Southern States Mission, and had been given a leave of absence to return home; but he had received word while _en route_ that some Elders had been terribly beaten by a band of fanatics. He was instructed to pay his fellow laborers a visit, and administer to their wants before continuing his homeward journey. While he had in view a pleasant visit with the Marshalls, he could not think of enjoying the same before performing a duty to the brethren in distress. He would be with the Marshalls in a day or two and would then remain some days in their company. "He has promised," said Mr. Marshall, "to answer all the questions we have been accumulating for him, and will be pleased indeed to have as many of our neighbors spend the evening with him as we are willing to invite."