"Dear girl, I understand just exactly how you felt. And what you
did, was prompted by the best of feelings. But, my dear, you are too
impulsive, you must hold your feelings in with a tight rein, and let
them go at the right time. You broke into a public meeting. That is not
right, you know. Suppose you had waited; can't you see the good that
you might have done in your lecture afterwards? This newspaper article
is infamous," and he pointed to the headlines--"The Boldness of a
Trained 'Mormon' Missionary."
Betty flushed hotly, and tears of shame came to her eyes.
"Yes, it's more than mean," continued President Gladder. "It's
cowardly. But the papers are waiting, eagerly, to find some chance to
glare a 'Mormon's' mistake. We have to watch our step or--the Church is
harmed."
"I'm sorry, President Gladder. I'll see Dr. McLeod this afternoon. May
I go alone?"
"Yes. And, my dear girl, then forget it. You have done more good in
your one month, than most girls do in six. Next week, I want you to go
to Boston. Will you be ready?"
"Yes, President Gladder," said Betty with a great lump in her throat.
She mustn't let him see how hard it was for her to go.
So Betty left the mission home for the first time really unhappy. The
affair of two days ago had upset her sensitive mind, and made it harder
to part with those that she had grown fond of. Even old Mr. and Mrs.
Esterbrook who had returned from a trip a few days ago, had won Betty's
heart by their kindness. And then there was Dr. Cadman! More and more
she anticipated his calls and his kindness. She grew daily more fond of
this wonderful friend and she realized she was deeply in love with him
in spite of her interest in her mission work.
"Perhaps it is best that I am going away," she thought sadly, as she
neared Dr. McLeod's church. "I do want to do God's work with real zeal,
and he certainly distracts my thoughts."
Dr. McLeod received her kindly.
"I've come to apologize for disturbing your meeting," she said with
embarrassment.
"I accept the apology," replied the minister smiling. "Sit down, won't
you? I have just a few minutes. Please tell me about Mrs. Catt."
"O, Dr. McLeod, can't you please stop her awful preaching? She came to
Utah and almost every town entertained her, and she was so delighted
with everything. We all thought she was lovely,--except Sister Heller.
She is an Indian, and she warned me,--but I only scolded her for her
suspicions. Can't you do something, Dr. McLeod?"
"The minister met her earnestness with a grave shake of the head.
"I would like to help you, my dear girl. I don't like unfairness,
myself. I won't have her preach in my church again, but otherwise there
is nothing I can do. Prejudice runs so high here, you know."
"But could not you defend the 'Mormons' in your pulpit, and expose Mrs.
Catt?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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