Morning Star (43 page)

He saw the changing expression in her eyes and said, “Why are you crying now?”

“When I didn't have it, you loved me enough to accept me and the child, even when you thought it was Joseph's!”

He kissed her fingers. “John Mark does have eyes like mine—funny I never noticed. I just kept looking for him to develop that terrible nose.”

“Oh, Mark!” She gulped and dabbed at her eyes. “You'd better go. John Mark is banging on the oven door with his spoon, and my morning sickness is threatening.”

Before Mark left the house, he swooped John Mark up in his arms, tossed him, and said, “Son!”

When Mark rode into the livery stable, Tom was leaning against the door looking very serious. Mark tilted his hat back and waited.

Tom headed for the harness room and Mark followed. Picking up a harness with a loose buckle, Tom examined it carefully, avoiding Mark's eyes. “Mind telling me how I get the kind of religion you and Jenny have?”

When Mark finally reached the office, Joseph was pacing the floor and frowning. After glaring at Mark he said, “Seen the newspaper?”

“No, I can't say that I have. I carried one home last weekend but forgot to look at it.”

“I hear your wife is leaving town.”

“Naw, she's changed her mind. Feeling poorly with a young'un. She said to give you a message.” Joseph waited. “She said tear up the paper—you'd know which one. She said since it hasn't been validated, it isn't doing you a bit of good.” Mark grinned and added, “Well, I guess I'd better go see what I can work up in the way of a defense.”

Mark's grin vanished when he saw the stack of newspapers on his desk. He sat down and began reading. When he finished, Joseph was waiting, leaning back in his chair with hands behind his head.

“So the
Times and Seasons
considers your accusations against Higbee too indelicate to print. Joseph, rather than helping your cause, every story that comes out is an indirect reflection upon you. Soon people will begin to wonder why you've let these affairs continue.”

Finally Mark finished the last paper and, folding them together, dropped them in the trash. “They are worthless to our defense. I'm not certain these stories will help the others either, but one thing I'm very certain about is that they will focus the eyes of the nation on Nauvoo.”

Joseph shuddered and got to his feet. “One thing is clear; I need all the help I can get. I'm going to ride into Carthage and see if I can round up some more legal help. Wonder if I can talk Stephen A. Douglas into giving me a hand?”

Before the month of May drew to a close, a grand jury in Hancock returned indictments against the Prophet, charging him with adultery and perjury. Joseph succeeded in getting indictments voted against Dr. Foster and Francis Higbee with the charge of false arrest and slander.

“One thing I can say for certain,” Tom remarked, after the first trial, “the trial of Foster and Higbee drew nearly as big a crowd as the Legion parades do on a good day.” He paused to reflect before adding, “‘Course, the trials had all that sensational mud-slinging to advertise them. Guess they lived up to promise.”

Mark had to agree with Tom. “One good feature; maybe by the time the court gets around to hearing Joseph's case, things will have calmed down a bit. It's been continued until next term of court.”

The last Sabbath day in May, as Jenny and Mark prepared to go into Nauvoo for the service in the temple grove, Jenny asked, “Have you heard anything about the church William Law started?”

Mark shook his head. “I do know several of the men have been working night and day setting up the new press. They've even started writing, so it shouldn't be long now before they're producing a newspaper.”

“I'm excited and frightened for them,” Jenny murmured. “They are very brave men. I'm just grateful they've insisted you keep your distance.”

This Sabbath Mark was able to find a shady spot close to the platform, so after greeting friends, they settled down to listen to the sermon.

Jenny whispered to Mark, “You think the walls don't have ears in Nauvoo? I've talked to three women this morning who asked me why I didn't go to Cleveland. Fortunately, I have a wonderful reason for not going.” She beamed at him.

Within minutes after Joseph began to talk, the audience shifted uneasily and exchanged glances. He was saying, “Considering it all, the Lord has fortunately given me the ability to glory in persecution. Oppression can madden a wise man and a fool. As for this beardless boy—give me a chance to whip the world.

“I'll stand astride the mountains and crow. Always I'll be the victor. And in the end, innocence and truth will prevail. Ye prosecutor and ye false witnesses, come at me! All hell, boil! I shall come out on top of you all.”

Joseph paused to lean forward to catch the eyes of all who would look, saying, “I've every reason to boast. No man has done a greater work than I.” His hand swept the congregation. “See this multitude? I hold them all together. Even Jesus had trouble keeping a crowd following Him. Jesus' followers ran away from Him, but you don't see mine running away, yet. Since the days of Adam, I am the only man standing who alone can hold a church together. No other man has done such a task.”

Sobering now, he said, “Only God knows the charges brought to bear against me are false. What a thing—this ugly charge of adultery! My brethren, I am the same man I was fourteen years ago when the church was born. I am innocent of the charges, and I shall prove my accusers wrong.”

Chapter 43

The morning of June 7 dawned clear and warm. The thunderclouds which had clustered on the horizon were gone. As Mark headed toward Nauvoo, he looked at the sky and brooded, “Would that it were as clear in our city!” As he said it, he realized how often he had been saying the same thing.

He was still mulling over the comparison as he rode on. Mark had nearly reached the outskirts of Nauvoo when the dark figure on horseback came out of the trees. Frowning, he pulled on the reins and quickly scanned the trees. If the man were an Angel, there would be more behind him.

The man rode quickly and confidently toward him. Mark gave a sigh of relief as he recognized William Law.

Mark stopped in the shade of a tree. “You had my heart in my throat,” he muttered as Law pulled his horse close.

“Better be cautious.” William's terse statement was underscored by his tired, white face. He pulled a newspaper out from under his coat and handed it to Mark. “Thought I'd better give this to you now. Might not get a chance later; besides, it'll be wise for you to be forewarned. It's the first issue of the
Nauvoo Expositor
. We tried to say it all, in case there's not another opportunity.”

Mark glanced sharply at the man. “I trust your fears are only a reflection of fatigue.”

William shook his head. “Let's say I don't expect Joseph to accept this in a good-hearted way. We've taken precautions. Don't go to the pressroom; we've a couple of thick-skinned Missourians standing guard just in case.”

“You really are concerned,” Mark said slowly, glancing down at the paper. “I take it you've resigned yourself to a fight.”

“We're standing by, expecting the worst. And the minute it happens, we're heading for Carthage.” William touched his hat and guided his horse out to the road.

For a moment Mark watched as man and beast disappeared through the trees. He sighed and opened the newspaper and began quickly skimming the articles. “Emmons, huh? Looks like he's done a thorough job. Fair, pointed, but not cheap.”

He read, “We most solemnly and sincerely declare . . . God being witness.” His eyes picked up the words—“A doctrine taught secretly, denied openly. . . . We set forth for all to see the principles of Joseph Smith. . . . whoredoms, not in accord with the principles of Jesus Christ.”

Quickly now, with rising excitement, Mark glanced through the articles. One revealed the seductions of immigrant women, done under the promise of holiness. Mark recognized the story of Martha Brotherton, the young woman he had escorted home from Joseph's office. How he remembered her anger!

“Our hearts have mourned . . . bled at the wretched conditions of females in this place. . . . Impossible to describe without wounding . . . but truth shall come to the world.” Mark found Jane Law's story and Mrs. Foster's.

Finally, with a sigh he slowly folded the paper and tucked it into his saddlebag. “Well,” he muttered, “these next few days are going to be interesting.” He flicked the reins and nudged the mare with his heels.

Mark had just reached the office when two members of the Legion thundered up the stairs. Throwing him a sharp glance they went into Joseph's office. Mark followed.

Joseph was at his desk. With a clenched fist he pounded the newspaper spread across its surface. “I want every issue of this paper picked up, even if you must beat on doors to get them. Lies, filth! Burn them all! You fellas are supposed to be my eyes and ears around Nauvoo. Why didn't you tell me Law had a press and that he was ready to print?”

The men left as hurriedly as they arrived and Joseph headed for the door. He paused. “Mark, I'll be at the city council offices. I don't know what I'm going to do, but if I need you, I'll send for you.” For a moment his eyes were questioning, suspicious.

“If you've information, I want it. If you haven't read the paper, which I doubt heartily, there it is. Filter the crowd who'll rush in, and calm the fears.”

Mark shrugged and picked up Joseph's copy of the paper and carried it into his office. Clayton was preparing for a hurried departure. “I'll be with Joseph, recording the meeting and writing letters. Now's no time to slack off on the record-keeping. It'll be the record-keeping that'll save him in the suits. You heard him last Sabbath.”

Spreading the paper on his desk, Mark sat down to read. Polygamy was only one of the issues. Now Mark mentally applauded William. He was clearly pointing out the Prophet's desire to bring the country under control of the church. He read, “We do not believe that God ever raised up a Prophet to Christianize a world by political schemes and intrigue. It is not the way God captivates the heart . . .”

The paper went on to catalog the misuse of the Nauvoo Charter, the financial maneuverings of the Prophet and his constant denunciation of Missouri. Now the article called for a limiting of Joseph's power, both in the church and in the city. It charged Joseph with his responsibility of obedience to the revelations, while at the same time censoring him for his
moral imperfections
.

Mark snorted and dropped the paper. “Law, you were very nearly too sweet. But knowing the Prophet, there's going to be a tornado sweep through the streets of Nauvoo.”

The city council was still secluded that evening when Mark headed for home. Again William drifted out of the trees. “Lot of good I'm doing you,” Mark addressed him. “I don't know anything except fellas were instructed to pick up the papers and burn them.”

Law nodded and said, “Nevertheless, you could be pulled into the meeting yet. They'll need legal advice.”

“Might be Joseph's too hot to think of that.”

At home Mark kissed Jenny and swung John Mark up in his arms. “The
Nauvoo Expositor
published its first issue.”

Jenny turned quickly from the stove. “Oh, let me see!”

“Aw, don't I get my supper first?” She hugged him and gave him a gentle push toward the table. As he sat down, he said, “I've a feeling the Prophet knows he's facing the biggest crisis yet. There have been rumbles in the church all along, but this is the worst.”

Jenny handed him the potatoes and said, “Looking back and comparing it with now, I'm seeing more coming out for discussion. In the past it seemed Joseph was on top of a problem, stomping it into the ground before it could be worked over.”

After supper Mark handed the paper to Jenny and said, “Go ahead and read it now. I'll wash dishes. Maybe by the time I finish chores, you'll have finished it.”

When he carried the milk into the house, Jenny was thoughtfully staring at the wall. She looked toward Mark as he set the pail down. “I've a feeling Joseph's missed his chance. Couldn't he have saved himself if he'd pushed his revelation on marriage out in the open? Perhaps if we'd all had it served up at once, there'd have been no room to question—or would there?”

“Depends. You questioned. The Laws and Fosters and Higbees have. I suppose the deciding factor is, and always will be, a desire to get to know God personally and find out what
He
thinks.”

“Mark, how many people realize God
is
? Are they aware of God to such an extent that they
know
He's seeing everything, participating in every thought, caring about us?”

On June 10, Joseph was back in his office. Mark blinked in surprise when he walked up the stairs and faced the open door. The Prophet had his feet propped on the desk and his hands linked behind his head. His grin was easy and friendly. “Come on in, Mark,” he called.

“I take it all the problems have been resolved,” Mark said. “Well, if that's the case, I have a few papers here for you to look over.”

When he returned from his office, Joseph's feet were on the floor and he looked prepared for action. There were two folded sheets of paper under his elbow and his smile was confident as he said, “The council is in meeting. I expect to hear their decision shortly.”

“You as mayor are letting them handle it?” He merely nodded.

It was nearly noon when George Harris breezed into the office with a jovial grin. “Well, General, the matter's settled. We need you back at the chambers to sign a couple of papers.” Joseph got to his feet and picked up his papers. As he headed for the door, Harris addressed Mark.