Strang walked in, seating himself in a chair, saying: "Good morning,
Mrs. Whitney." Mother greeted him very coolly, as she had not seen him
since Bennett's death. How my heart did beat when he asked where my
father was. Then I was sure he wanted to take me away to the harbor to
school. Mother told him father would soon be in to dinner, which she was
then preparing. Strang said: "I guess I will stay to dinner, Mrs.
Whitney, and have some of your nice baked whitefish, which I see you
have." He saw her putting it into the oven. He talked about many things
and after a little while he said, "Where is your little girl?" Then I
was sure he would take me away. I wanted to scream, but kept quiet.
Mother told him, "The child is afraid of you since you had Bennett
killed." He came over to the bed, getting down on his knees, saying,
"Come out, child; I will not hurt you. Come and sit on my lap." I drew
back. He pulled me out by the hand, taking me in his arms and sitting in
the chair he stroked my hair, saying: "I will not hurt you, child. Do
not be afraid of me." His voice was low and his face looked sad. I
looked at him a long time, then said: "I see blood on your head. I am
afraid of you." He put his hand to his head, passing it over his
forehead, and looking at his hand, he said: "I see no blood." He was
very pale and his face was serious. Mother explained to him that I had
heard the people say that the blood of Bennett was resting on Strang's
head. I got down from his lap and took my little chair as far as I could
from him, and holding my doll. I watched the king, fearing him so much.
He told mother he was absent when Bennett was killed. She asked him why
he was always absent when his people did the most disagreeable things.
He said: "Do not judge me too harshly. I am not responsible for the
killing of Bennett." Father and our boys soon came in with our friend,
John Goeing. Strang staid to dinner and praised our boys for being so
brave in going on the lake. He said: "My people will never learn to be
good sailors; they are too timid." Then he asked about the schooling.
Father told him John Goeing, our boarder, was teaching us.
[Illustration: THE MORMON FEAST GROUND AT FONT LAKE, BEAVER ISLAND.]
Father told me in after years he had a very serious talk with Strang
that day, and the king admitted it was not right that Bennett was
killed, but said where there were people that were opposite in their
beliefs there was always trouble. Mother told him some sorrows would
come to him if he persisted to live as he was living. He smiled, saying:
"Oh, we aren't such a bad people, after all, Mrs. Whitney, and when you
become one of us you will think just as we do." He shook hands and was
gone. Mother said to father: "I do believe we shall have to leave here
soon or we shall be forced to become Mormons." Father assured her that
would never be.