Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-08-03
CHAPTER III.

Elat OCI0peF llSuL. L tlI HuN SlSHAeth'
I am the last one left Of Mr.. Porter's
old pupils: they have all been "bagged"
by some grim custodian, and carried of
/ know not whittier. Others have taken
their places, but l am still left am
melancholy, moody and dreamy. My
reading is limited 10 a few semi-religous
books. How ardently l long for copy
of Shakespeare. but not one penny Of
%; ket money has ever been given me;
neither would the Rev. Mr.. Porter hear
of such book being brought into his
house. Every image of that one break
in my mon0tonous existence Is indelibly
fixed upon my memory; aud can never
disassocicte that mysterious child that
1 met under the old Norman gateway
with the Juliet of the play. What
strange memory she has left upon my
brain; she is ever with me in my dreams.
Shall | ever see her again? / am ever
asking myself. Yes; / feel assured l
shall. l feel that she is in some way
interwoven with my destiny.
We never saw Josiah Cook again, but
l heard that he had gone away with the
theatrical company. who left the town
shortly after the time that marked my
adventure. The Rev. Obadiah Porter, of
course, at once settled his eternal pros
poets by condemuing him to the bottom
less pit.
During my boyish days the post Of
servant was occupied by a very cross old
woman; but a twelyemonth previous TO
the period at which | have arrived, she
left. and her place was taken by
young woman OF about twenty years OF
age. When | ceased 10 attend the school
room | was consigned to the kitchen, and
helped in the household work. Martha
and | coon became fast friends. She
aseE to say that had 1t not been for me
she would not have remained a month
in the house. In the winter evenings,
after she had finished her work. when
Mr.. Porter did not require our presence
at Little Bethlehem, or at religious ex-
ercises, we used to sit by the fire and
talk. Sha had but little education; but
her shrewd mind was better tutor for
me at that time than would have been
more learned, sedentary companion.
The second person OF whom | must
speak conjures up a very different set Of
limoges. / remember the first time / saw
him was the very evening after my mem
orabie escapade We were at prayers
tuRIe was Il iouds lAipSEApAs hAtSh at the
street door. The Rev, Mr.. Porter paus-
ed and signed to The servant to answer
the knock.
The next nom MT thera entered the
parler tall. elegantly dressed man, with
a remarkably pale face, the palloF of
which was greatly enhanced by a full,
glossy black beard, black curling hair,
and large black eyes. One Of those
strange shudders, at which the supersti-
tfous cry out that some one is walking
over their grave. ran through me as
looked up at him. He stood in the door
way, aud cast upon the group glance
OF infinite seorn.
when you have finished your devo-
stions,' he said. with sneer, addressing
my tutor. Il have something to say to
you"
The Rev. Obadiah Porter colored. hest
rtated for moment, and then rising
said. with his devotional whine, We
will ask blessing upon all here, and
pray no more tonight"
With an exclamation of contempt1lous
impatience, the stranger threw himself
upon the sofa. his head still cove !. We
were quickly hustled out of the room.
and the tutor and his daughter were left
alone with their irreverent visitor.
More than twelvemonth passed
away before he came again to the house.
Then. little by little, he became fire.
ouent visitor Miss Judith and he were
very frequently together. / used often
10 see them stroll down the road arm
in-arm: and by and By began to OBJ
serve how anxiously she watched for
his com4ng Martha soon comprehended
how matters stood.
81 don't like that NJ Rodwell," she
used to say; "and if judith wasn't quite
80 high in her manner should take the
liberty of telling her So
One evening was summoned from the
kitchen to attepd Mr.. Porter in his
study" When I entered the room he
pade me shut the door. and take seat
] obeyed him. wondering what was com
lng.
''Snas." he began. fixing his snail.
sharp eyes upon me- and brushing back
the rebeliious hair from his low fore
head, "can you remember anything Of
Your life previous 10 the time that Prov-
denee entrusted you TO my keeping?
Don't hatch lie, he said sharply; IRE
member the fate of Auanlas"
Indeed. sir. / have no such thought"
1 answered meekly. Remember how
Young ] must have been when I first
came to yon, and"
Don't beat about the hush" he r-ied,
vet more sharply. You are concealinc
something: you can't deceive me" Then
suddenly changing his tone TO his usual
one 81 shutting hypocrisy, he added Isl
las. / am asking these questions for your
gnod--for the sake of thosc carual in.
,tprcsts that must be looked to while we
are sojourners in this world Of sin"
He leaned forward with his arms upon
the table. and fixing his snake like eyes
mon me. as though to read my syrv
FOnl he began in low voice; Il will
teli you all l know; perhaps tina. will
help your memory. Thirteen years ago.
n middle-aCed woman. looking like gen
tleman's hOusckeeper or something Of
that sort called here TO ask my terms
Eor taking barge of child OF five
years Oh She had seen my advertise
sment. and thought il would suit the pur-
pose she had in view She was most
particular in her injunctions that YOU
should be reared strictly and religiously.
Two days afterwards she brought YOU
here She gave the name Of Carstou.
and said that you were 70 be called
Silas Carston. The money was 10 be
drawn half-yearly. Of Messrs. Fogle and
Qnirk. solicitors. For the sake o. the
precious soul entrusted TO my keeping
tried as dscreetly as possible to CLEAN
a little more information; but she was
very close. and awfully stern. and |
could not get even an address out Of her