Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-08-17

Yelyet, fHnpon which was, as II were,
thrown IN powerful relief her pale coun-
tcnance and red hair. Her eyes were
unnatnrally dilated and fixed. They
seemed drawing my soul ont of my body,
and absorbing 1t in themselves.
Ny next sensation was that / was
speaking--ansN ering questions. OF what
nature could not tell. for the answers
were made without any volition on my
part; they seemed drawn by come occult
influence from the most secret recesses
OF my memory.
BY and by all consciousness deserted
mo, and l became motionless. When |
awoLe | was lying just as had thrown
myself, half dressed upon the bed. The
duh light Of lowering sky. ont of Which
the rain was descending In torrents, was
upon me- Nj, visitant had left no trace
behind her; every article was precisely
in the same condition. as far as | could
remember. as when retired TO rest.
got off the bed and bathed my head
and face with cold water. This revived
me; but there was a dizziness about the
brain that | could not clear away. As
my faculties resumed their functions.
became conscious of sensations yet more
strange. There was a feeling of void
ness. as though some vital principle had
been drawn from me; but. above all.
there was an intense longing TO be again
within the influence Of those eyes-yet
shuddered at the thought. There was a
spell upon me-a spell that drew me
irresistibly towards Judith Porter.
Mr.. Porter's threat was no idle one.
Body and soul was through his dau2h-
70 ,s,iiI nnt
OF her presence, | felt that | could not
exist. followed her about like a
spaniel dog. | was ever trying to catch
her gaze; few seconds beneath its in
fiuence reduced me o trance-like state,
in which my soul seemed to pass from
my keeping into hers. My sleep-when
could sleep. which was seldom-was
haunted by the widest fantasies. My
health soon began to suffer; my cheeks
became hollow. my looks emaciated. 1t
was as though a vampire was proving
upon my life 1t was not love that
she inspired me with, but a fearful fasci-
nation while ! lay at her feet. passion
ately imploring her to take pity upon me,
TO give me her love, TO become my wife,
| would have given the world to have
possessed the power 70 fly from her TO
the furthermost extremity of the earth.
| was her slave-bound 20 her by chains
stronger than were ever forged by Eu-
man hands
And she was mercless in her power.
She hated me, loathed me. despised me,
She did not tell me so, but my instincts,
now preternaturally sensitive, needed no
words to divine her thoughts. While
free agent, | had refused, shrunk from
an alliance with her. and she was now
enjoying her vengeance.
You should have taken me when
was offered to you" she said hooking
" now it is too late!'
knew she did not mean the latter
part of her sentence. | knew that after
she had glutted herself with my torture,
she would become my wife, | could read
it as plainly as though her mind he'd
been 4 printed book open before me
l still went through the form Of super
intending the boys, but | was very little
use in this pitiable condition. and Mr..
Porter himself was oftener in the school
room than l had ever known MIN before.
, He treated me the same as usual, but he
never regarded me without a cunning
leer of triumph. Except during the
enter the kitchen, or to exchange a
word with Martha. | afterwards learn
ed that she made several attempts to get
to me, but all these efforts were baked
by the vigilance Of her master or mis-
tress.
As for me, | made no effort to see Der,
neither had / any desire; was alienated
from every object in life save one. One
night, as 1 was going to bed, 1 found
her standing close against the wall upon
the first landing. She laid her hand
upon my arm. and said, in q whisper
What are they doing to you, Master
Siasf What has so awfuly changed
you? You don't look like a creature Of
this world Can l do anything for you?
You can't do anything for me, Mar
tina. Thank you for your offer" | said
pressing her hand.
rs il true that you are going to mar
ry Mis- Judith?"
Il hope so" answered; and yet
shuddered as l spoke.
Poor boy, Whatever can il he that
ails YOU? / do believe that woman has
bewitched YOU"
Before | could answer the sound of
footsteps in the passage warned is that
spies were Mt hand. | blew out my
candle and crept upstairs and Martha
disappeared in another direction.
One evening. several Of the principal
members of the congregation of Little
! bethlehem were invited 10 tea. was
! present. and was seated next 70 Judith,
who was kind and almost aifectionate in
her depennor towards me.
AEhat, tho r,naI ,,-ur a.
| and sat together Mt the window. she
| drawing her chair close to mine. now
/ and then laying her hand upon my Shout
der suffering her long hair to brush
/ against NV cheek as she pointed out
some % Ject in the garden, ana now and
again casting furtive glance from be-
! meath her dropping lids that shot through
/ me like n fash Of FIRE
/ At the other side of the room Mr.
/ Porter was talking to his friends in a
sutdued voice. and Judith were the
subjects Of the conversation. \ portion
Of il occasionally fell upon my ear.
"IIe doteS on the ground she walks
upon" | heard him say. "It is sinful
| to so love n creature OF dust. but she
is treasure more precious than god."
Yes; she has always been a pious,
modestly behaved young woman an
swered one OF the tea drinkers Mrs,
Humphries. in q modifying tone but
/ What has become of thar Slr Rodwe,l ?
| thought there was going 10 BE- match
| theref"
Gould trust my y, ,cin.:s lcmb to
fthat man Of sin 2" calculated the rever-
Eend hypoerite. in a voice OF pious horror.
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