The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-10-20
3 Bound by a Spell
cHAprEn vr.-tcontinued)

After had sat thus meditating for
| sbCnt ten minutes. l began my work.
wrote very quickly. and In less than IN
hour I had finished my task. ! opened
| my ,ioor and ns quietly as could. with
out an appearance OF stealth. descended
| the stairs. hoping 10 reach the kitchen
unobservcd. But my master was watch-
Ing too vigilantly: he came out OF the
parlor as I reached the landing place.
"what do you want creeping about
the house at this time OF nighty' he
asked. sharply.
81 was going down into the kitchen
&. Get a glass Of water" l answered.
'I have finished my work"
"You can't go into the kitchen: Mar
thu has gone 10 bed. You can 70 into
my room and GET water. and then 60 TO
bed"
Without answering him. ! remounted
the stairs and heard him following me.
went into his room and drank a glass
of water. for I was really parched with
thirst. While I was there I heard him
ascend the second eight of stairs and
20 into my room. As I reached The door
I met him coming out. with the envel-
opes In his hand. l wished him good
Il UlEUI, nut ut uIu uOt Nh0WNN knNs
watched him over the bannisters. heard
him pass along the passage. lock the
street door. take out the key, n then
re-entcr the parlor.
IL am n prisoner" I thought: "nnd he
will take good care that have no COM
municatlon with Martha"
Suddenly ! remembered the way 1
got ont OF the house on that memorable
| October night. As soon as all were abed.
I would creep up 20 the boys room
they might all be asleep. and not hear
me; aud II they should. I did not be-
iieve that they would betrny me: l had
always been as kind to them as had
dared, shielded them from punishment
! when I was able. and ! believed that
they liked me.
felt renewed confidence after this
! thought. 81 had better lock my door,"
4 I thought, "in case he should come up.
: and find me not Ia bed"
The key was not in the lock! IL must
have been taken out while ] was getting
, that glass OF water. This last incident
shook my courage severely. Perhaps
they want 20 enter my room. n snath-
or me In my Sleep was my first thought.
| Then I remembered that l had heard my
master say that he should not resolve
upon any course Of action until he had
satisfied himself OF what I knew.
While I was thus revolving In my
mind every imaginable horror. l heard
footsteps ascending the stairs. l prt out
my light. and tore OH my boots and coat.
and then jumped into bed. The foot.
steps stopped outside my door. paused
for several seconds. then l heard the
handle cautiously turned. and n light
began 20 creep through the slowly open
inc door. The agony | endusd az that
moment shall never forget. l could
not move nor speak. but lay watching
the stream OF light gradually broaden.
until Il was darkened by the figure OF
Mr.. Porter standing upon the threshold.
The rays Of the candle fell upon his face:
its blotches were infnmed with drink.
but otherwise II was very pale. and
there was a hnggard look upon IL. As
he caught the expression OF my face. no
started back. ! am certain IL must have
been very CHASTITY. As he stood thls, l
fancied I saw a black shadow fit sud-
denly behind him.
"Ain't you aslecpf' he said. In a thick
voice.
EMO. sir. Oh, how you frightened
me-" I cried. l could not help IL
THAT shows you have n sinful con-
science; the righteous are never fright
encd. l am never frightened. Pray
pray, and then GO TO sleep"
He MAS more intoxicated than l had
ever seen him before. He closed the
door: then I heard him put the key In
the lock; then. click! The key was
turned!
My last hope was gone. I was power
less, helpless: a prisoner. utterly nt the
mercy OF this man. / sprang out OF
bed: I searched for q m~atch-there waa
not que In the room. drew up my
blind. but the night was moonless and
cloudy. I opened my window. and look
ed out. All WIS deathly still: not q
leaf rustled: not a ray OF light any
where: naught but black shadows. ]
was looking down upon n gulf TO which
there seemed no bottom.
Once. In my desperation. ! half resolv'
ed 10 cast myself out. but tie depths
looked too awful. I closed tho window
again, lest the temptation should DO toe
powerful TO resist. Bathed In ~perspira'
ton, yet shivering with cold. utterly
prostratcd by the brooding horror that
was upon me. I threw myself upon thu
k-A ..l ,paffad u,w Fate