Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-08-10
8 Bound by a Spell

do-what could / say? Must | yield to
this mans inclnations without strdg
gle? Did he suspect that | knew auSht
of his secrets, what might he not do to
me? Kill me-imprison me for lifel In
stinctiyely l felt that he would pause at
nothing to secure his own ends. | must
say something. To his proposition, or
Their to his inuendoes. could make no
reply. i would evade the question--try
to turn the subject. AS matter Of
course, | said the thing which above all
others | ought not TO have said.
did you hear anything about my
friends while you were in the cityT
Had thunderbolt fallen at his feet it
could not more suddenly have changed
his whole demeanor. He pushed back
his chair with a start: and such a look
OF fierce inquiry came into his face. such
savage twinkle came into his eyes, that
felt sure he was going to strike me
down upon the spot The words were
scarcely off my lips before | was con-
scious of the irretrievable blunder had
made.
What do you meanT' he cried, mem
acingly.
Did you not say you intended to make
further inquiries when you went to the
city," 1 faltered.
Not TO you. Have you been listen
ing?"
| could feel the teltale blod rush into
my face at he question. Ever since
you were speaking to me on the subject,
/ have thought of nothing else" l cried,
in the same faltering voice.
Look here, Master Silas; what's the
meaning Of this behavior? There's some
thing up--I know there is, by your mau-
ner Don't attempt to humbug me, be-
cause ii won't do. Or is it that you
are such a Thoroughbred idiot that you
don't understand the drift Of what I've
been saying? I'll satisfy myself upon
that point by and by. In the meanwhile.
III speak a little palmer. / mean you
to marry my daughter To this you can't
possibly make any objection, as all the
sacrifice is on my sidq and hers. Now
come. what do you say to thatE
Now that he had thrown off the mask,
and spoken more plainly, felt, for the
first time in my life, something like
courage 10 oppose him. Il know that |
possess no advantages to entitle me 10
such a match, but | am too young to
marry" l said. with some little firm
ness.
u am the best judge Of that" he an
swered sharply.
But | have no wish 10 marry"
WHAT he exclaimed, fdriously. "Do
you mean to say that you've the impu-
dence TO refuse my daughterg"
Then followed a string OF invectives
and onnrohrious ep;thets that | need not
repeat. He literally foamed at the
mouth.
''You shall smart for this insult" he
went on. wipiug the perspiratiou from
his face. "You shall go down upon
your knees and beg my pardon for this,
and pray with all your heart aud soul
for what you've just refused
With these words. and casting a ma
lignant look upon me, he hurried out OF
the room.
sank into a chair literally stupe6ed
resistance that had made insp. ed me
with new confidence. felt that | was
no onger school boy. but verging on
manhood: that it was cowardly and dis
graceful to yield a slavish obedience
against my conscience to such man
as he had now shown himself The first
resolution | formed consequent upon this
better aud frmer state OF mind was that
| would make a clean breast TO Martha
OF all / knew, and then be guided by
her superior worldly wisdom as to what
had better do. Feeling much relieved.
went up to the school room to super
intend the afternoon tasks.