The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-11-10
Bound by a Spell
cuAPTER yT.-tContIpued.J

begged her TO let me know what Il
was. ns ! was so anxious for any suggcs-
ton that might help me.
"well. there's no harm In telling you.
st all events. You saw that Mr.. Mont.
gomery. Well. you see. although he's
much broken down. he's n wonderful
clever man, with heaps or learning.
knows everything. and was once. they
say. n rich gentleman. Well. now. l was
thinking that IL you could mako up your
mind 20 tell him n certain portion Of
your history. he would be the very man
20 advise you aud help you"
No. l did not like the thought OF TAX
ing Mr.. Montgomery into my confidence.
! could not tell why. but l was not
OF my strange instincts.
"Well perhaps you're right. Master
Siias, for he's n strange man. l can't
make him out nc all. He's the quicicst
man that ever brcathcd when sober. but
he drinks hard. and then he mutters
90 himself. and tells stories about him
SELF that makes your ficsh creep. That
young man. Fitzwalton, il regularly
frightened n: him when he's got one OF
them tits on him. He's come down here
after they've gone 60 bed shaking with
fright, saying that he could not stop In
the room with him"
No; 1 was determined I would put no
confidence In MIR. Montgomery. Martha
now pressed upon me the necessity OF
making some change In my attire.
She took me TO q secondhand clothes
shop. where. for STEW dollars and my
old coat TO boot. I procured one like
what civilized people WORE" ms Martha
phrnsed II. j bought a hat and nccktie
ut the same place. Then she took me TO
q BARRIERS.
When l looked In the glass / found
myself completely metamorphosed. |
could scarcely recognize my own face
and figure. The k~ind-heartcd girl was In
mptures.
There! I don't believe old Porter
himself would know you!'' she cried.
While my money lasted l insisted upon
paying so much for my hoard. Day by
day my money dwindled down, until I
had not n penny left. Martha tried 20
cheer me with the assurance that some
thing would turn mp" soon. and that
when things came 20 the worst they
wero sure to mend. and such like bits
OF homely wisdom: but I was almost
hopeless.
At one time I thought of writing 20
Mr.. Jonathan Rodwell, TO ask him In he
could assist me in any way: he had told
me TO 10 so IL all else failed: hut. then,
he had made mn express stipulation that
i WIS TO tell him everything. How little
did l know myself! Aud even OF that
little there was much that l dared not
reveal. Besides which. the nearness OF
his neighborhood to Bury 80. Edmund's
would make any confidence dangerous.
for what was more probable than tl.at
he would apply To the Rev. MIR. Porter
for a veriication OF my statements. and
thus give Tint contemplate man a clue
% my rccapturc?
Day after day I walked through the
streets, seeking employment. | applied
for n clerkship, for the situation OF light
porter. for that OF messenger, or ever
errnnd hoy: but no person would en-
gage me without reference. even in the
humblest capacity. AZ times. I almost
tainted with heat and lack or food. I
felt such n poor. wrctcicd wnil among
all that busy life. that eager crowd: ev-
cry one seemed 10 have n purpose. work.
except myself; I secned only ht To creep
Into a corner and die-a mere useless
Incubus upon the world. I have stood
upon the bridges. ~ many poor wretches
have done before me. and viii continue
20 do while this stony-hcarted city cx-
lists, aud looked down upon the tnrbid
stream that flows bencnth: while n voice
whispered in my heart. There you may
End peaccl Why do you hesitate? You
have neither father. mother. nor friend
10 weep for you. Death viii give rest
10 you. and do no wrong 10 any living
being"
Thus did the tempter tempt me. and
only by prayer could I subdue the temp
tation. At length ! avoided the neigh
borhood OF the river. which hogan In ex-
ert such an Irresistible fascination over
mc-a fascination that ! felt must over
power me nj last. II ! did not fy from IL.
I now took 10 wandering about the
parks. IL was there that an incident
occurred TO me that changed the whole
current OF my thoughts aud actions.