The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-10-13
\ Bound by a Spell

The money has always been paid rcgu-
larry TO the day. Once l called upon
Messrx. Fogle and Quick; but / found
them stia-necked men.fof hard and unre-
generate hearts. Two years ago l wrote
20 say that. Rs you had passed be! ond
tho school boy age. l wished for further
instructions. About a week after. l rot
a short note, saying that you were still
10 remain with me; but as they desired
that you should not contract idle habits.
I was 20 give you some sort OF useful
employment. Why don't you Say some
thing. SilasT'' he cried. striking the ta-
bic sharply with his est.
"what-what DO you want me to say,
SirT' l Stammered.
The truth-what you know"
IL don't know anythinE-indeed, I d.
not"
There was n savage look about him. as
though he would have liked 60 have
squeezed something more nj OF my
throat. Then he took out OF a desk be-
side him q small gold lockct, and passed
Il 20 me, saying. This was sewn no
in your frock when you were brought
here. I don't think she who brought
you knew anything about H."
II contained tho portrait Of a very
beautiful young woman-a foreigner, l
should have imagined: dark hair. olive
tinged complexion. also n lock Of brown
hair; and upon the back was engraved
the initials "F. T." and AZ NJ" Joined
together by a true lovers knot.
THE vsSAE who brought You here"
he went on, was tall; and b~ig-boned:
thin. white lips: n nose like a parrots
beak; light gray eyes, as cold a. stone.
She wore a front OF dark brown hair,
dressed In small fat curis, and bound
round the forehead by a band OF marrow
black velvet: she was dressed In black
silk, and wore a muslin handkerchief
crossed upon her bosom"
While he spoke. a veil seemed lifted
from my memory; the woman seemed 20
stand before me. I had tremhled be-
fore those cold. stony eyes. That pOr
trait, too-my heart told me IL was my
mothers. and a shadowy remembrance
cane upon me that ] had been Rt some
time fondled by such a face.
The Rev. Obadiah Porter was evident
~ disappointed az the result OF his reye-
lationS. He snatched the lockct out Of
my hand. and then locked II up In the
desk again.
"weIl. we'll. II you can't remember.
you can't" he said, iFritably. But
when you arr alone, or In bed. try and
think. Who knows?-you might he the
child OF some great or rich people" he
added. cunningiy. Think what nm ad-
vantage Il would be II yop could End
this out! But we won't talk any more
OF this NJ present. have something
else 10 speak 20 ron about. Silas, lt has
much troubled me, for some time, TO see
a youth OF your appearance and prnba-
bic prospects doing mental work. I've
long been thinking whether / couldn't
moro proatably employ you; and. after n
talk with my daughter, I've come to the
conclusion that you shall. henceforth,
assist her In the care OF the boys"
My duties as tutor were to
on the next day. l really felt very CRATE
60 him for what appeared. 20 my unSO-
phisticated mind. n great kindness; and
so I told Martha when | went back to
the kitchen.
well. I don't know about being crate
full, Silas." che cried. Depend upon Il.
masters serving his turn. Miss
Judith's getting very tired OF the work:
and II she was to go away, what would
be do? Ii wouldn't suit him to have n
stranger In the house. Now DONE you
see that he couldn't do without you
that you're the very thing be wants."
MaFthR's worldly view OF the matter
somewhat dashed my exalted feelings OF
gratitude; yet, for ali that. ! still felt
very thankful for tho change.