The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-10-13
CHAPrER III.

their places. but I am still left. ] am
melancholy, moody and dreamy. My
reading Is limited 60 a few semi-religious
books. How hrdently l long for n copy
OF Shakespeare, but not one penny Of
pocket money has ever been given me;
neither would the Rev. Mr.. Porter hear
OF such a book being brought into his
house. Every image OF that n break
IN my monotonous existence IL indelibly
a1ed upon my memory; and | can never
d~sassociate that mysterious child that
! met under the old Norman gateway
with the Juliet Of the play. What a
strange memory she has left upon my
brain; she Is ever with me In ms dreams.
Shall l ever see her again7 / am ever
asking myself. Yes; I feel assured /
shall. / feel that she Is In ON way
interviewer with my destiny.
We never saw Josiah Cook again, but
l heard that he had gone away with the
theatrical company. who left the town
shortly after the time that marked my
adventure. The Rev. Obadiah Porter, OF
course. at once settled his eternal pros
poets by eondemning him TO the bottom
less pit.
bANAAA ny NNg AaA hAAe NHN ENpA -
servant was occupied by a very cross old
woman; hut a twelyemonth previous 20
the period at which l have arrived, she
left, and her place was taken by a
young woman OF about twenty years OF
age. when / ceased TO attend the school
room I was consigned 20 the kitchen. and
helped In the household work. Martha
and I soon became fast friends. She
used 20 say that had Il not been for me
she would o have remained a month
In the house. In the winter evenings,
after she had finished her work. when
Mr.. Porter did not require our presence
az Little Bethlehem, or at religious ex-
e~rcises. we used TO Sit b. the fire and
talk. She had but little education; but
her shrewd mind was a better tutor for
me at that time than would have been
q more learned, Eedenthry companion.
The second person OF whom l must
speak centuries up a very different set OF
images. l remember the first time l saw
him was the very evening after my mem
orable escapade. We were at prayers;
there was n loud, imperious knock at the
street door. The Rev. Mr.. Porter paus.
ed and signed to the servant to answer
the knock.
The next moment there entered the
parior a tall. elegantly dressed man, with
a remarkably pale face, the pallor Of
which was greatly enhanced by a full,
glossy black beard, black curling hair,
and large black eyes One Of those
strange shudders, at which the superst-
tious cry out that some one Is walking
over their grave, ran through me as !
looked up ut him. He stood in the door
way, and cast upon the group q glance
Of infinite cor
when you have finished your dcvo-
TONS" he said, with a sheer, addressing
my tutor. Il have something to say to
you"
The Rev. Obadiah Porter colorcd, hest.
tated for q moment, and then rising,
said. with his devotional whine, I'VE
will ask a blessing upon all here. and
pray no more tonight"
With an exclamation Of eontemptuous
impotence, the stranger threw himself
upon the sofa, lis head still covered. We
were quickly hustled out OF the room,
and the tutor and his daughter were left
alone with their irreyerent visitor.
More than a ~twelvemonth passed
away before he came again to the house.
Then. little by little, no became n fire.
Quent visitor. Miss Judith and he were
very frequently together. used often
20 SEQ them stroll down the road Rrm-
in-arm: and by and by ] began ~ OBJ
serve how a~nxi0uSly she watched for
his coming. Martha soon comprehen6ed
how matters stood.
II don't like that Mr.. ROdwell," she
used to say; land II Jud:th wasn't quite
30 high in her manner ] should take the
liberty OF telling her So"
One evening I wal summoned from the
kitchen TO attend Mr.. Porter In his
study" When / entered the room he
babe me shut the door, and take a scat.
l obeyed him, wondering what was com
Ing.
"slas," he began. fixing his small,
sharp eyes upon me, and brushing back
tho rebellious hair from his low fore
head, "cau you remember anything OF
your life previous to tho time that PrOvi-
deneo entrusted you TO my keeping1
Don't hatch a lic," he said. sharply; ere
member the fate Of AnaniaS."
Indeed. sir. l have no such thought"
/ answered meekly. Remember how
young ! must have been when l frst
came % you, nnd-
Don't beat about the bush" he cried.
yet more sharply. You are ~concealinE
something: you can't deceive me-" Then
suddenly changing his ton 20 his usual
one OF shutting hypocrisy, he added: Isl
las, ! am asking these questions Tor your
Eood-for the sake OF those carnal in
terests that must be looked to while we
are sojourners IN this world Of sim"
He leaned forward with his arms upon
the table. and fixing his Snake-like eyes
upon me. as though 20 real B!y very
soul, he began In a low voice: Il will
tell you all / know; perhaps that will
help your memory. Thirteen years ago,
a mIddle-aged woman, looking like a gen.
tleman's housekeeper. or something OF
that sort, called here 90 ask my terms
for taking charge Of n child OF Eve
years old. She had seen my advertise
ment. and thought Il would suit the pur-
pose she had IN view. She was most
particular In her injunctions that you
should be reared strictly and religiously.
Two days afterwards she brought you
here. She gave the name Of Carston,
and said that yOu were 10 be called
Silas CaTston. The money was 10 be
drawn half-yearly, OF MessrS. Fogls and
QuirG, solicitors. For the sake OF the
precious soul entrusted TO my keeping, I
tried Rs ~discreetly as possible 10 CLEAN
little more information: but abe was