The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-09-28
4 large pear tree, / coon forgot my trou-

Behind the high, thick hedge at my
back lay the extremity of the front gar
den. / was disturbed in the midst of
my meditations by the sound of voices.
Their owners were walking in the gar
den, and presently l could hear their
footsteps close behind me. For the Sec
/ ond time became an involuntary caves
dropper. Covering still closer to the
! earth, I caught their words.
II tell you, Judith, he knows some
thing. / believe he's been listening.''
heard Mr.. Porter say.
"He has not the brains or the cour-
age!'' she answered scornfully. Hes
simply a fool
'.Why, then, should he ask me such a
question. and follow it up by stammer-
ing that | had told him? | intended do
ing so before L went away; | certainly
did intend doing so, but / never mention
ed it even to you. Besides that, there's
been a great change in him during these
few days back. Instead OF being grcte-
full, as he always was before, for any lit
tie indulgence. he seems to shrink from
il and from me. tool" Then he added
quickly, as though a sudden idea had
struck him, Where was he the night
that / came back? If l remember, we
held all our talk in the parlor, with the
window wide open. and you didn't speak
in very low tones
An exclamation broke from Judith.
The footsteps paused close behind me. 1
feared they would hear the violent heat
ing of my heart.
Stop she cried. THAT reminds me.
Not a quarter of an hour before you
returned he was clipping a bush in front
of that window. ! saw him from my
bedroom
There was an ominous pause; in my
minds eye / could picture their looks
of CONSERVATION.
"Why did you not tell me this?" said
Mr.. Porter, in Il troubled voice.
II never thought of it until this in
slant" she answered. Il was too eager
to hear your news, to think of him."
IF he heard all that passed in that
room. he knows enough to utterly de-
stroy us. We are completely in his pow
er. More than that, l have given him a
clue that may lead to profitable discovo
cries for himself"
And my humiliation known to that
contemplate cur! Oh, heavens! | cannot
survive it," she cried, ~passionately.
"Silencell' said her father, in a stern
voice. This is no time for raving; this
must be seen to at once. We must not
lose a moment. To question him in the
usual way is useless. We must resort
to the other this very night. Until we
find out what he really does know, We
can't tell what to do. That once known,
/ shan't want much consideration
Where is he now? Have you seen
him lately"
Il heard him leave the boys room at
8 o'clock. | have not seen or heard him
since then"
"Go and see where he is at once: he
might have left the house while we are
standing here"
In an instant / heard them hurrying
towards the house. l sprang to my feet,
ran across the orchard into the kitchen
garden, rushed into the summer house,
laid my book upon the table, and rest
ing my head upon my hands, assumed an
attitude Of attentive study. My hresth
came short and thick, and my b-S~st
was heaving when / heard my masters
hasty footsteps upon the path.
He began in a bullying tone; then be-
thinking him that he was betraying him.
self, stopped short. The expression Of
my face evidently disconnected him.
What are you doing here?" he asked,
ey identity not knowing what to say to
cover his blunder.
Il usually come here of an evening to
read" | said quietly. II never heard
you object to it before"
"Oh, it ISN'T that; but get the boys in
at once" he said.
very well, sir" I closed my book,
and went to find the boys; my master adj
v~ancing in the same direction, that he
should not lose sight of me. l felt that
from hat moment a constant watch
would be set upon me.
1 led the boys into the house, and up
into the school room. But the prayer
hat was in my heart and Of my lips
were not in unison with that which
sounded on my ears. l was praying to
escape from that dreadful house. l had
| taken the desperate resolution that /
would not pass another night beneath
the roof.
The boys were dismissed to bed half
an hour earlier than usual. | was going
down to the kitchen when Mr.. Porter
stopped me.
i've some work for you. Silas. Fold
| and put these tracts into envelopes, and
direct them; I'll give you the list of
names. You can carry pen and ink, and
your desk, into your own room, and do
them there"
He gave ME a pile of papers, which l
/ carried into my room. and then fetched
the desk and writing materials, he watch
| ing me all the time. / went in, and shut
| the door; then / heard him walk away.
l did not touch my work, but sat down
| upon the side of the bed, and tried to
think how / could get away. l had no
money! knew nothing of the roads;
| but better to starve. to die under a hedge
| than remain in that mans power. liz 1