The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-10-12
\ 81 Bound by a Spell 5|
CHAPTER VIII.

II WHITE Hlit4 hC ~ ACats tDtl ohi
not destroy, or even weaken, the fasci-
nation she exercised over me. Our mar,
rage day was fixed. How distinctly /
remember every aspect and event of that
day. The ceremony was, OF course, to
be celebrated at Little Bethlehem by
the brides father. All the principal
members of the congregation were TO be
Of the party, and the Rev. Obadiah Por-
ter provided the entertainment with no
niggardly hand.
When | entered the parlor l found II
full OF people. or these two solemn
hooking young men, whom | had often
seen OF chapel, represented the grooms-
men and two remarkably sour-looking
girls, daughters of Mrs. HUMPHREYS, the
bridesmaids.
Two or three dark-looking cabs were
mt the gate. and when all was ready we
sailed forth. Martha was standing in
shc hall, holding the house door in her
hand. | had never exchanged a word
with her since that night when she way
laid me upon the landing; indeed, had
Ecver seen her, except when she waited
at meal times. How sorrowfully she
looked at me that morning! As | passed
out into the garden with Miss Hum
phries upon my arm, she threw an old
shoe after me. The young lady was
~astounded, and | heard her master pause
for n moment to rebuke her for such a
"4heathenish" act. as he was pleased to
style it.
Although in the height OF summer, it
was a most miserable morning. From
edge to edge of the horizon, the sky was
rnr ne .,nffzr,x lorIon hire. fI,ara xx.aO N
enc, sonking rain, that blurred and blot
led to the eye every more distant OBJ
iect: the saturated trees kept up a con-
stant drip, drip; the calyx of every fiow-
er was a miniature lake; and on the
point OF every leaf and blade of grass
quivered globules Of water. Large pools
hay in the graveled path, and the earth
was soddened.
The little chapel was chill and gloomy
as a veult, AID the damp atmosphere
clung upon every object. dimming the
windows, and h~alf-veiling the cold, gray
light that struggled through them.
mot n pleasant day for a marriage"
remarked Miss HUMPHREYS, solemnly: II
was the first remark she had addressed
so me.
More fitting Cor a funeral" I answer
ed drearily.
She looked at me rather strangely, and
Ne certainly must have sounded a some
what strange remark In the mouth of a
bridegroom.
The ceremony, according to the tenets
of these people, commenced; and as /
took her hand, / looked at Judith for the
first time that morning. She seemed
unconscious Of my glance. Her face was
deathly pale, and very rigid, like one
who had nerved herself to a terrible and
repulsive task, as indeed she had. The
touch OF my hand awoke her from her
reverie. She shuddered; but l thought
there wns less OF hardness and scorn
In her manner, as well l might, for
her tears were falling fast.
AIR. Forter also was not quite him
self; he seeued agitated and nervous. TO
my mcrbid fancy his prayers sounded
like q service for the dead, At last,
1T was all over. The whole party was
gathered near the door preparatory to
leaving. Judith and her father had gone
into a little room that stood near the
entr where she had left her wrap
plugs. was the last. Moodily / was
following the rest, when my eyes hap
pened to fall upon a small glittering
object. 1t was a golden locket. In pick
ins 1t up my finger pressed the spring
and opened il. What a thrill ran through
lme. Ii contained the portrait Of a girl
.of about IA. 1t was the face of the
child l had met in the Norman gateway
Who had dropped II. or how had il
come here? Putting 1t into my pocket. I
resolved to carefully note any person
who should appear to or speak of having
lost Anything.
The cabs conveyed us home again. and
the dinner was waiting. Towards c-en-
ing the compan Dispersed, but no per-
son spoke OF a loss, and the mystery
of the llocket remained an inscrutable
mystery. / would not make any in
quiries for the owner, as | had resolved
not to part with it. l Rugged it rs a
treasure: and, somehow. amidst the mis-
cry OF that day. it fell upon my heart
like a CLEAN of hope.
While waiting ut table Martha con
trived to slip d piece OF paper into my
hand. Ny fingers instinctively grnsped
retired to her room to change her dress.
and Mr.. Porter was in his storeroom. Il
seized the opportunity TO examine the
paper. II was asDote, but written in a
scrawl almost iliegible. 1t ran thus:
.s1fhis is my last day here. I leave
tomorrow. Always to be heard OF at
No. 3 Rackstraw's building, Camden
Town. Take care Of yourself. God
bless you. MARTHA"
50 I WINS deprived OF my only friend.
( was now utterly alone In the lions
den. * new feeling Of fear md desc
lation fell upon my heart.
CHAPTER TX.
/ could endure it no longer. and SO l
Ned. One month after my Wedding night
LETT that roof forever. Upon what
passed during that nSopth my lips are