The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-09-08
F$ Bound by a Spell !

do-what could / say? Must I yield to
this mans inclinations without a strug
gle? Did he suspect that / knew aught
of his secrets, what might he not do to
me? Kill me-imprison me for life! In
stinctively felt that he would pause at
nothing to secure his own ends l must
say something. To his proposition, or
rather to his inuendoes, could make no
reply. l would evade the question--try
20 turn the subject. AS a matter of
course, 1 said the thing which above all
others / ought not to have said.
did you hear anything about my
friends while you were in the city?''
Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet it
could not more suddenly haze changed
his whole demeanor. He pushed back
his chair with start; and such look
of fierce inquiry came into his face, such
savage twinkle came into his eyes, that
l felt sure he was going to strike me
down upon the spot. The words were
scarcely off my lips before l was con-
scious of the irretrievable blunder l had
made.
What do you meanY' he cried, men
acingly.
did you not say you intended to make
further inquiries when you went to the
city," I faltered.
Not to you. Have you been listen
ing?
1 could feel the teIltale blod rush into
my face at the question. Ever since
you were speaking to me on the subject
I have thought of nothing else." l cried,
in the same faltering voice.
Look here, Master Silas; what's the
meaning OF this behavior? There's some
thing up-I know there is, by your man
ner. Don't attempt to humbug me, be-
cause it won't do. Or is it that you
are such Thoroughbred idiot that you
don't understand the drift of what I've
been saying? I'll satisfy myself upon
hat point by and by. In the meanwhile,
III speak a little palmer. l mean you
to marry my daughter. To this you can't
possibly make any objection, as all the
sacrifice is on my side and hers. Now
CONE. what do you say to that?"
Now that he had thrown off the mask.
and spoken more plainly, felt. for the
FIST time in my life, something like
>urage to oppose him. II know that
possess no advantages to entitls me to
such a match. but i am too Young to
marry" / said. with some little firm
ness.
Il am the best judge of that" he an
swered sharply.
But / have no wish to marry"
WHAT he exclaimed, furiously. DO
you mean to say that you've the impu-
dence to refuse my daughter?"
Then followed a string of invectives
and opprobrious epithets that / need not
repeat. He literally foamed at the
mouth.
You shall smart for this insultr' he
went on, wiping the perspiration from
his face. You shall go down upon
your knees and beg my pardon for this,
and pray with all your heart and soul
for what you've just refusedr'
With these words, and casting a ma
lignant look upon me. he hurried out of
the room.
| sank into a chair, literally stupefed
and overwhelmed. But even the faint
resistance that had made inspired me
with new confidence. l felt that l was
no longer school boy, but yerging on
manhood; that it was cowardly and dis
graceful to yield slavish obedience
against my conscience to such a man
as he had now shown himself The first
resolution formed consequent upon this
better and firmer state of mind was that
/ would make a clean breast to Marth a
of all l knew, and then be guided by
her superior worldly wisdom as to what
had better do. Feeling much relieved,
l went up to the school room to super
intend the afternoon tasks.