The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-10-20

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strength deserted me: my hands relaxed
their grasp OF the boughs. my feet slid
poweriessly from their hold. and l fell
-
The reality. I awoke-not with q
start, but I slowly rose MP into a sit
ting posture. m though m Iron le, 81.
worked by some hiddcnu power. had
pressed me upwards. could feel that
my eyes were wide open and staring
my whole body locked and rigid.
Upon the desk at the foot of the he'd
stood n lamp. the light OF which was
strongly intensified by a reflector. Its
glare fell full Upon a voman's face. In
an instant recognized Judith Porter.
She was attired Ia a dress of black vel
vet. made high up TO her throat: irnped
behind her head was q curtain Of black
velvet. upon which was. as II were.
thrown in powerful relief her pale eoun.
tcnance and red hair. Her eyes were
unnaturaiiy dilated and fixed. They
seemed drawing my SOU out OF my body.
and absorbing Il In themselves.
Ny next sensation was that I was
speaking-answ cring questions. OF what
nature I could not tell. for the answers
were made without any volltion o N my
part: they seemed drawn by come occult
influence from the most secret rcccsses
OF my memory.
BY ard by all consciousness deserted
me. and I became motioEless. When !
awoke I was lying just a. ! had thrown
myself, half dressed. upon the bed. The
dull light OF a lowering sky. ont OF which
the rain was descending IN torrents. was
upon me. My ~visitant had left no trace
behind her: every article was precisely
In the same condition. as far m I could
rmsmbcr. as when I retired 20 rest.
I got OF the bed and bathed my head
and face with cold water. This revived
me; hut there was q dullness about the
brain that I could not clear away. As
my faculties resumed their functions. l
became conscious cf sensations Jet more
s;sar-e. There was a feeling Of void
ness. as though some vital principle had
been drawn from me: hut. above oil.
there was an intense longing 60 be again
within the influence OF those eycs-yet l
khuddered az the thought. There was a
spell upon me-a spell that drew me
irrcsistibly towards Judith Porter.
Mr.. Portcr's threat was no idle one.
Body and soul was. through his dnush-
ter. utterly snbdued TO his will. Out
OF her presence. I felt that ! could not
exist. followed her about like a
spaniel dog. was ever trying 20 cetch
her gaze: q few seconds beneath It's In
nuence reduced me 20 a trnnce-like state.
In which my soul seemed Co pass from
my kccping into hers. Ny ~sleep-when
I could sleep. which was seldom-was
hrunted by the widest fantasies. My
health soon began 90 suffer; my checks
became hollow. my looks emaciated. IL
wns as though a vampire was prc.ing
upon my life. IL was not love that
she inspired me with. but a fearful fasci-
nation; while | lay at her feet, passion
atcly imploring her 90 take pity upon me.
10 give NE her love. TO become my wife.
I would have given the world TO have
possessed the power 60 ny from her TO
the furthermost extremity OF the earth.
was her slave-bound TO her by chains
stronger than were ever forged by hu-
man hands.
And she was merriless In her power.
She hated me. loathcd me. despised me.
She did not tell me 10. but my instincts.
, now preternaturally sensitive. needed no
free agent, I had refused. shrunk from
/ an ulIlNuCo Win utts aut oAN WaA INV
enjoying her vengeance.
.You should have taken me when I
was offered to you" she said. mocking-
ly, now II Is too late!'
I knew she did not mean the latter
part Of her sentence. l know that after
she had glutted herself with my torture.
she would become my wife. I could read
IL as plainly AZ though her mind had
- -a-a-A h--l $500. .S.
still went through the form Of super
intending the boys. but ! was very little
use In this pitiabie condition, and Mr..
Porter himself was oftener In the school
room than l had ever known him before.
He treated me the same ss usual, but he
never regarded me without a cunning
leer OF triumph. Except during the
school hours l was never suffered TO
enter the kitchen, or TO exchange a
word with Martha. ! afterwards learn
ed that she made several attempts 10 &c,
TO me, but all these efforts were baked
By the vigilance Of her master or mis-
tress.
An for me. I made no EFFORT 10 see Der,
|, neither had I any desire; I was a~lienated
from every object In life save one. One
, night. rs I was going TO bed. I found
her standing close against the wall upon
the first landing. She laid her hand
upon my arm. and said. in n whisper,
what are they doing 10 you. Master
Silasi What has so awfully changed
you? You don't look Hike n creature OF
this world. Can I do anything for you
"You can't do anything for me. inr
tina. Thank you for your OFFER" ! said
pressing her hand.
is II true that you are going TO mar
~ Mis Judith"
"I hope So" I answered: and got
, ~shuddered az I spoke.
. "Poor boyl Whatever can II be thai
. ails your do believe that woman hn'
bevitched you!"
1 Before I could answer. the sound ol
! footsteps In the passage warned rs thai
spies were nc hand. I blew out my
: caEdie and crept upstairs: and Marthf
, disappeared In another direction.
. One evening. several OF the prLc!pn
: members OF the congregation OF Little
: bethlehem were invited 20 tea. wal
present. and was seated next To- Judith
who was kind and almost nacctionaie "
her deincanor towards me.
when the meal vas over. we wsnI
. and sat together ut the window. sh'
Z drawing her chair close 20 mine. nov
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