The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-02-04
! Bound by a Spell ,

the affair is settled off-hand. the better"
The reverend gentleman was becoming
very repulsive. For a time. could not
understand his meaning: at last, il be-
gan to dawn upon me-he actually meant
me. What an idiot he must have thought
me! And yet, without the key his con-
versation with his daughter had given.
might not, in my simple trust Of his
truth, have believed? shame to say.
that ! fear I might. But knowing what
I did. felt positively sick at the nause-
Gus hypocrisy and falsehood Of the Inan.
He paused, rubbed his hands, then
brushed back his hair, chucklcd and
waited for me to speak. What could l
do-what could l say? Must | yield to
this mans inclinations without a strug
gle: Did he suspect that | knew auEht
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. | must
say something. To his proposition. or
rather to his inuendoes. could make No
reply. would evade the question--try
to turn the subject. As a matter of
L
others l 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 have changed
his whole demeanor. He pushed back
his chair with start; and such look
OF crce inquiry came into his face. such
savage twinkle came into his eyes. that
I 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 mean?" he cried, men-
acingly.
did yon not say you intended to make
further inquiries when you went to the
city," faltered.
mot to you. Have you been listen
ing?"
could feel the telltale blod rush into
my face at the question. Ever since
you were speaking to me on the subject,
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 a Thoroughbred idiot that you
don't understand the drift of what I've
been saying? I'll satisfy myself upon
that point by and by. In the meanwhile,
I'll 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
come, what do you say to thatT'
Now that he had thrown off the mask.
and spoken more plainly, felt, for the
first time in my life. something like
courage to oppose him. 81 know that
possess no advantages to entitle me to
such a match. but am too young to
marry" l said. with some little firm
ness.
81 am the best Judge Of that" he an
swered sharply.
But l 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 string of invectives
and opprobrious epithets that l need not
repeat. He literally foamed at the
mouth.
"You shall smart for this insult!' he
went on. wiping the perspiration from
his face. You shall 60 down upon
your knees and beg my pardon for this.
and pray with all your heart and soul
for what you've Just refused!"
With these words. and casting a ma
lignant look upon me. he hurried out of
the room.
l sank into chair, literally stupe6ed
and overw helmed. But even the faint
resistance that had made inspired me
with new confidence. l felt that | was
no longer school boy, but verginy on
manhood that it was cowardly and DIS
graceful to yield slavish obedience
against my conscience to such man
as he had now shown himself The first
resolution l formed consequent upon this
better and firmer state Of mind was that
l would make clean breast to Martha
Of all I knew. and then be guided by
her superior worldly wisdom as to what
had better do. Feeling much relieved,
went up to the school room to super
intend the afternoon tasks.
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