Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1905-03-10
CHAPTER vI.-fcontinuedl

wrote very quickly, and in less than an
hour l had finished my task. l opened
my door and as quietly as | could, with
out an appearance of stealth, descended
the stairs, hoping to reach the kitchen
unobserved. But my master was watch
ing too vigilantly; he came out of the
parlor as l reached the landing place.
What do you want creeping about
the house at this time of nightY he
asked, sharply.
II was going down into the kitchen
t, get a glass of water" l answered.
II have finished my work"
"You can't go into the kitchen; Mar
tha has gone to bed. You can go into
my room and get water, and then 90 to
bed"
Without answering him. l remounted
the stairs and heard him following me. l
went into his room and drank a glass
of water, for was really parched with
thirst. While l was there | heard him
ascend the second fight OF stairs and
go into my room. AS | reached the door
| met him coming out, with the enyel-
opes in his hand. | wished him good
night, but he did not answer me.
watched him over the bannisters, heard
him pass along the passage, lock the
street door, take out the key, and then
center the parlor.
II am a prisoner" thought; "and he
will take good care that | have no COM
munication with Martha"
Suddenly | remembered the way l
got ont of the house on that memorable
October night. AS soon as all were abed,
would creep up to the boys room
they might all be asleep, and not hear
me; and if they should, | did not be
lieve that they would betray me; l had
always been as kind to them as | had
dared, shielded them from punishment
when | was able, and | believed that
they liked me.
l felt renewed confidence after this
thought. 81 had better lock my door"
| thought, lin case he should come up,
and find me not in bed"
The key was not in the lock- 1t must
have been taken out while | was getting
that glass of water This last incident
shook my courage severely perhaps
they want to enter my room, and snoth-
er me in my sleep!' was my first thought.
Then l remembered that had heard my
master say that he should not resolve
upon any course of action until he had
satisfied himself of what l knew.
While / was thus revolving in nv
mind every imaginable horror, | heard
footsteps ascending the stairs. | put out
my light, and tore off my boots and coat,
and then jumped into bed. The foot
steps stopped outside my door. paused
for several seconds, then | heard the
handle cautiously turned, and light
began to creep through the slowly OPEN !
ing door. The agony l endured at that
l shall never forget. l could |
not move nor speak, but lay watching
he stream of light gradually broaden. |
until it was darkened by the feure of
Mr.. Porter standing upon the threshold |
The rays of the candle fell upon his face.
Is blotches were infiamed with drink |
tut otherwise it was very pale. and !
here was a haggard look upon il AS
lie caught the expression of my face. he
tarted back. l am certain it must have
'een very CHASTITY. AS he stood thus. | |
ancied | saw a black shadow fit sud
lenly behind him.
Amt you asleep?" he said, in thick
dice.
~, SIT. On, now you frightened |
ne! l cried. l could not help it.
That shows you have a sinful CON
cience; the righteous are never fright
ned l am never frightened. Pray
ray and then go to sleep"
lie was more intoxicated than had
yer seen him before He closed the
COR; then l heard him put the key in
he lock; then. clickl The key YVES
lred
My last hope was gone. l was power
'ss, helpless; prisoner, utterly ut the
lercy of this man. l sprang out of
ed; l searched for match-there was
OF one in the room. | drew up my
lind, but the night was moonless and
loudly. l opened my window. and look
out. All was deathly still: not a
'af rustled; not a ray of light any
here; naught but black shadows. l
'as looking down upon a gulf to which
iere seemed no bottom.
Once, in my desperation, l half resolv-
1 to cast myself out but the depths
'oked too awful. closed the window
gain, lest the temptation should be too
owerful to resist. Bathed In perspira-
ON, yet shivering with cold, utterly
rostrated by the brooding horror that
as upon me. l threw myself upon the
ed, and waited my fate.