The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-01-19
81 Bound by a Spell 81
II

what d~issipatcd. but not vicious. Just
returned from college To his stately
home. But a great change has come over
that home since he saw II last. His
noble, loving mother IL dead. His father
has returned to The Willows: but not
alone. Two strangers-ladies-have ac-
companied him from Switxerland-Mnd-
m Berne aud her daughter. IL was
nc the house OF the former that his
mother resided during her last illness.
h IL a rigid. austere fanatic. acting
M In all things 10 tho letter Of her pro-
fessions. but denying the existence OF
IN good beyond them: all virtue and
all holiness are confined within the limits
81 her creed-beyond u. nil Is sin and
death. She has acquired a powerful
a~scendancy over Mr.. Morant's nind.
weakened Ne II h by the affection Of his
beloved wife's death. lie has brought
her home 10 Gil the position OF house
keeper. and In n short time she reigns
absolute and undisputed mistress over
him and the household.
From the moment she Is FIRST introduc-
ed 10 Edward Morant. she conceivcs a
hatred for him. The gay. light. miychiev-
Gus bearing. even subdued ns IL Ia nov
by the sorrow OF his mothers death, 10
repulsive to her gloomy sou There IL
soon open war between them. But Ed
ward Is no match for his powerful nd.
versary. His father. under the prose
lytism OF Madame Berne has become
as gloomy a fanatic as herself: all ga!cty
OF heart. all amusements. are sins In his
belief. The Willows soon become an
--.--Nl. 49, -. IL -..a a.
and were II not for one all-powerful at
traction. he would have quilted IL long
g
That attraction IL Frances. Madame
Berue's daughter. q beautiful. melan.
choly girl of sixteen. lie loves her pas.
sionatcly. possibly because she il 30 en-
tirely opposite TO himself: and she loves
him. possibly for the same reason. in
the curse OF time Edward prevails on
Frances 10 consent TO n clandestiIe mar
rage. They nre quietly married at n
suburban church, aud return TO The vii.
lows the same night.
A fortnight afterwards, yielding 10 the
prayers OF his young wife, Edward de-
clares his marriage TO his father. The
old man Is willing TO forgive the act. but
Madame Berne is furious. Hc- daugh-
ter shall not be delivered over 60 the
satanic influences OF this vicious man.
A terrible scene cnsues. Edwards
fiery temper Is thoroughly aroused. and
all the bitterness and hatred that have
been ~seething in his heart burst forth.
There Is not nm insult. an epithet OF
loathing. that he spares his enemy. The
end of all IN n fathers curse. and his
expulsion from the home. the doors OF
which he will never darken again. lie
would claim his wife ny force OF law. but
lie has no home 20 take her to-he Is
penuiless and an outcast. She 10 kent
n close prisoner--he will never So her
face again.
Very soon he falls into vagssyndage.
aud, gnawed by the burning sense OF the
wrong hat has been done ~him-savage-
ly reckless. from ~vagabondage he sifks
into crime. becomes implicated. through
his associates. in a robbery. and is con-
dcmned to three years penal servitude.
In the meantime. q child has been
born 10 him. OF whose existence, or prob
able existence, he In ignorant. A sad
life is that OF the mother. Mr.. Morant
would have been kind and good 90 her.
hut Madame Berne cannot pardon her.
In the eyes OF that fanatic. she IL n
lost soul-shc has strayed from the paths
OF righteousness. and 90 show mercy 10
her would be to participate in her guilt.
In this daughter she had hoped TO Gre
ate n second selr-a perpetuation OF her
own austere b~igotry-a mirror Ia whose
reflection she could worship her own i'm.
age.
Frances only consolation wns her In
FAINT son: Madame Berne would have de-
prived her even 81 this had not Mr.. Mo-
rant interfercd. aud for nee carried his
point. AZ the eud OF three years the
poor girl died OF a lingering decline.
When. at the end OF his term or i'm
prisonment. the unfortunate husband.
now thoroughly vicious md hardened.
came back to The Willows 20 claim his
wife. n funeral procession stopped the
way. An awful scene ensued: not even
the sacred presence Of the dead could
check the wild tempest OF passion that
burst from the wretched mans lips. He
knelt down and cursed the woman the
cnuse of all his sufferings. From that
time he was utterly lost-remorse. ron
science. every better feeling. were crush
ed out Of his nature.
After the mothers death, the child
against whom Madame Bernc felt n vir-
ulent hatred. only exceeded by that
which she felt for the father-spite OF a
weak opposition on the part Of Mr.. Mo-
rant. was banished to the care OF n
nurse. Two years afterwards the poor
little unfortunate was consigned In the
guardianship Of the Rev. Mr.. Porter.
Madame Berne determined that Ed
ward Morant should never know Of It's
existence. neither should the child lie
made acquainted with It's pnrcntage. Be
fore Il left the care OF the nurse n friend
OF the lovers. aad who frequently paid
n secret visit 60 the child. sewed up In
lis frock a locket containing It's mothers
portrait and n lock Of her hair. adding
thereto the scrap OF writing which Mont.
gomcry had now so strangely discor-
cred. The locket had been given her by
poor Frances on her deathbed. IL vas
all she could do-dhred do. Slight as
was the link. Il might one day prove use
ful to the boy In establishing his iden-
uty.
When. after his death. Mr.. Mornnt's
will was opened. Madame Berne was dis
covered To have inherited his estate and
fortune: hui attached was n codicil OF n
very recent date. making ch%argcablc up
on the same nn annuity Of S2.5VD n ear