Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-03-04


Eyes, one thing he wants ere he departs
for the regions of the elect-to see the
earthly happiness of that treasure Sc
cured Have you noticed how i'll Judith
has been looking lately?"
1 answered that l observed she looked
very pale.
Something on the mind-somethin
on the mind and l think I've found out
what it is. Girls will be girls, you know.
There's many fine fellow would give
the eyes out of his head to be in Your
shoes. Well, l am quite content; she's
quite content; and I'm sure you must be
quite content; so there's nothing more
to be said in the matter, and the sooner
the affair is settled off-hand, the better"
The reverend gentleman was becoming
very repulsive. For a time, l could not
understand his meaning; at last, 1t be-
gan to dawn upon me-he actually meant
to infer that Judith was in love with
me. What an idiot he must have thought
mel And yet, without the key his con-
versation with his daughter had given,
might | not, in my simple trust of his
truth, have believed? L shame to say,
that 1 fear l might. But knowing what
1 did, l felt positively sick at the nause-
GUS hypocrisy and falsehood of the man.
He paused, rubbed his hands, then
brushed back his hair, chuckled and
waited for me to speak. What could l
do-what could l say? Must l yield to
this mans inclinations without strug
gle: Did he suspect that l knew aught
of his secrets, what might he not do to
me? Kill me-imprson me for lifei In
stinctively l felt that he would pause at
nothing to secure his own ends. 1 must
say something. To his proposition, or
rather to his inuendoes. l could make no
reply. 1 would evade the queston--try
to turn the subject. AS a matter of
course, l 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 thunderbolt fallen at his feet it
could not more suddenly have changed
his whole demeanor. He pushed back
his chair with a start; and such look
of fierce inquiry came into his face, such
savage twinkle came into his eyes, that
| felt sure he was going to strike me
down upon the spot. The words were
scarcely off my lips before | was con-
scious of the irretrievable blunder L had
made.
What do you mean?' he cried, men
acingly.
Did You not say you intended to make
further inquiries when you went to the
city," | faltered.
Not to you. Have you been listen
ing?"
l could feel the telltale blod rush into
my face at the question. Ever since
you were speaking to me on the subject
l 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 thorough paced 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. 1 mean you
to marry my daughter. To this you cant
possibly make any objection, as all the
sacrifice is on my side and hers. Now
T 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 t
! such match, but l am too young t.
j marry" l 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 invective
, and opprobrious epithets that l need no
. repeat. He literally foamed at tn
mouth.
> You shall smart for this INSULT" h
r went on, wiping the perspiration iron
' his face. you shall go down upol
your knees and beg my pardon for this
and pray with all your heart and sou
Y for what you've just refusedr
= With these words, and casting a ma
: lignant look upon me, he hurried out o
4 the room.
a l sank into chair. literally stupe6e'
and overwhelmed. But even the fain
] with new confidence. 1 felt that | wa
:. no longer a school boy, but verging o.
' manhood; that it was cowardly and dis
: graceful to yield a slavish obedicnc
p against my conscience to such a ma
Q as he had now shown himself. The frs
?. resolution l formed consequent upon thi
@ better and firmer state of mind was tina
!. | would make a clean breast to Marth
l. of all l knew, and then be guided b
her superior worldly wisdom as to wha
~ / had better do. Feeling much relieved
e l went up to the school room to super
l., intend the afternoon tasks.
CHAPTER VI.
bo davis xvorlx done and I W.