Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-03-10
CHAPTER vI.-tContinued.l

wrote very quickly, and IN less than an
hour / had finished my task. opened
my door and as quietly as | could, with
out an appearance of stealth, descended
the stairs, hoping to reach the kitchen
uhobserved. But my master was watch
ing too vigilantly; he came out Of the
parlor as / reached the landing place.
"What do you want creeping about
the house at this time Of night?' he
asked, sharply.
Il was going down into the kitchen
{, get a glass Of water" l answered.
II have finished my work"
"You can't go into the kitchen; Mar
tina has gone to bed. You can go into
my room and get water. and then so to
bed"
Without answering him, remounted
the stairs and heard him following me.
went into his room and drank a glass
Of water, for | was really parched with
thirst. While / was there heard him
ascend the second fight of stairs and
go into my room. As reached the door
l met him coming out, with the enVel-
0pes 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
re-enter the parlor.
81 am a prisoner" / thought; "and he
will take good care that l have no com
munication with Martha"
Suddenly / remembered the way
got out 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; aud If they should, l did not be-
heve that they would betray me; / had
always been as kind to them as / had
dared shielded them from punishment
when / was able. and believed that
they liked me.
/ felt renewed confidence after this
thought. Il had better lock my door,"
/ thought, ''in case he should come up,
and find me not in bed"
The key was not in the lockl 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 smooth
er me in my sleepp' was my first thought.
Then / remembered that had heard my
master say that he should not resolve
upon any course Of action until he had
satisfied himself Of what knew.
While / was thus revolving in my
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 l heard the
handle cautiously turned, and a light
began to creep through the slowly open
ing door The agony l endured at that
moment shall never forget l could
not move nor speak, but lay watching
the stream of light gradually broaden,
until it was darkened by the figure of
Mr. Porter standing upon the threshold.
The rays of the candle fell upon his face:
its blotches were infiamed with drink.
hut otherwise it was very pale, and
there was a haggard look upon it. AS
he caught the expression of my face, he
started back. lam certain it must have
been very CHASTITY. AS he stood thas, l
fancied l saw black shadow fit sud
denly behind him.
"Ain't you asleep?s he said, in thick
voice.
mo, sir Oh. how you frightened
met | cried, could not help it.
That shows you have sinful CON
science; the righteous are never fright
ened. am never frightened. Pray
pray, and then go to Sleep"
He was more intoxicated than had
ever seen him before. He closed the
door; then heard him put the key in
the lock; then, click The key was
turnedi
My last hope was gone. was power
less, helpless; prisoner, utterly at the
mercy of this man. sprang out OF
bed; searched for match-there was
not one in the room. drew up my
blind, but the night was moOnless and
cloudy I opened my window, and look
ed out. All was deathly still; not a
leaf rustled; not a ray Of light any
where; naught but black shadows l
was looking down upon a gulf to which
there seemed no bottom.
Once, in my desperation, half resolv-
ed to cast myself out. but the depths
looked too awful. / closed the window
again, lest the temptation should be too
powerful to resist. Bathed In perspira-
tion, vet shivering with cold, utterly
Frustrated by the broOding horror that
was upon me, threw myself upon the
bed, and waited my fate.
CHAPTER VII.
How or when / fell asleep 1 could
7 40