The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-02-04
|$ Bound by a Spell $|

1
the affair Is settled of-hand. the better"
The reverend gentleman was becoming
Very repulsive. For a time, could not
understand his meaning: at last, It 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
me! And yet. without the key his con
versation with his daughter had given.
might l not, in my simple trust OF his
truth. have belieyed9 shame to say,
that | fear might. But knowing what
l did. felt positively sick at the nause-
Gus hypocrisy and falsehood OF the man.
He paused. rubbed his hands. then
| brushed back his hair, chucSlyd and
waited for me to speak. What could
dO-what could say4 Must | yield TO
this mans iuclinations without a strug
gle? Did he suspect that | knew auehI
OF his secrets, what might be not DO to
me2 Kill me-imprison me for life! In
stinctively | felt that be 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 quesEion--try
to turn the subject. As a matter OF
course. | said the thing which above all
d
Did you hear anything about my
friends while you were in the cityf
Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet II
could not more suddenly have changed
his whole demeanor. he pushed back
his chair with q start: and such . look
OF hcrce inquiry came into bis face. such
= savage twinkle came into his eyes. that
| felt sure be was going TO strike me
down upon the spot. The words were
scarcely OF my lips before was con
sciouS Of the irrstrieVabls blunder | had
made.
what do you meanT' be cried. men
aCinlsly.
did you not say you intended to make
further inquiries when you went to the
city - l faltered.
Not to you. Have you been listen
ing?'
could feel the tsltale blod rush into
my face at the question. Ever since
You were speaking to NE on the subject.
l have thought OF nothing else" l cried.
in the same falterinE voice.
Look here. Master Silas; what's the
meaning OF this behaviorl There's some
thing up-I know there Is. By your man
neE. Don't attempt TO humbug me-. be-
cause Il won't DO. Or IL II that you
are such a thoroughbred Idiot that you
don't understand the drift Of What I've
been aayinEl III satisfy myself upon
that point By and By. In the meanwhile,
III speak q little palmer. mean you
to marry my daughter. To this you can't
possibly make any objection, as all the
sacrifice u on my side and hers. Now
come. what do you say 10 thatP'
Now that be had thrown Oh the mask.
and spoken more plainly. | felt. for the
6rst time In my life, something IKE
courage to oppose him Il know that
possess no advantages TO entitls mo TO
such q match. but | an too young to
marry" I said. with soms little arm
mesa.
Il an the best Judge Of that" As an
Iwsrsd sharply.
But | have no wish to marry
What be exclaimed. furiously. DO
you mean to Say that you've the lmpu-
deneO to refuse my daukhtsrT
Thea followed 4 string Of inVectives
and opprobriouB epithets that | need not
repsSt. He literally foansd At the
mouth.
You shall smart for thIs lnsultr' he
went on. EipinE the Precipitation from
his face. you shall 90 down upon
your knees and beg my pardon for this.
and pray with all your heart and soul
for What you've Just rsfusedH'
With these words. and casting q ma
nEnaRt look upon me, be hurried gu, OF
the room.
sank into a chair, literally stupefed
and overW helmsd. But even the faint
resistance that I had made iusDirad me
with new confidence. felt that I y as
no longer a school boy. bat YsrzinE on
manhood. that it was cowarriiy and dis
graceful 10 yield a slavish obedience
against my conscience to such a man
ns he fSd now shown himself The FIRST
resclu formed consequent upon this
better and hrmer state Of mind was That
would make a clean breast 10 Martha
Of all 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.