The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-02-16
v.

examining the boys. What a vile mas
of hypocrisy all this seemed to NE b,
the new lights that had broken upon me
Judith was not present. | felt tina. m,
manner was embarrassed. and | could
not endure to meet his eye. He re
marked upon my pallid looks; | had moi
slept a wink all night. He asked rather
sharply. What allied meg'
Il have a headache; l had a bad
nights rest last night" | stammered.
'Oh, we will soon set that all right;
you snail breakfast with me this morn
Ing. A cup OF strong green tea viii
soon kill the headache"
AT the table | was treated more like
q guest than even a member OF the fam
fly. He himself handed to me the good
things, pressing me to eat and drink OF
all. Martha. who was waiting. could
scarcely contain her wonderment-
you lave taken my place well dur
Ing my absence" he said. in a fawning
tone. Il am only just beginning to
discover the treasure | have in you Oh.
what a blessing it is to know that the
seed l have sown will yield so goodly a
harvest. Well. | am getting old. and
shall soon want a supporter and COM
forter. All. il | had such a on But
1 must not repine. for am blessed with
the best of daughters? You two must
be brought more together than you have
been, for you are a goodly pair"
He was in a rhapsody Of hypocrisy.
He drew his chair close to mine and took
my hand. We were alone now; he had
desired Martha to leave the ROOM
~Have you ever noticed Judith. Silas?
A fine girl. though l say it. and gifted
with that beauty which to young blood
Is more attractive even than the beau
ty of the spirit. Ii she were to go forth
Into the sinful world she would have
scores of lovers. and the children OF the
heathens would flock to ask her hand In
marriage. But such is neither my wish
nor hers: l would see her bound in the
holy bands of wedlock to some sober.
pious youth. l would not ask Of him the
goods OF Mammon. nor covet for my
child either gold. or jewels. or fine linen.
or silken raiment: for what is all that
compared to that peace of the soul which
passeth all understandings"
/ know not what answer / made. or
even whether | made any. to these cum
ming speeches. and others that followed
In the same strain. 1t last. with many
blessings, that sounded in my ears like
OdQS. ne ulSIuiSStu mt " Tue othcc
room. To get away from his hideous
hypocrisy was like emerging from the
fetid atmosphere Of a sick room into
the pure air of heaven. Business which
had accumulated during his absence kept
him from home all day. and until late
In the evening.
As soon as my school duties were I'm
Ished, l went into the gruunds@l could
- Ioo- 70 ka in fha bnuaa-ap6 SAT-
there until Martha came out to call me
In to tea
"Why, whatever Is the matter with
you, Master Silas?" she asked "You
look as white as a ghostI Are you iiiY'
"Oh, no. Martha! 1 nave a headache
nothing more"
Master Silas." said Martha. there's
something wrong with you-sometling's
pre-, ing on your mind. Why was master
so awful civil to you this morning? Don't
think I'm asking these questions out of
curiosity. Master Silas, you're as limo
cent as a lamb That manor any
bod else, for the matter of that-could
get you to do anything-get you into
goodness knows what trouble INC mark
my words. he's a regular bad 'un. Don't
you be led away by himl Hes no good
to you or anybody elser"
"Don't talk like that to me. Martha"
I cried, bursting into tears you must
not = me questions-indeed. you must
not"
Poor boyI what have they done to
you r. she said. half to herself. "Well, |
don't want to pry into your secrets" she
went on: "but IL | can help you with
advice, or In any other way don't be
afraid to ask me-"
Heaven bless you. Martha, 1 won'tw
I cried. throwing my arms round her
neck, and kissing her. at is not my
secret, or | would tell you air.
How contemplate all this will read
to men OF the world-a youth Of nearly
to depend upon a woman's de-
Tense rather than upon his own couragei
From that cowardly thought, as such
men will phrase it. l began to derive a
little secret comfort
The next day Judith appeared at din
ner, for the first time during several
" weeks. She looked exceedingly i'll. Mr..
Porter's manner to me was marked by
the ingratiating demeanor that shudder-
fngly suggested the idea Of a cunning {
byena Turing me into his den for the ]
sake Of making a meal of my body. {
When the cloth was removed Judith rose
to leave the room, and no ~persuasions. !
winks or signs from her father could in !
drce her to remain. {
"Ah, SIlas. what a treasure she isl" .
be said. with a hypocritical sigh. as the |
door closed behind her. Her dear moth
err, who is now no more. left her to me |
as a precious token of holy love" q
He passed his handkerchief across his 7
eyes. He little thought what / had over 2
heard. Q
"With such a treasure and a stainless I
conscience. what should a pious young Q
nan want in this valley Of sin p he q
cried. in an enthusiasm of seIf-plauda- e
lion.
what. indeedT' | murmured, perceiv-
ing that he expected some answer from
ne.
"Truel-what. indeedT' he echoed. a
yes, one thing he wants ere he departs 8
Tor the regions of the elect-to see the
earthly happiness Of that treasure Sc Q
.ured. Have you noticed how i'll Judith 1
las been looking latelyY 1
/ answered that / observed she looked d
yery pale. e
"Something on the understanding b
the mind, and / think I've found out (
1t is. Girls will be girls. you know. (
There's many a fine fellow would give t