Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-03-03

edEtny happiness OF that treasure Sc
cured. Have you noticed how i'll Judith
has been looking lately n
! answered that / observed she looked
very pale.
Something on the mind something
on the mind, and l think I've found out
what it is Girls win be girls, you know.
There's many fine fellow would give
the eyes out Of his head to be ii YOUR
shoes. Well, ! 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, / 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 vet, without the key his con-
versation with his daughter had given,
might l not, in my simple trust OF his
truth, have believed? / shame to say,
that | fear | might But knowing what
did, | 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
do-what could | say? Must yield to
this mans inclinations without a strug
gle! Did he suspect that / knew aught
OF his secrets, what might he not do to
meg Kill me-imprison me for lifei In
stinetively felt that he 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 question--try
to turn the subject. AS a matter Of
course, ! said the thing which above all
others l ought not to have said.
did you hear anything about my
friends while YOU were i'll the city,"
Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet it
could not more suddenly have changed
his whole demeanor. He pushed back
his chair with start; and such a 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 meang' 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?"
could feel the telltale blod rush into
my face at the question. Ever since
you were speaking to me on the subject,
have thought of nothing else, / cried,
in the same faltering voice.
Look here, Master Silas; what's the
meaning Of this behavior2 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 Thoroughbred 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,
III speak a little palmer | mean you
to marry my daughter To this you can't
possibly make any objection, as all the
sacrifice is on my side and hers. Now
come, what do you say to thatP'
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. Il know that /
possess no advantages to entitle me to
such a match, but / am too young to
marry" said, with some little firm
ness.
Il am the best judge of that" he an
swered sharply.
''But have no wish to marry"
"Whatr' he exclaimed, furiously. do |
you mean to say that you've the impu-
dence to refuse my daughter?"
Then followed a string Of invectives |
and opprobrious epithets that need not |
repeat. He literally foamed at the |
mouth.
you shall smart for this insult!' he |
went on, wiping the perspiration from |
his face. You shall go down upon
your knees and beg my pardon for this,
and pray with all your heart and soul |
for what you've just refusedr'
With these words, and casting a ma
lignant look upon me, he hurried out Of
the room.
sank into chair, literally stupefed
and overwhelmed. But even the faint
resistance that l had made inspired me
with new confidence. l felt that | Was
no longer school boy, but verging on
manhood; that it was cowardly and dis
graceful to yield a slavish obedience
against my conscience to such a man
as he had now shown himself The first
resolution ] formed consequent upon this
better and frmer state of mind was that
| would make clean breast to 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
CHAPTER vi.
The days work was done, and went
down into the kitchen to have my tea
4a1l-