The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-02-23
8 Bound by a Spell !
CHAPTER vI.-(continued.)

ABOUT ten minutes, L began my WOrN-
wrote very quickly. and in less han a
hour l had finished my task. l opene
my door and as quietly as l could. with
out an appearance of stealth. descende
the stairs. hoping TO reach the ki.cle l
nnobserved. But my master was watch
ing too v~igilantly; he came out Of th'
parlor as l reached the landing place.
'Syhat do you wan creeping abou
the house at this time OF night?' hs
asked. sharply.
Il was going down into the kitchen
[. get a glass OF water" l answered
Il have finished my work"
"You can't go into the kitchen; Mar
tina has gone to bed. You can go into
my room and ger water. and then so TO
bed"
Without answering him. l remounted
the stairs and heard him following me. l
went into his room and drank a glass
of water. for I was really parched with
thirst. While l was there l heard him
ascend the second flight Of stairs and
go into my room AS reached the door
1 met him coming out. with the envel-
opes in his hand l wished him good
night, but he did not answer me. l
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.
Il am a prisoner" 1 thought; "and he
will take good care that | have no COM
municstion with Martha"
Suddenly l remembered the way 1
got out of the house on that memorable
October night. As soon as all were abed,
L would creep up to the boys room
they might all be asleep. and not hear
me; and if they should, l did not be-
lieve that they would betray me; l had
always been as kind to them as / had
dared. shielded them from punishment
when l was able. and / believed that
they liked me-
1 felt renewed confidence after this
thought. Il had better lock my door,"
/ thought. in case he should come Up.
and end me not in bed"
The key was not in the lock, 1t must
have been taken cut while l was getting
that glass or water. This last incident
shsok my courage severely. Perhaps
they want TO enter my room. and smoth-
er me in my sleepr' was IN y.hrst 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 l knew.
While / was thus revolving in my
mind every imaginable horror, l heard
footsteps ascending the stairs l 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 Eight
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 lar watching
the stream of light gradually broaden.
it was darkened by the 6gure of
Mr.. Porter standing upon the threshold.
The rays of the candle fell upon hts face;
Its blotchcs were infiamed with Drink.
-~orherwise it was very pale, and
knere was a haggard look upon it. As
he caught the expression of my face, he
back. l am certain it must have
been very CHASTITY. As he stood thus, 1
l saw a black shadow fit sud 8
denly behind him. ks
"Ain't you asleep?" he said. in a thick p
+,
"No, sir. Oh, how you frightened
me-" l cried. / could not help il. a
THAT shows you have a sinful con e
the righteous are never fright
med. i am never frightened. Pray v
pray. and then go to sleep" l.
He was more intoxicated han l had
,yer seen him before He closed the p
then l heard him put the key in s.
he lock; then, click, The key was 81
urned, it
My last hope was gone. / was power D
ess, helpless; a prisoner, utterly at the
mercy OF this man. i sprang out of II
1 searched for a match-there gas u
ct one in the room. l drew up my Z
lind, but the night was moonless and re
Loudly. l opened my window. and look ii
d out. All was deathly still; not a ~
.af rustled; not a ray OF light any lie
here: naught but black shadows. sc
Tas looking down upon a gulf to which Ell
lere seemed no bottom. !"
Once, in my desperation, l half resolv- ed
] to cast myself out. but the depths 70
too awful l closed the window pJ
gain, lest the temptation should be too Ut
to resist. Bathed in perspira-
on. yet shivering with cold, utterly ne
by the brooding horror that FRI
as upon me, l threw myself upon the nj
ID, and waited my fate. he