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


examining the boys. What a vile mass
of hypocrisy all this seemed to ME BY
the new lights that had broken upon me.
Judith was not present. felt that my
manner was embarrassed, and l could
not endure to meet his eye He re-
marked upon my palIid looks; / had not
slept wink all night He asked rather
sharply, What allied me?'
II have headache; | 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 will
soon kill the headache"
AT the table | was treated more like
q guest than even member of the fam
lily. He himself handed to me the good
things, pressing me to eat and drink Of
ell Martha, who was waiting, could
scarcely contain her wonderment.
You have taken my place well dur
ing my absence" he said, in a fawning
tone, II am only just beginning to
discover the treasure have in you. OH
what blessing it is to know that the
seed have sown win yield so goodly a
harvest Well. | am getting old, and
shall soon want supporter and conn
forter. All, if / had such son! 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 q 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 / say it, and gifted
with that beauty which to young blood
is more attractive even than the beau
ty Of the spirit. If 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 III the
holy bands OF wedlock to some sober,
pious youth. 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 understanding
/ know not what answer / made, or
even whether made any, to these cum
ming speeches, and others that followed
in the same strain. At last, with many
blessings, that sounded in my ears like
bans, he dismissed me to the school
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
III the evening.
AS soon as my school duties were in-
ished went into the grounds could
not bear to be ia the hOuse-and sat
there until Martha came out to call me
In to tea.
''Why, whatever is the matter with
yon, Master Silas?" she asked. ''You
look as white as a ghost! Are you ill?"
"Oh, no, Martha! / have a headache
nothing more"
Master Silas, said Martha, there's
something wrong with you-something's
prey 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
body else, for the matter Of that-could
get you to do anything get you into
goodness knows what trouble. And mark
my words. he's a regular bad 'un! Don't
you be led away by himl He's no good
to you or anybody else!"
"Dont talk like that to me, Martha"
/ cried, bursting into tears. .'You must
not ask me questions indeed, you must
not.
Poor boy! what have they done to
youY' she said, half to herself. well,
don't want to pry into your secrets she
. I IL
advice, or in any other way, don't be
afraid to ask me"
Heaven bless you, Martha, won'tl7
/ cried, throwing my arms round her
neck, and kissing her. 1T is not my
secret, or ! would tell you air.
How contemplate all this viii read
to men of the world--a youth of nearly |
to depend upon woman's de-
Tense rather than upon his own courage!
From that eowardly thought, as such
men will phrase it, | 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 ILL., Mr.. |
Porter's manner to me was marked by |
the ingratiating demeanor that shudder-
lngly suggested the idea Of cunning /
hyena 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
duce her to remain.
'Ah, Silas. what treasure she isv'
he said, with hypocritical sigh, as the
door closed behind her. "Her dear moth
er, who is now no more, left her to me
as a precious token Of holy love"
He passed his handkerchief across his
eyes. He little thought what had over
heard.
with such a treasure and q stainless
what should a pious young
man want in this valley of sin?p he