Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-01-20
s IA a H
||Y Bound by a Spell $
CHAPTER III

by some grim custodian, and carried off
I know not whittier. Others have taken
their places, but I am still left. l am
melancholy, moody and dreamy. My
reading is limited to a few semi-religious
books. How ardently I long for copy
of Shakespeare, but not one penny of
pocket money has ever been given me;
neither would the Rev. Mr.. Porter hear
Of such book being brought into his
house. Every image Of that one break
In my monotonous existence is indelibly
fixed upon my memory; and can never
disassociate that mysterious child that
I met under the old Norman gateway
with the Juliet Of the play. What a
strange memory she has left upon my
brain; she is ever with me in my dreams.
Shall l ever see her again? l am ever
asking myself. Yes; 1 feel assured
shall. I feel that she is in some way
interviewer with my destiny.
We never saw Josiah Cook again, but
I heard that he had gone away with the
theatrical company, who left the town
shortly after the time that marked my
adventure. The Rev. Obadiah Porter, Of
course, at once settled his eternal pros
poets by condemning him to the bottom
less pit.
During my boyish days the post Of
servant was occupied by very cross old
woman; but a twelvemonth previous to
the period at which 1 have arrived, she
left, and her place was taken by a
young woman of about twenty years Of
age. When 1 ceased to attend the school
room was consigned to the kitchen, and
helped in the household work. Martha
T 70 of rio
used to say that had it not been for me
she would not have remained month
In the house In the winter evenings,
after she had finished her work. when
Mr.. Porter did not require our presence
at Little Bethlehem, or at religious ex-
ercises, we used to sit by the fire and
talk. She had but little education; but
her shrewd mind was a better tutor for
me at that time than would have been
a more learned, sedentary companion.
The second person Of whom l must
speak conjures up very different set Of
images. I remember the first time l saw
him was the very evening after my MEM
orable escapade. We were at prayers;
there was a loud, imperious knock at the
street door. The Rev. Mr.. Porter paus-
ed and signed to the servant to answer
the knock.
The next moment there entered the
parlor tall, elegantly dressed man, with
a remarkably pale face, the pallor Of
which was greatly enhanced by a full,
glossy black beard, black curling hair,
and large black eyes. One of those
strange shudders, at which the. supersti-
tious cry out that some one Is walking
over their grave, ran through me as
looked up at him. He stood in the door
way, and cast upon the group glance
OF infinite scorn.
"When you have finished your devo
tions," he said, with a sneer, addressing
my tutor, 81 have something to say tc
you"
The Rev. Obadiah Porter colored, hest
tated for a moment, and then rising
said, with his devotional whine. 1--WE
will ask blessing upon all here. and
pray no more tonight"
With an exclamation Of contemptlous
impatience, the stranger threw himself
upon the sofa, his head still covered. W.
were quickly hustled out of the room
and the tutor and his daughter were lef
alone with their irreverent visitor.
More than a twelvemonth passed
away before he came again to the house
Then, little by little, he became a fire
ouent visitor. Miss Judith and he wer
very frequently together. 1 used oftel
to see them stroll down the road arm
in-arm: and by and by I began to OBJ
serve how anxiously she watched fo
his coming. Martha soon comprehendet
how matters stood.
ST don't like that Mr.. Rodwell," sh
T11di omit
40 high in her manner should take tn
liberty of telling her So"
One evening I was summoned from tn
kitchen to attend Mr.. Porter in hi
Study" When 1 entered the room b
bade me shut the door, and take a scat
I obeyed him, wondering what was com
ing.
'Silas," he began, fixing his small
sharp eyes upon me, and brushing bac
the rebellious hair from his low fore
head, "can you remember anything o
your life previous to the time that Prov
dence entrusted you to my keeping
Don't hatch lie," he said, sharply; "re
member the fate of Ananias."
Indeed, sir, have no such thought,
I answered meekly. Remember no,
young ! must have been when 1 frs
came to you, and"
sDon't beat about the bush," he criet
yet more sharply. you are concealin
something: you can't deceive me-" The
suddenly changing his tone to his usus
one of shutting hypocrisy, he added: IS
las, l am asking these questions for you
good-for the sake Of those carnal IL
terests that must be looked to while "
are sojourners in this world Of sin.'
He leaned forward with his arms upo
the table, and fixing his snake-like ey,
upon me, as though to read my vel
soul, he began in low voice: II wi
tell you all I know; perhaps that WI
help your memory. Thirteen years ag
a middle-aged woman, looking like ge
tleman's housekeeper, or something
that sort, called here to ask my tern
for taking charge Of child of Fl
years old. She had seen my advertis
ment, and thought 1t would suit the pu
pose she had in view. She was mo
particular in her injunctions that "
should be reared strictly and religiousl
Two days afterwards she brought y,
here. She gave the name Of Carsto
and said that you were to be call
Silas Carston. The money was to
drawn half-yearly, Of Messrs. Fogle a
Ouirk. solicitors For the sake of