The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-05-25
~ Bound by a Spell $|


that home since he saw il last His
noble, loving mother is dead. His father
has returned to The Willows; but not
alone. Two strangers--ladies-ha ac-
eompanied him from Switzerland-Mad-
anne Berne and her daughter. 1t was
at the house OF the former that his
mother resided during her last illness.
She Is rigid. austere fanatic. acting
up In all things TO the letter Of her pro-
fessions. bur denying the existence OF
any good beyond them: all virtue and
all holiness are confined within the limits
OF her creed-beyond IL. all is sin and
death. She has acquired a powerful
ascendancy over Mr.. Morant's mind.
weakened as ii is by the affection OF his
beloved wife's death. He has brought
her home TO fill the position OF house
keeper, and in short time she reigns
absolute and undisputed mistress oser
him and the household.
From the moment she is first introduc-
ed TO Edward Morant. she conceives
hatred for him. The gay, light. mischiev-
Gus bearing. even subdued as it is now
by the sorrow OF his mothers death, is
repulsive 20 her gloomy soul There is
soon open war between them But Ed
ward is no match for his powerful adj
versary. His father. under the prose
lytism OF Madame Berne has become
as gloomy fanatic as herself; all gaiety
OF heart. all amusements. are sins in his
belief. The Willows soon become an
uncomfortable home for the young man.
and were il not for one all-powerful at |
traction, he would have quilted it long |
ago.
That attraction is Frances. Madame /
Berne's daughter. a beautiful. melan-
eholy girl OF sixteen. He loves her pas
sionstely. possibly because she is so en-
tireiy opposite TO himself; and she loves
him, possibly for the same reason In
the course Of time Edward prevails on
Frances TO consent 10 clandestine mar
riage. They are quietly married at a
church, and return TO The Viii
lows the same night.
A fortnight afterwards. yielding TO the
prayers OF his young wife. Edward de-
clares his marriage to his father. The
Did man is willing to forgive the act. but
Berne is furious. Her daugh-
ter shall not be delivered over to the
satanic influences OF this vicious man
A terrible scene ensues. Edwards
iery temper is thoroughly aroused, and
III the bitterness and hatred that have
'een seething in his heart burst forth. I
There is not an insult. an epithet OF {
bathing, that he spares his enemy. The I
nd Of all is a fathers curse, and his I
EXPULSION from the home. the doors OF 4
which he will never darken again. He {
Fould claim his wife by force OF law. but !
e has no home to take her to-he Is I
enniless and an outcast. She is kept 4
closer prisoner-he will never SEQ her Q
ace again. d
Very soon he falls into vagsSsndage,
nd, gnawed by the burning sense OF the
-rong that has been done him-savage-
: reckless. from vagabondage he sinks >
Ito crime. becomes implicated. through !,
is associates. in a robbery, and is con- q
emned to three years penal servitude. n
In the meantime. a child has been u
orn to him. of whose existence, or prob : !,
bic existence. he is ignorant. A sad
fe is that of the mother. Mr.. Morant y
ould have been kind and good to her,
1t Madame Berne cannot pardon her. u
the eyes of that fanatic, she Is a
ST soul-she has strayed from the paths %
righteousness, and to show mercy to ID
II would be to participate in her guilt. ~
this daughter she had hoped to Gre o.
e second self-a perpetuation of her III
Fn austere bigotry-a mirror in whose
Election she could worship her own i'm sc
e. sh
Frances only consolation was her in
Mt son: Madame Berne would have~de- 81
ived her even Of this had not Mr.. Mo-
ut interfered, and for once carried his do
int At the end Of three years the ua
or girl died OF lingering decline. DIR
When. at the end Of his term Of i'm Nj
isonment, the unfortunate husband, su
W thoroughly vicious and hardened. les
me back to The Willows to claim his an
Re, funeral procession stopped the o.
~. An awful scene ensued not even nil
. sacred presence Of the dead could
eek the wild tempest Of passion that
rst from the wretched mans lips. He
cit down and cursed the woman the
Use Of all his suferings. From that mi
le he was utterly lost-remorse, con- Sta
ence. every better feeling. were crush ar
out Of his nature.
After the mothers death, the child 90.
inst whom Madame Berne felt a yir- -
Mt hatred. only exceeded by that ~
ich she felt for the father-spite Of a arr
ak opposition on the part Of Mr. Mo ma
Il, was banished to the care OF a sci
Sc. Two years afterwards the poor
lie unfortunate was consigned to the ref
Irdianship Of the Rev. Mr.. Porter. ,oo
,fadame Berne determined that Ed -.
I'd Morant should never know Of its '"i
stence, neither should the child be nul
De acquainted with its parentage. Be- ito
B 1t left the care Of the nurse friend
the lovers, and who frequently paid die
ecret visit to the child, sewed up In I'm
frock locket containing its mothers tbr
trait and lock Of her hair, adding J.. =
reto the scrap Of writing which Mont '"u
lery had now so strangely discov- pre-
l. The locket had been given her by the
r Frances on her deathbed. 1t was ma
she could do-dared do. Slight as 7
the link, 1t might one day prove use TO
to the boy In establishing his iden- wb
yben, after his death, Mr.. Morants
was opened, Madame Berne was dis rie
,red to have inherited his estate and DEC
une: but attached was a codicil OF o and
: recent date, making charscsble up A
he same an annuity Of 1880 year bor,
silas Morant, known as SIlas Cars s,or
he unlocking and opening Of the door 10
Ised the dreamer calling him back WIZ