Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-02-03

Porter was talking to his friends in a
sutdued voice. / and Judith were the
. subjects of the conversation. A portion
OF it occasionally fell upon my ear
"ie dotes on the ground she walks
upon." l heard him say. "It is sinful
to so love a creature of dust: but she
is treasure more precious than gold"
Eyes; she has always been a pious,
modestly behaved young woman" an
swered one of the tea drinkers, Mrs.
Humphries. in a modifying tone; .'but
what has become of that Mr.. Rodwell?
l thought there was going to be match
there?'
Could trust my precious lamb to
that man of sin?" calculated the rever-
end hypocrite, in voice of pious horror.
Il had hoped to turn his heart from the
ways of the wicked; but it was callous
| and ,-unregenerate; and finding that,
bade him go his ways. and told him my
| child was not for him."
The party groaned an approval of this
conduct.
This young man." he went on, evi-
IDENTIFY referring to me, ''has nothing
neither money, nor birth, nor friends;
| but. thanks to me, he has a humble
| heart that reverences those who have
been good to him. And is not that far
| above the riches of this world, which are
but as dross?'
Yet little worldly wealth is neces-
sary to us while we are sojourners in
this vale of tears" remarked Mrs,
HUMPHREYS
By and by the party left. and we were
alone. / and Judith sat still at the win
dow, watching the angular. gloomy look
ing figures go down the garden walk,
preceded by their host.
"Ah, if you would always be to me as
! you have been this EVENING" l said to
her. gently laying my hand upon hers.
| Poor IDIOT" she cried, with a mock
ing laugh; 'do you think it was for your
sake that I played the fool tonight?
1t was only to throw dust in the eyes
Of those hypocrites. and give a color
to what 1 have to do. You see l have
no secrets from my lover" she went on,
with momentarily increasing irony "You
will not be able to accuse me hereafter
Of having deceived you. My candor
relieves you, too, from the trouble of
eavesdropping. You can learn nothing
fresh from behind the rhododendron
bush"
"You know, then, that?' 1 began,
family.
Il do know that, and every secret
thought Of your soul,' she interrupted
fiercely. "There is nothing that you can
conceal from me. I have but to ask,
and you must answer"
l shuddered, but could not speak.
"Now listen to me, Silas Carston. OF
whatever your name may be. You have
made me drink my degradation to its bit.
terest drop. My father asked you to
make me your wife; and you refused me
you, base-born, pitiful. mean hound
like you, refused me-you, whom look
upon as dirt beneath my feet! Had YOU
spared me that degradation-had you
taken me then, l would have tough,
against the contempt l felt for you;
would have done all in my power to
have done my duty. 1 would have even
been grateful to you. Now l hate you
l loathe you; and yet 1 will marry you
that l may degrade you. make you my
tool, and your life curse! l tell you
all this boldly and fearlessly, for yor
cannot shake off my power You will be
my slave, as much as ever. and craw
and fawn upon me and implore my low,
as much as you did before"
| CTo be continued.)