The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-02-09
CHAPTER Ill.

by some grim custodian, and carried o
/ know not whittier. Others have take
their places. but l am still left l al
melancholy. moody and dreamy. Nj
reading is limited to few semi-religiou
books How ariently l long for a cop,
of Shakespeare, but not one penny o
pocket money has ever been given me
neither would the Rev. Mr.. Porter hea
of such a book being brought into hi.
house. Every image OF that one breal
in my monotonous existence Is indelibly
fixed upon my memory; and l 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 | ever see her again? l am ever
asking myself. Yes; 1 feel assured
shall. l 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 l have arrived. she
left, and her place was taken by a
young woman OF about twenty years of
age When l ceased to attend the school
room l was consigned TO the kitchen. and
helped in the household work. Martha
and l soon became fast friends. She
used TO say that had it not been for me
she would not have remained a 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 better tutor for
me at that time than would have been
a more learned. sedentary companion
The second person OF whom 1 must
speak conjures up very different set of
images l 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 1
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 l
looked up at him. He stood in the door
way. and cast upon the group a glance
of infinite scorn-
when you have finished your devo-
tions," he said. with a sneer. addressing
my tutor, Il have something to say to
you"
The Rev. Obadiah Porter colored, hest
tated for a moment. and then rising,
said, with his devotional whine, 1--WE
will ask a blessing upon all here. and
pray no more tonight"
With an exclamation of contemptuous
Impotence, the stranger threw himself
upon the sofa, his head still covered. We |
we're quickly hustled out OF the room.
and the tutor and his daughter were left
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.
,uent visitor. Miss Judith and he were :
Tery frequently together. / used often
o see them stroll down the road arm
n-arm: and by and by / began to OBJ
erve how anxiously she watched for
is coming. Martha soon comprehended y
ow matters stood.
81 don't like that Mr.. Rodwell," she n
sed to say: land II Judith wasn't qnite !, II
0 high in her manner / should take the =,
berry Of telling her So" u
One evening was summoned from the ~
Itchen to attend Mr.. Porter In his e'
study" When / entered the room he az
ade me shut the door. and take a scat "a
obeyed him, wondering what was COM a
e.
"Silas," he began, fixing his small, ::
larp eyes upon me. and brushing back 90
e rebellious hair from his low fore
lad, 'can you remember anything of bs
,ur life previous to the time that Provi- g.
nee entrusted you to my keeping? m,
ont hatch lie," he said, sharply; ire ali
ember the fate Of Ananias."
Indeed. sir, / have no such thought
answered meekly. Remember how tns
ung- ] must have been when / first fol
me to you, and" no.
Don't beat about the BUSH" he cried. net
t more sharply. You are concealing gre
you can't deceive me-" Then OF OF,
ddenly changing his tone to his usual Oh
e Of shutting hypocrisy. he added: "Si-
/. / am asking these questions for your one
od-for the sake Of those carnal in he
ests that must be looked to while we sto
, sojourners in this world Of SIM" nj
He leaned forward with his arms upon coli
table, and fixing his snake-like eyes and
On me. as though to read my very pell
Il. he began in a low voice: II will a b
you all | know; perhaps that will
D your memory. Thirteen years ago. all
woman, looking like a gen the
mans housekeeper. or something of carr
t sort. called here to ask my terms 0
taking charge OF child of five Mt .
rs old. She had seen my advertise I "
ut, and thought 1t would suit the pur- gror
e she had In view. She was most dau
ticular In her injunctions that you flow
uld be reared strictly and religiously. kno
o days afterwards she brought you beer
e. She gave the name OF Carston, prul
said that you were to be called | h
IS Carston. The money was to be priv
wn half-yearly. Of Messrs. Fogle and exte
rk. solicitors. For the sake Of the whit
,ious soul entrusted to my keeping / ten