The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-02-11

The reality. awoke-not with a
start. hut I slowly rose up into a sit
ting posture. as though an iron lever,
worked by some hiddenu power. had
pressed me upwards. could feel that
my eyes were wide open and staring
my whole body locked and rigid.
Upon the desk az the foot OF the he'd
stood a lamp, the light Of which was
strongly intensified by a reflector. it,
glare fell full upon a womun's face. In
an instant | recognized Judith Porter.
She was attired in dress % black vel
vet. made high up to her throat: drape'l
behind her head was curtain Of black
velvet. upon which was, az Il were,
thrown in powerful relief her pale cOun-
tenance and red hair Her eyea were
uGnatnrally dtlated and Fixed They
seemed drawing my soul out OF my body,
and absorbing Il in themselves.
Ny neat sensation was that I was
spenking-ansW ering questions. OF what
nature could not tell. for the answers
were made without any yolitioa on my
part: they seemed drawn By come occult
influence from the most secret Tscessea
OF my memory.
BY and by all CONSEQUENCES deserted
4
awoke | was lying Just as had thFuwn
my self. half dressed. upon the bed The
dull light OF q lowering .ky. ont % which
the rain was descending IN torrents. Was
upon the My yisitant had lert no trace
behind her: every article was precisely
in the same condition, as far as I could
remember. "a when retired 70 rest.
got OF the bed and bathed my head
and face with cold water. This revived
me: bnt there was a dulness about the
brain that I could not clear away. As
my faculties resumed their fuaetipna.
became conscious o. sensations yet more
strange. There was feeling o. void
ness. as though some vital principle had
been drawn from me. bat. above oil
there was an Intense ionRins 10 be again
within the Influence % those ryes--yst I
shuddersd al the thought. There was
spell upon me-a spell that drew ms
irrvsisttbly toward. Judith Porter.
Mr.. Pnrter's threat was no dls oue,
Body and soul was. through bis daush
ter. utterly subdus'l 20 Bis wtL Out
Of her presence I telt that | could not
exist followed her about Ike
spaniel dog. was ever trying 20 rntrh
her gaze a few seconds bsuvaGh its In
auence reduced me 70 a tranre-hks state.
10 which my soul sssmed 70 pass from
my keeping Into hers. Ny slesp--uasn
I could sleep. which was ssidom-was
hFuufed By the widest fantasies. NJ
health soon began 20 suffer. my cheeks
became hollow, my lDoks smariatsd IL
Vas a. though a vampire was prc-EnE
upou my life. Il was DOT love thAt
she Inspired ne with. bot fearful gnaci
nation: while lay At her feet. passion
ateIy implortaz her 30 take pity npon me.
% give me her love. 10 become my wife.
would have given the world TO have
possessed the power 10 Hy from her %
the fnrthermost extremity % the earth
was her slave-hognd To her By rhsias
stronger than were ever forged b. Ia
mar hands.
And she vas msrvilezs 10 her power
she hated ne. loathsd me. dsapissd me.
she did not tell me 80, bat my Instincts.
now pretsrnsturaiiy sensitive. needed no
words 10 divine her thouEhta While a
free agent. had refused. shrunk sr9m
an alliance With her. and she vas bow
enjoying her vengeance.
"Y0u should have taken ne when
was offered TO you" she said. mockiag-
ly now II Is too lats.'
knew she did not mean the latter
part Of her sentence. knew fhat after
she had GIuttsd herself With my torture.
she would become my wife I could read
!, IS plainly as though her mind had
been a printed book open before me-
I still went through the form Of super
intending the boys. but | was very H5iIs
uss IN this pitiahls condition. and Mr.
Porter himself was oftsusr In ahs school
room than hHd ever known him before.
Is treated me the same a. usual. but he
never regarded me without q cunning
Ieer Of triumph Except during the
school hours vas never suffered 10
enter the kitchen. OF 10 e1chansn
word with Martha. I afterwards learn
Ell that she made several attempts 10 get
to me. but all these efforts we're bRIksd
BY the vigilance Of her master or mis-
tress.
As for me / made no effort TO see her.
neither had any desire | VS. alisuated
FROM every object in life save one. One
night. a. was going to bed I found
her standing rlose against the sail upou
the frat landing She laid her hand
upon my arm. and said. In a whisper.
What are they doing to you. Master
Silasi What has 80 awfuily changed
you7 You don't look ike creature Of
this world Can I do anything for sou?
You cant do anything for me. Mar
tina. Thank you FOR Jour Offer" said.
pressing her hand.
rs it true that you are going 70 mar
~ Mis Judith p
IL hope 50. I answered. and Jet
shuddered IS ! spoke.
Poor boy! Whatever can II be that
ails your do believe that woman has
bewitehsd you"'
Before I could answer. the souut of
footsteps In the passage warned ~ that
spies were 81 hand. blew ont my
candle and crspt upstairs; and Martha
disappeared In another direction.
One evening. several Of the principal
members Of the congregation OF Little
bethlehem we're invited to tea. I was
present, and WIS seated next to Judith.
who WAS kind and almost afectionats In
her deineanoT towards me-
When the meal was over. we went
and sat together az the window, she