Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-01-27
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the affair is settled off-hand, the better"
The reverend gentleman was becoming
very repulsive. For time, could not
understand his meaning; at last, it be-
gan to dawn upon me-he actually meant
| to infer that Judith was in love with
me. What an idiot he must have thought
me! And yet, without the key his con-
| versation with his daughter had given,
| truth, have believed? / shame to say,
that 1 fear might. But knowing what
1 did, felt positively sick at the nause-
GUS hypocrisy and falsehood Of the man.
He paused, rubbed his hands, then
brushed back his hair, chuckled and
waited for me to speak. What could
this mans inclinations without a gtrug
| gle? Did he suspect that l knew aught
Of his secrets, what might he not do to
me? Kill me-imprison me for life! In
stinctively | felt that he would pause at
nothing to secure his own ends. must
say something. To his proposition, or
rather to his inuendoes, could make no
reply. l would evade the question-try
to turn the subject. As a matter of
course, 1 said the thing which above all
OtuSIS OuSul uOL ~ nave boiu.
did you hear anything about my
friends while you were in the cityr
Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet it
could not more suddenly have changed
his whole demeanor. He pushed back
| his chair with a start; and such look
| of fierce inquiry came into his face, such
savage twinkle came into his eyes, that
l felt sure he was going to strike me
down upon the spot. The words were
scarcely off my lips before I was con-
| scious Of the irretrievable blunder l had
| made.
"What do you mean?" he cried, men
acingly.
"Did you not say you intended to make
| further inquiries when you went to the
city," faltered.
mot to you. Have you been listen
| ing?
I could feel the telltale blod rush into
my face at the question. "Ever since
you were speaking to me on the subject,
have thought of nothing else," I cried,
in the same faltering voice.
'Look here, Master Silas; what's the
meaning of this behavior? There's some
thing up-I know there is, by your man
ner. Don't attempt to humbug me, be-
cause it won't do. Or is it that you
are such Thoroughbred idiot that you
don't understand the drift of what I've
been saying? I'll satisfy myself upon
that point by and by. In the meanwhile,
I'll speak a little palmer. I mean you
to marry my daughter. To this you can't
possibly make any objection, as all the
sacrifice is on my side and hers. Now
come, what do you say to that?"
| Now that he had thrown off the mask,
and spoken more plainly. I felt, for the
!, first time in my life, something like
courage to oppose him. II know that
possess no advantages to entitle mo to
such a match, but I am too young to
marry" said, with some little firm
| ness.
81 am the best Judge Of that" he an
| swered sharply.
But have no wish to marry"
| "Whatv' he exclaimed, furiously. do
| you mean to say that you've the impu-
dence to refuse my daughter?"
| Then followed string of invectives
and opprobrious epithets that need not
repeat. He literally foamed at the
mouth.
"You shall smart for this insult!' he
| went on, Wlplng the perSplratlOn from
his face "You shall go down upon
your knees and beg my pardon for this,
| and pray with all your heart and soul
| for what you've just refusedT'
With these words, and casting a ma
lignant look upon me. he hurried out OF
the room.
1 sank into a chair, literally stupefied
and overwhelmed. But even the faint
resistance that l had made inspired me
with new confidence. I felt that l was
no longer a school boy, but verging on
manhood; that it was cowardly and dis
graceful to yield a slavish obedience
against my conscience to such a man
as he had now shown himself. The first
resolution formed consequent upon this
better and frmer state Of mind was that
1 would make clean breast to Marths
of all l knew, and then be guided by
her superior worldly wisdom as to what
I had better do. Feeling much relieved
I went up to the school room to super
intend the afternoon tasks.
CHAPTER vi.
The days work was done, and l wen
| 5o~r, ;,,to tho kitchan fo havo NV 70.