Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-03-18
81 Bound by a Spell
CHAPTER VII.

not destroy. or even weaken, the tnsci-
nation she exercised over me. Our mar
riage day was fixed How distinctly
remember every aspect and event of that
day. The ceremony was. Of course, to
he celebrated at Little Bethlehem by
the brides father. All the principal
members of the congregation were to he
of the party. and the Rev. Obadiah Por-
ter provided the entertainment with no
niggardly hand.
When | entered the parlor | found 1t
full of people. or these two solemn
looking young men, whom | had often
seen at chapel represented the GroomS-
men, and two remarkably sour-looklne
girls. Daughters of Mrs HUMPHREYS, the
bridesmaids.
Two or three dark-looking cabs were
mt the gate and when all was ready we
sailed forth. Martha was standing in
the hall, holding the house door in her
hand | had never exchanged a word
with her since that night when she way
laid me upon the landing; indeed, had
never seen her. except when she waited
Mt mea, times How sorrowfully she
looked at me that morning! As | passed
out into the garden with Miss Hum
phries upon my arm. she threw an old
shoe after me. The young lady was
astounded. and heard her master pause
for a moment to rebuke her for such
'heathenish' act as he was pleased to
style it.
Although in the height OF summer, it
was a most miserable morning. From
edge to edge of the horizon. the sky was
one of uniform leaden hue; there was
fine, soaking rain, that blurred and blot
ted to the eye every more distant OBJ
ject; the saturated trees kept up Il con
slant drip. drip. the calyx of every flow
er was a miniature lake; and on the
point OF every leaf and blade of grass
quivered globules of water. Large pools
lay in the graveled path, and the earth
was soddened.
The little chapel was chill and gloomy
as a vault, and the damp atmosphere
chung upon every object dimming the
windows, and haf-veiling the cold gray
light that struggled through them.
''Not a pleasant day for a marriage"
remarked Miss Humphries, solemnly; it
was the first remark she had addressed
to me.
More fitting Tor funeral" | answer
ed drearily.
She looked at me rather strangely, and
It certainly must have sounded a some
what strange remark in the mouth of
bridegroom.
The ceremony. according to the tenets
of these people, commenced and as |
took her hand, | looked at Judith for the
first time that morning She seemed
unconscious of my glance. Her face was
nEptblV nala md rui1 lilo
who had nerved herself to terrible and
repulsve task. as indeed she had. The
touch of my hand awoke her from her
reverie. She shhddered; but | thought
there was less of hardness and scorn
Ia her manner as well | might, for
her tears were falling fast.
Mr.. Porter also was not quite him
self; he seemed agtated and nervous. To
my morbid fancy his prayers sounded
like service for the dead At last.
it was all over The whole party vas
gathered near the door preparatory to
leaN Wing. Judith and her father had gone
into little room that stood near the
entrance, where she had left her wrap
pings. | was the last Moodily | was
fo'owlng the rest, when my eyes lap
pened to fall upon small glttprng
VbJtNts II W us Il SOiutH loChPI. III DICK
ms it up my finger pressed the spring
and opened it. What a thrill ran through
me. 1t contained the portrait of girl
OF about a. 1t was the face of the
child | had met in the Norman gateway,
Who had dropped it. or how had il
come heref Putting it into my pocket. |
resolved to carefully note any person
who should appear to or speak of having
lost anything.
The cabs conveyed us home again. and
the dinner was waiting. Towards e=en-
Ing the company dispersed but nc Per.
son spoke of loss. and the mystery
of the locket remained an inscrut,ble
mystery. l would not make any in
quires for the owner, as had resolved
not to part with it, | Rugged it as n
trcasure and, somehow, amidst the mis-
cry of that day, it fell upon my heart
like a CLEAN OF hope.
While waiting at table Martha con
trived to slip piece of paper into NV
hend. My fingers instinctively grnsped
it. Our visitors had gone. Judith had
retired to her room to change her dress
and Mr. Porter was ia his Storeroom.
seized the opportunity to examine the
paper. 1t was a note, hut written in q
scravl almost illegible. 1t ran thus:
"This is my last day here leave
tomorrow. Always to be heard of a
No. Rackstraw's building, Camder
Town. Take care of yourself Coo
bless you. MARTHA"
So | was deprived of nay only friend
was now utterly alone in the lion
den. A new feeling of fear and desc
lation fell upon my heart.
CHAPTER TX.
I could endure 1t no longer, and so