The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-11-16
prehenhvely about. Hush! Yes, Il dan-

ing? Oh, Prudence! Sometimes fear
am going mad" and she bowed her
head upon my shoulder and wept.
My distrust. my dislike, faded instant
~. This cold. harsh woman ! had been
condemning was my Portia after all
racked by disease perhaps. crazed BY
fancied terrors. Poor, suffering grill |
put my arms about her and comforted
her as best could. ...g>. #a,.%,
When she had grown calmer. we
walked on. and reaching rustic arbor
sat down. Portia still sighed mournful.
ly and wiped the struggling tears from
her cheeks.
"A charming visit you will have, she
said, with forced attempt at gayety.
Il am ashamed of my weakness. but
when these frightful fits of depression
seize me cannot possibly control my
SELF"
Are you subject to these moods. Por-
tia?' .,
"Oh, yes" she sighed. For two years
| have either been torn with feverish
panics or plunged into the depths Of fore
boding. But today-today"-
There, there, never mind. Don't think
of it," murmured; think of something
pleasant. Look at the glorious sky, the
sunlight, the trees, the flowers Think
of some happy event of your life Think,
Portia, Of those dear, peaceful days Of
long ago-our schooldays--when life had
not care"-
stopped abruptly. Portals face had
once again assumed that inexplicable
expression-a look of mingled cunning
and alarm; the same awful glance had
seen through the window the night be-
fore received now But | floundered
on. y
DO you remember, dear girl. what
Sister Agatha said to you the morning
of our graduation? / can see her now
as she laid her hand upon your shout
der
"Oh. yes!" interrupted Portia Dear
Sister Agatha she was always SO lovely
and gentle. and her precepts SO sound
and wise"
| stared at her III amazement.
"Why. Porlia. you must be dreaming.
Sister Agatha was anything but gentle.
She was the terror of the school. No
one was SO feared and dreaded next to
. Mother Patricia ~.
why, of course" laughed Portia-
that same sinister, hooking laugh Of last
night-'how stupid of me! must have
been thinking Of some other sister"
Doubtless you We're thinking OF Sis
ter Madeline"
"Yes-Sister Madeline. 1t was she. ~
''Sister Agatha said. if recall it Alright,
'Portia, you have every prospect of hap
piness. Wealth, youth, beauty, are yours.
See to it, my child, that the avenue along
which the beacons of this life are placed
leads to the heavenly city Portia,
have never forgotten that scene. The
nun, with her white, ascetic face glow
ing with spiritual fervor, one hand lifted
as in benediction; you in the flush of
beauty and expectancy listening to the
farewell of that good woman. What
picture it would have made!"
Il cannot remember it very well,
Portia said, with curious air of impa-
tience as if the subject bored her, "at
all events am convinced that am not
in spirit very near the pearly gates. !
really think am in the neighborhood of
the bottomless pit. But come, Prudence,
how much longer are you going to daw-
die here?' and springing up she hastily
walked on, leaving me to follow in a
more perplexed state of mind than ever.
had hoped to touch Portia with the
remembrance of that convent goodby,
but had only succeeded in annoying her.
She appeared vexed when spoke of our
school days, and now that l gave the
subject some reflection recollected that !
the night before when l had once or
twice referred to our convent life she
had quickly changed the conversation
She had not asked once after any of our
former associates and appeared abso-
lutely to have no interest in the old life.
We pursued our way slowly and
silently. The drip of the fountains, the !
rustic of the leaves and the shrill, sweet |
notes of the hooking birds broke the
stiffness. Occasionally Portia would
bend over a bed Of flowers, examine
them intently, pick one or two, then
aimlessly wander on.
We came at last to little slope which
descended abruptly toward Dead Mans
swamp. Here the tangles Of thicket
and vine grew closer and denser. Birds
rose in frightened fight at our coming.
Once I saw snake wriggle quickly
across our path.
'"This lisa gloomy part of the grounds,
I returned. 1T is near the swamp, is it
not?'
eyes," said Portia, almost sullenly.
Eyes. hate it. l never walk here
don't know why l have come today. Is
it an omen, l wonderY'
"An omen Of what?" asked lightly.
"You surely do not expect to be WOO
dooed."
Again paused abruptly at sight of
my friends face.
''Voodooedr she cried angrily. what
do you mean? What do you know of
voOdOoismY'