The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-14

ece II tse great tac'Doj plaza chalrS,
Mr.. Raymond teoA Che one next her. If
she snatched q shawl and ned down one
of the garden psths, Maurice at once
lighnd cigar and followed, keeping at
respectful distance enough, bot allow
ing her 10 soe she was Lndes his &C as vasa
surveillance.
His pcanpc-, too, when he addressed
her was peculiar. - va. a ooEbinhtion
Of authority aed mockisg corrteay. che
w,rcsa pc tpnbi ~len se sleke to
De, ..ns s--mod el,svrc Stsr. his utter
spcs VA. net a Que'cs concerning the
tAsi
n,a,veled greatly that Colonel March
noas did not mark the comedy-or was
IL tragedy?--that was being enacted
under his eyes. But he appeared to live
apart, wrapped in sorrowful and gloomy
thoughts, and rousing only when his
Child sprang upon his knee and cuddled
closely to his heart.
But to return to the scene Of which /
was at first an involuntary. then inten-
tional listener. One dreary, rainy after
noon / was sitting in the window seat Of
the library, the heavy curtains shutting
me in and completely concealing me from
view. / knew Daphne was asleep in
the nursery with Sophie watching her.
The colonel had driven to the neighbor-
ing town. Portia had shut herself in her
rooms after luncheon and refused to ad-
NIT me when knocked. l supposed Mr..
Raymond TO be in the smoking room at
the end of the hall. Presently, however,
/ heard mans tread, and peering be-
tween the curtains saw him come in the
library, throw himself down in big
easy chair in the corner by the fire and
fall to studying the glowing Goals.
/ reflected whether should speak to
him, but decided not. she will gosoon,"
thought, "and in any event he would
not care to talk to me-"
The door softly opened, and Portia
came in. She wore long white dress
ing gown, and her heavy braids of hair
were tumbling down. She appeared
half asleep and did not see her cousin.
Crossing to the bookshelves, she selected
a novel, and turning prepared to leave
the room, but with tho quick, stealth
spring of q tiger Maurice was before
her. He locked the door, and turning
gave her terrible smile.
"How dare your she painted.
"The stereotyped question of woman
when she is vanquished," sneered he.
"Dear cousin, why do you not 80 In for
something origlnalY'
"Open that door," she fumed, "and
let me co."
II viii not" he retorted. "Do you
think after all tho skirmishing between
us since my arrival now that it has
come to battle that you arc 10 escape
me? That may be your mode of fight
ing-to run away; think it very likely
but it does not please me-"
She turned toward tho bell rope, evi-
IDENTIFY with the intention of summonjng
help. With a cruel laugh, he whipped
out his knife and cut the rope and
tossed it contemptuously at her feet.
"Ring for your servants, do" he said
tauntingly.
began to be frightened. Ought to
make my presence known? W1file hes
itated Portia spoke:
II am not afraid of you, you coward"
"Oh, yes, you are," he retorted lightly.
"You have been afraid of mo ever since
/ came-before came. / do not Won
der-you-you"-
Maurice, Maurice" she cried wildly.
"Don't dare to call me Maurice when
we are alone" he said, ''you may keep
up the farce before others little long
err
"Farcew she cried. Enough. Twill
not be insulted any longer. Open that
door, Mr.. Raymond, and let me go, or l
will rousa tho whole house"