The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-28

complied with her request. We left the
house and entered one OF the broad,
densely shaded and winding paths. For
some time we walked in silence. When
! stole occasional glances at my compan-
ion, could see she was far from com
posed. The anxiety lurking in her eyes,
the hard, despairing lines about the lips,
betokened the inward conflict. At last
spoke
Il am really grieved, Portia, to see
you suffering SO. Is there anything
can do for your
mo, nothing" she broke out wildly.
mo, there is nothing you can do, or,
for that matter, that any one can do. |
tell you, Prudence" and stopping short
at turn in the path she seized my
arm in a convulsiye grasp, "God him
self could not help me. am i'll awful
danger"
"Danger" ] cried.
"Hush!" shs exclaimed, looking ap-
prehensively about, "aushI Yes. in dan
ger" ...#
My dear, my DEAR" said soothingly,
patting her arm as | might child's,
"your nerves are in a bad state You
need rest. Why, Portia, what danger
can there be to you in your own home
and with your husbands protecting
love to guard you2 Why, these are the
idlest fancies. Dismiss them at once"
My husband!" she cried in agonized
tones "Ah! it is through him that dan
ger threatens me. But what am say
ing? Oh, Prudence! Sometimes | fear
i am going mad" and she bowed her
head upon my shoulder and wept.
My distrust, my dislike, faded instant
ly. This cold. harsh woman ! had been
condemning was my Portia after all
fancied terrors Poor, suffering girll |
put my arms about her and comlorted
her as best could.
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.
81 am ashamed of my weakness but
when these frightful fits of depression
soze me cannot possibly control my
self ... ...= .."
"Are you subject to these moods, Por-
tia?"
"Oh, yes" she sighed. "For two years
l have either been torn with feyerish
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 | aoundered
on.
"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 shoul-
der
"Oh, yesl" interrupted Portia. Dear
Sister Agatha, she was always SO lovely
and gentle, and her precepts SO sound
and wise" .......-.
stared at her in amaZement.
"Why. Portia, 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, InHcking laugh of last
night-"how stupid of mel must have
been thinking of some other sister.
Doubtless you were thinking Of SIS
ter Madeline"
"Yes-Sister Madeline. 1t was she."
"Sistor Agatha said, if Irecall itaright,
'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 tho heavenly city Portia,
have never forgotten that scene. The
nun, with her white, ascetic face glow
ing with spiritual fcrvor, one hand lifted
as in benediction; you in the flush of
beauty and expectancy listening to the
farewell Of that good woman. What a
picture it would have made"
II cannot remember it very WE'LL"
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 tho pearly gates.
really think am in the neighborhood Of
the bottomloss pit. But come, Prudence,
how much longer are you going to daw-
die here and spriuging up she hastily
walked on, leaving me TO follow in a
more pcrplexed state of mind than ever.
La M ..cN.ar ,A.1-rns