The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-11
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ooPYHloHT by AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION, 1898
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dearest, nor interrupted her hus.
band hastily, mot until you are quite
well and strong. Don't agitate yourself.
beg"
~ am well enough now, Jermyn," she
gently replied. Il am well enough to
tell you about it. think it will be a re-
lief to me-"
VERY well then, dear one, if it is your
wish"
"Jermyn," she said solemnly, laying
her hand upon his head, 81 have known
for years that Sidonie worshiped you.
discovered this just before our marriage,
when one evening came upon her in the
library passionately kissing rose which
had fallen from your coat. The discovery
shocked me, and yet | pitied her and
spoke kindly and tenderly to her. You
know how Ialways loved Sidonie. can
never forget the agony and despair in her
face and her voice as see cried out that |
had all in life, sho nothing; that she
Arayed and longed for death; that she
cursed the hour she was born. Oh,
pitied her-I pitied her." and Portals
voice shook with sublime compassion.
There was silence for few minutes.
Then she resumed her story:
'After that was more indulgent and
considerate than ever to Sidonie She
was given greater liberty. | intrusted
her with many little commissions, hop
ing that busy life and certain amount
of responsibility would be some compen-
sation for her sad fate. But she seemed
to grow more and more imbittered and
despairing. At last, a few days before
our marriage, she disappeared.
"Do you know" she said, looking ear
nestly at us, 81 always hoped she would
not be captured3 While shuddered at
the thought Of what her fate might be
with her fiery temper and her inordinate
vanity, still it was relief to me not to
see her, and l fancied that perhaps she
would be happier under different en-
vironments. Her value as piece of
property never occurred to me.
IN my new home and my new life
soon forgot Sidonie, though often re-
membranco Of her waywardness and her
beauty would drift in my thoughts. l
was often told Of my folly in allowing
so valuable q slave to slip out of my
hands without greater endeavor to arrest
her; but, as said before, was relieved
to have her ont of my sight.
"When Jermyn was summoned to
England two years ago, it was with
dull sensation of apprehension that
saw him go. All! my dear husband,
never can | tell You my emotion as
watched your carriage disappear. 1t
seemed to me that you We're going out of
my life forever.
You had not been long away when
one morning Jake came to mo and asked
me what he should do about old Jezebel,
He said that she would not remain on
the plantation, but spent her time idling
about in the swamp, occasionally pre-
senting herself at the quarters for her
ratiuns, encouraging the negroes to shift
less and lazy ways and frightening them
nearly out Of their wits by weird prac-
tices and tales. He hesitated to punish
her on account of her years and because
to the other negroes she bore n charmed
life. In fine, he did not want trouble if
it could bo avoided, and would l give
him orders in the matter told him |
would see Jezebel myself and directed
that she be sent to me.
That eyening-it was just such an
evening az this--I was walking alone
through the grounds. Ieamo to the wall
separating the plantation from the
swamp. / had always known of this
old gate, but having had no curiosity con-
cerning the swamp had never opened it.
| nj = / 20 81
old negress, and the audacious idea Of
exploring this unknown territory sud
denly entered my head. In those days l
did not know fear, and therefore without
any reflection pushed open the gate and
sauntered along the path leading to the
heart of the swamp. | decided to investi-
gate old Jezebel's retreat for myself and
see the hut | learned she had built for
her use, declaring the cabin assigned to
her at tho quarters not good enough for
an African princess, as she proudly
claimed to be.
Il wandered on, quite enjoying the
novelty Of my walk. Tho sun was set
ting, and the last rays darted across the
pines as ! entered the gloomy forest On,
on, farther plunged into this wilder
ness and presently came out into tho
open space near Jezebelis hut
'.The old woman was sitting on the
ground before the hut grooming and
mntteriny to herself She looked not
human as she peered up at me through
the tangles of her course, matted gray
hair, For the first time l felt trifle
afraid and glanced around neryously.
Bat there was no one in sight. Absurd,
thought. How can this weak old crea-
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