The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-15

me if you wait until daybreak. Do you
promise"
Colonel Marchmont stared at Ray
mond in dazed fashion.
Trust mo, Jermyn," said Maurice,
"and promise me-"
81 promise" said the colonel in q
strange voice.
Overhearing this, / marveled more
than ever. Was 1t possible that Maui
rice intended, after bringing Portia from
her rendezvous with the voodoos, to lead
her into her husbands presence and
oblige her to beg his forgivenessa Igrew
more and more mystified.
The evening dragged away. Daphne
was sent to bed, Sophie receiving or
ders from Maurice, who seemed to have
assumed command of everything, not to
leave the child for one moment during
the night.
Eleven o'clock. sat in tho drawing
room waiting for Maurice, as we had
agreed to meet there. The great house
was still. There were lights in the Ii
brary, where the unhappy husband kept
his vigil. But everywhere else darkness
brooded over the mansion. The silence,
the hour, the nervous expectancy pos
sessing me grew almost unbearable.
"Where is he? Why does he not comes"
i cried to myself.
Suddenly heard stealthy footsteps in
the hall above, on the stairs, then the
rustic Of awoman's dress.
Stepping softly to the drawing room
door. looked out. A figure wrapped in
black was descending the stairs. 1t was
Portia. Clinging to the stair rail with
one hand, with the other she was draw
ing long black lace scarf over her face,
which in the dim light was CHASTITY and
terrible to see.
Just as she reached the lower stairs
man stepped quickly out from the cor
ner Of the hall. Maurice!
Without word he confronted her.
She stared at him for an instant with
dilating eyes; then, evidently realizing
her helplessness, with gasp fell for
ward. He caught her in his arms and
carried her up the stairs. / heard the
door of the room open and in another
moment shut. Then key softly clicked
in lock, and presently Maurice came
down the stairs again.
He came into the drawing room.
Prudence" he said in low voice, "are
you hereY'
Eyes" responded, going toward him.
"Are you readyg"
eyes"
"Give me your hand. All! Pulse all
right, nerves steady. Good. Come"
"But Portia"--
swell, what of herr
"She is i'll. fought 10 go tc nar~
''She will soon be better. 1t is nothing
serious. You can help her more by going
to the swamp than in any other way"
He drew me out upon the piazza,
wrapped my shawl closer about me, and
tucking my hand under his arm led the
way down the path toward the swamp.
There was no conversation. We
walked in utter silence. Once or twice
he turned and looked back. / had q
fancy that he was looking to see if we
were followed.
Just as we came to the wall and the
closed gate dark figure rose suddenly
up, it seemed to me, from the earth.
suppressed faint shrek.
'Don't be alarmed" said Maurice.
"Jake, is that youT"
"Yes,' answered the big overseer.
"You have your rifle?"
"Yes, SIR"
"Are the boys at handg'
"Yes, sir; here they are" as two
brawny negroes stepped out of the dark
ness.
That's all right. Now, ! don't appre-
hend any trouble; still there may be
some. / wish the lady to be protected
in any event. You remain here close by
the gate. If you hear my pistol, come;
otherwise wait for u.s.
"All right, sir" replied Jake.
Mr.. Raymond drew key from his
pocket and opened the gate.
He held ont his hand.
"Come, Prudence" he said.
We stepped through the gate. He did
bot lock it behind us
Remember, Jake" he said in low
tone, ''if you hear my pistol, lose -.
time"
"Yes, sir"
Black, Shiny and filthy stretched tho
morass about US. We were in Dead
Mans swamp.
CHAPTER XIV.
TIE FRIGHTFUL TRUTH.
The path was so narrow we were
obliged to go in Indian file for n part of
the way, but as the forest grew thicker
and densor about us tho nath broadaned