The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-11
CHAPTER III.
PORTALS CHILD.

turn OF those velvet footsteps, but no
sound was heard.
threw myself dressed as was on
the bed. did not dare sleep. The can
dies in their vast gilt sticks burned lower
and lower. watched them with strain
ing eyes, shuddering as thought Of the
darkness which would come. At last
they went out. was alone in the pro-
found and awful silence Of night.
Toward morning ! slept from utter
exhaustion, and when wakened the sun
was shining full in my eyes. turned
drowsily. Then, sitting upright, looked
ut my dusty. travel stained gown In
which had slept. Suddenly the occur
renee of the night before returned to me.
What did it mean2 Why was Por-
tia spying upon me? What possible ex-
PLANTATION could there be of that stcalthy
survey through the window?
''She must be mad" / said as weari-
ly rose. "Yes, that must be it. She
has had poor health, and possibly her
brain may be turned trife. Dear me.
don't relish the idea of being watched
like that. Well, l must get away as
soon as possible. wonder If it would
do TO go today?"
There was knock at the door, and q
trim quadroon maid entered with hot
water. She explained that, her mistress
had delegated her to wait upon me dur
ing my stay.
"W'y, you all dressed already" she
cried in surprise.
Without thinking. carelessly an
swered, "Ycs. slept in my clothes"
The girl gave me quick glance.
~ was 80 tired" said, 'that ! must
have dropped to sleep before knowing it,"
"Yes'm," she glibly replied. but there
xas a queer expression on her face.
Presently she went over to the window
as il to open it wider.
"Wy, you slep wild you'ah shuttahs
openl" sho exclaimed. "Wouldn't do
dat Of ! wuz you, miss"
"Whyy' demanded.
"Waal," she answered In some confu-
sion, II doan' no, but sometimes folks
gifts kinder skcery. Wouldn't sleep wild
my shuttahs open, deed / wouldn't. I'd
like 10 keep my winders shet, but den
TN on de swamp sfde-dat's worse"
"Why is 1t worseY asked.
"Waal, miss, we amt lowed to speak
bout it-missus dat mad wen she hyahs
us sayin anythin. But tell We some
times do COINS cn in dat swamp just
orfel."
"Look here."I said. with consider
able show Of asperity. "What do you
mean by 'goin's on?"
"Waal," she hesitatcd, screams an
hollerin an de debble's own noise some
times Dcy say dat whah do voodoos
gol"
"why doesn't Colonel Marchmont put
stop to it?"
"Lord bless ye, miss, be doan' care
muffin bout it. A lot oh drunken mig
gahs. he says. He jest gives ordahs none
OBJ de niggahs off his plantation go dab.
An dey doan' dast 60. But we hyahs
de awfulest noises. an Sue Some seen
lights, an ole Pcto tole me las night he
wah down by de marsh, an he declah he
done see somepin comm out dc swamp,
wild horns an tail an pitchfork."
Nonsense" said severely; "don't let
me hear any more Of such superstitious
stuff"
"All right, MISS" Lizzie said meekly,
and rs my toilet was now completed
told her she might CO. laughed hearth
ly when / was alone.
II am tasting some of the delights Of
southern life," said. "Portia used to
tell me about these superstitious slaves,
but don't remember that she said any
thing about voodooism. must speak
70 her about it. 1t should be quite an
interesting study. OF course that hide
Gus scream heard last night must have
come from some of their horrid orgies"
Musing thus, wended my way down
the corridor and stairs into the lower
hall. The great front doors were opened
wide, and flood Of glorious sunshine
was pouring across tho tesscllated floor.
The sunlight chccred ne. banished all
care and forgot my uneasiness OF the
night.
~ must have been mistaken" urged.
1T was only my tired nerves and disor-
dercd fancy. OF course Portia would
never stoop to spying in that fashion.
Absurd"
stood in the door and looked down
tHt IODit dNtHuc btlOIt tllc nOust. luc
grounds of Swainplands were extensive
and beautifully cared for. Great beds
of brilliant blossoms, splashing foun-
tains, parterres of closely clipped box
and spruce and winding paths combined
10 make the picture most attractive.
Far in the distance could see the cotton
fields, yonder stretched Dead Mans
swamp. and here on the piazza, with
her back turned to me and evidently
quite unaware Of my presence. sat Por-
tia.
She was dressed in filmy white gown.
Her massive coils Of hair revealed the
shapely neck. Her head was bent. She
was reading.
Bef,Ge could speak side door opened
and little girl about years of Gge
came out upon the piazza. She held
bunch Of scarlet blossoms in her hand
and approached Portia with timid air