The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-04
CHAPTER XI.
A SLIGHT ENCOUNTER.

shoulders rose from folds of fiery silk,
and the little feet that wandered In and
out beneath her skirts were shod in the
same lurid hue She looked a veritable
daughter Of Mephisto. Her eyes spar
kled dangerously, and on her face was
an expression of audacitv. Evidently
She had nerved herself tor the oncoming
contest which was in the air.
When Maurice saw her, he coolly and
deliberately ran his eyes over her cos
tune and then said nonchalantly as he
shook out his napkin, Evidently you
have overcome that intense dislike of
scarlet which was ono of your marked
traits as girl, belle cousine."
Portia did not answer, but looked
straight at him.
ut was most extraordinary, contin-
ued Maurice II never knew any one TO
hate particular color as you hated rcd
Do YOU remember what you used to
call it,"
NO" said Portia.
"a nigger color" replied Maurice,
"and declared it only fit for the quad
room girls"
A great pallor oversprcad Portals face,
but she laughed and lifted her glass Of
sherry TO her lips.
"How absurd" she said. "Well other
times, other manners"
YES" said Raymond as he lifted his
glass to her, Il myself adore scarlet, 1t
is vibrant with life and action"
DO you remember, COUSIN" he went
on as he set down his glass, "do you re-
member tho day your pony ran away
and threw you? can see you now lying
white and cold on the moss and-and-
why, WI hat the deuce was your pony's
name?--the one your father brought
from Atlanta and to whom you were SO
devoted. Astonishing that | can't re-
membcr-I know the name Of that par
ticular nag as well as 10 my own.
Surely. cousin, you can help me-"
mo, do not remember, said Portia
in low voice.
"Tho chestnut with the white name
and tail. Iacko-uo-ah! was it not
Jacqueline:"
"Oh, yesl' cried portia, as if greatly
relieved.
mo, no, cousin, said Maurice. "Why,
no; JacQusline was the pony your father
got after the runaway-a black one. But
the chestnut-how amazing that neither
one of us can recall her name!'
Il have such wretched memory" be-
gan Portia. --....
There, TOO, you have changed" rat
tied on Maurice. why, Portia, used
to boast of your remarkable memory.
The dates, the names, the numbers, You
would dash off We're astounding. re-
member it was rather trial to me that
your memory shonld be so superior to
mine"
could SEQ that Portia was worried,
and also that for somo reason Mr.. Ray
mond was trying to trap her. But to
what purposeE Was this his revenge
for tho frigid reception she had given
him?
All through dinner he was constantly
reminding her of some of their youthful
experiences. Occasionally, she answered
him understandingly, bnt as rule her
replies were wide of the mark One
would have said that SO far as that period
of her life was concerned Mrs March.
mont memory was blank.
When we entered tho drawing room,
Maurice opened the Grand piano, and
turning TO Porta said with great ami
ability
"Dear cousin, am longing to hear
your sweet voice again. Sing some of
those dear old songs"
| looked nj Portia. Would she sing
at his bidding: Again and again during
my stay had | asked lsar to sing for me,
but sho had always refused Oh one pre-
teAt or another.
You will excuse me, cousin" she
said coldly, Il gayo up singing long
since found my voice was growing
thin and metallic and could not endure
it's sound"
That is absurd said Colonel March
mont, suddenly rising and coming over
to lis. She sang just as well as she
ever did before | went to England. On
my return she refused to sing and has
persisted in that determination ever
since. Ono Of her many capriccs."
.'liow long were yon in England,
Narchinont:' asked Mr.. Raymond qui-
etly.
a year." replied the colonel Il was
detained on business. was sent for as
the heir 10 property near Nottingham,
and after | got there pretendor turned
up. Well, you know tho laws delay,
especially in that slow going country.
The result was, | was away from
Swampan,ls for over a tYelyemonth.
And during that time you were lady
of the manor said Mr., Raymond to
Portia, What an nintcrminable ubsencel'
he continued, fumbling The music, but
then the rennion-how delightful"
Colonel Narchlnont looked embar-
rassed, whilc Por;ia was very pale, What
manner Of man WIS this who appeared
to play upon their heart strings? 1t was
not possible that 80 observant student
of human nature could have failed to
remark the cool relations existing be-
IA -