The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-16
CHAPTER xvIl-C tlnusd.

$50 Sidoine WAS taught music and
language and dancing and painting.
She came to be almost as accomplished
as her mistress. Portia sang divinely,
but Sidonie had no voice. You under
stand now why the latter would not
sing for us. But one thing she could
never acquire. and that was Portals
lovely and amiable disposition. From
her creole mother Sidonio had inherited
vanity, love Of dresc and fiery temper
She was SO petted and favored by Portia
that she came 10 look upon herself as a
lady and to take on the airs Of one. The
Marchmont plantation joined my uncle's,
and it was easy to see that Jermyn and
Portia were boy and girl lovers. But
Sidonie's face always grew dark when
she saw them together. / used TO taunt
her with being jealous of Portia. never
dreaming how closelyI hit her. left
home several years before Portia was
married and cannot speak definitely of
the events of the time. However, Portia
used to write me often and tell me many
details of her daily life. Just before the
wedding there was great hue and cry
Sidonie had run away. She was hunted
high and low, big reward offered for
her capture and search made every
where, all TO no purpose. There is o
gap here of several years which l cannot
fill. She was seen in various cities, but
always escaped apprehension. What
her life was during this period one can
only surmise.
Nov, about this old nigger, Jezebel
and her cohort of followers. can re.
member when was mere lad thinking
the old hag, soothsayer and fortune
teller was century old. / don't be-
lieve any one knows just how old she is.
Sidonie, for some reason, was always
crazy to be with her, and while she
looked down on all the other niEgers
would slip away and spend hours in
Jezebel's hut. The old devil fiattered
her vanity and prophesied roseate fu-
ture for the girl. You won't always be
a slave, honey she would tell her, and
inch by inch she turned her foolish head.
"Even in those days Jezebel was popu-
larly supposed to be in league with sa-
tan. She was said to have the evil eye
and to be able to work charms and cast
spells. The darkies applied to her for
potions and doses to cure all manner of
ailments. Jermyn tells me that for the
last two years she has not slept on this
plantation, but has lived in that wretch
cd hut in the swamp.
81 heard whispers and rumors among
the negroes here Of these midnight or
gies and determined to witness one for
myself. / went out night before last,
and having easily found the path came
plump up against the wall and the closed
gate. While I was Illuminating what
plan to pursue, I heard footsteps and
saw q woman approaching. Iquickly I
concealed myself in the thicket, and
when l saw our hostess let herself
through this gate resolved to follow
her. easily scaled the wall and took
the path she was pursuing and presently
found myself where we were last night.
This imposter mingled with those naked
niggers, ana while she did not dance
herself encouraged them in their de-
banch. After they were stupefied from
their frenzy, she and old Jezebel enter
ed the hut.
81 hastened to the window and peered
in. / heard faint moan and saw some
thing move on that filthy pallet. Then
the old woman brewed some diabolical
mess and forced poor Portia to drink it
while this Sidorie stood by looking ON
with triumphant smile.
81 saw it all in ON instant-how by her
wit and cunning she had caused the
transfer of identity while Jermyn was
in England. Tho slave had become
the mistress, and the poor mistress was
a captive in the hands of Sidonie's fellow
conspirator. / don't know how kept
from rushing in then and denouncing
her. but feared il did Sidonie might
escape. And was determined she should
not elude me.
II took Jake partially into my conf
dcnce, i told him to guard the gate and
not to permit any one to pas through
it save you and me, and If Mrs. March
mont attempted to open it to summon
the colonel or me at once, that foul play
was being done. and would be respon-
sible for any consequences. Jake is
singularly reliable man, and having
been told just enough did his duty.
81 know Sidonie could not leave the
house without my knowledge. / was
confident she would try and waited for
that attempt which you know was
made.
when she tainted, carried her into
her room, locked that pair Of handouts
on her soft, pretty wrists and secured
the door behind me. The rest you
know. When Portia RECEIVERS, she will
tell us moro which will doubtless sup
ply all the missing details. A terrible
story, is it not? No stranger, though,
than many wild tale of tho south--the
land of romance and revenge. But how
weary you arel Come, I insist you
shall go in and rest. Don't worry about
Portia. She will live. Those fiends did
not succeed in killing her, and the good
God will restore her TO her husband and
child"
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