Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-12-26

| she or,lp laughed m0ckingly and Uhtrled
| faster than erer.
Portia came flying toward me like a
whirlwind. Her eyes blazed. With one
clinched hand she struck at her heart.
"Prudence," she cried. "he will kill me.
But first
She broke of and burst into demoni.
acal laughter. Then, calming bit, she
continued: mo, ! will not tell you, you
soft little mouse. what I will do. Jer-
myn Marchmont shall know one day
what he has accomplished tonight"
"Portia, what Is ity' asked. "What
| Il this mystery which surrounds YOU
Instantly saw that look Of cunning
spring to her face.
"Mysteryr' she repeated almost gayly.
"Absurdl There is no mystery. Ny
husband has simply wearied OF me.
| Nothing very mysterious about that, Is
thereT and seizing me around the waist
she waltzed me mp and down the hall.
As soon as couid disengage myself
| from her embrace stepped back. But
Portia went on dancing. She looked a
yeritable Moenad az she whirled and
waved her white arms and tossed back
her disheveled hair. She was the most
graceful creature imaginable. but at the
same time there was something both
grotesque and frightful about the Wild
dance In which she indulged. Her face
grew wicked. her postures audacious.
All could think of was La Carinagnole
or the mad tarantella OF one writhing
In death agony.
"For heavens sake, Portis, stopr'
cried at last.
She only laughed mockingly and
whirled faster than ever.
The door at the upper end Of the hall
opened suddenly, and her husband ap.
peared. The look Of disgust that cross
cd his face sobered her. She stopped In
confusion and began nervously twisting
M her hair and arranging her draperies.
"Really, Portia, Colonel Marchmont
said disdainfully. IL cannot admireyour
method Of entertaining Miss Prudence.
Your dance IL more suitable to the or
gies Of Dead Mans swamp than to
gentleman's house"
Il was q brutal speech, and 1t told,
Portia stared gloomily after her husband
a. he went out upon the piazza, and
then, turning to me, said In an under
tone:
"You heard what no saidf Well. since
he sends me to the swamp, I'll 60.
have work there, Prudence"
"what do you meanr ! cried as she
fied up the stairs. But she made no an
swer. Only her taunting laughter fioated
down. heard her slam the door OF hcI
room and knew that In all probability
we should not see her again that even
ing. a II was the custom to take hel
nightly leave In some such unceremo
nious fashion.
Nor did Colonel Marchmont return.
read an hour or %, then went TO my
room. ! heard his heavy tread later -
be went to his apartments, then silenct
pettled down over the great house.
I did not feel like sleeping. Some
strange influence oppressed me. At time'
I was conscious Of premonition Of I'm
pending trouble. Something was surely
about TO happen. What was II?
Il was nearly midnight when ] die
tinctly heard distant door open and
shut. While I stood intently listcnina
| heard soft footsteps gliding along the
corridor, and an object brushed against
my door. Although ! had not disrobel
| I had put out tho lights In my room. fV'
| Wn,cn now was asvoutiy thankful, y
| they would have bscn visible to any on
prowiing outside in the hall.
! els u . hurGlarr" ! asked myself, "o'