Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-11-16
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CHAPTER ".
THE CLOSED GATE

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but I had received a terrible blow. l
felt must get away by myself. Come,
Prudence" she concluded, come, let us
walk. l cannot remain quiet
Puzzled by her looks and manner,
complied with her request. We left the
house and entered one of the broad,
densely shaded and winding paths. For
some time we walked in silence. When
stole occasional glances at my compan-
ion, could see she was far from COM
posed. The anxiety lurking in her eyes,
the hard, despairing lines about the lips,
betokened the inward conflict. At last
spoke:
Il am really grieved, Portia, to see
you suffering so. Is there anything
can do for your"
No, nothing" she broke out wildly
No, there is nothing you can do, or,
for that matter, that any one can do.
tell you, Prudence" and stopping short
at a turn in the path she seized my
arm in convulsive grasp, God HIM
self could not help me. am in awful
danger"
Danger l cried.
Hush she exclaimed, looking ap-
prehensively about. Hush! Yes, in dan
ger"
My dear, my dear" said soothingly,
patting her arm as | might child's,
your nerves are in n bad state. You
need rest. Why, Portia, what danger
can there be to you in your own home
and with your husbands protecting
love to guard you: Why, these are the
idlest fancies. Dismiss them at once"
My husband" She cried in agonized
tones. "Ah! it is through him that dan
ger threatens me. But what am say
ing? Oh, Prudence! Sometimes l fear
I am going mad" and she bowed her
head upon my shoulder and wept.
My distrust, my dislike, faded instant
ly. This cold. harsh woman had been
condemning was my Portia after all
racked by disease perhaps, crazed by
fancied terrors. Poor suffering grill l
put my arms about her and comforted
her as best could.
When she had grown calmer, we
walked on, and reaching rustic arbor
sat down. Portia still sighed mournful-
ly and wiped the struggling tears from
her cheeks.
"A charming visit you will have" she
said, with forced attempt at gayety.
Il am ashamed of my weakness, but
when these frightful fits of depression
seize me cannot possibly control my
self"
Are you subject to these moods, Por-
tia?"
"Oh, yes" she sighed. For two years
| have either been torn with feverish
panics or plunged into the depths of fore
boding. But today-today'-
There, there, never mind. Don't think
of it." murmured; think of something
pleasant. Look at the glorious sky, the
sunlight, the trees, the flowers. Think
of some happy event of your life. Think,
Portia, of those dear. peaceful days of
long ago-our schooldavs-whenl life had
not a CARE
stopped abruptly. Portals face had
once again assumed that inexphcable
eXpression-a look of mingled cunning
and alarm; the same awful glance had
seen through the window the night be
fore received now. But | foundered
on.
DO you remember, dear girl, what
Sister Agatha said to you the morning
of our graduation? can see her now,
as she laid her hand upon your Shout
der
''Oh, yes!" interrupted Portia. Dear
Sister Agatha, she was always so lovely
and gentle. and her precepts so sound
and wise"
stared at her in amazement.
why, Portia you must be dreaming
Sister Agatha was anything but gentle
She was the terror of the school No
one was SO feared and dreaded next to
Mother Patricia
Why. of course" laughed Portia-
that same sinister, mocking laugh of last
night-"how stupid of me. must have
been thinking of some other sister"
Doubtless You We're thinking of Sis
ter Madeline"
"Ycs-Sister Madeline. 1t was She"
Sister Agatha said. if recall it Alright,
'Portia, you have every prospect of hap
piness. Wealth, youth, beauty, are yours.
See to it. my child, that the avenue along
which the beacons of this life are placed
leads to the heavenly city Portia,
have never forgotten that scene The
nun, with her white, ascetic face glow
ing with spiritual fervor, one hand lifted
as i'll benediction; you in the flush of
beauty and expectancy listening to the
farewell OF that good woman. What
picture II would nave made.
Il cannot remember it very WELL"
Purtia said, with a curious air of impa-
thence as if the subject bored her, lat
all events l am convinced that l am not
in spirit very near the pearly gates. l
really think am in the neighborhood of
the bottomless pit. But come, Prudence,
how much longer are you going to daw-
die here and springing up she hastily
walked on, leaving Inc to follow in a
more perplexed state of mind than ever
had hoped to touch Portia with the
remembrance of that convent goodby.
but had only succeeded in annoying her
She appeared vexed when 1 spoke of our
school days, and now that l gave the
subject some reflection l recollected that
the night before when / had once or
twice referred to our convent life she
had quickly changed the conversation.
She had not asked once after any of our
former associates and appeared abso-
lutely to have no interest in the old life.
We pursued our way slowly and
silently. The drip of the fountains, the
rustic of the leaves and the shrill sweet
notes of the hooking birds broke the
stiffness. Occasionally Portia would
bend over a bed of flowers, examine
them intently, pick one or two, then
aimlessly wander on.
We came at last to little slope which
descended abruptly toward Dead Mans
swamp. Here the tangles of thicket
and vine rev closer and denser. Birds
rose in frightened flight at our coming.
Once l saw snake wriggle quickly
across our path.
This is a gloomy part of the grounds, :"
l returned. 1T is near the swamp. is it
not%r