The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-15

The old woman sank back upon her
throne in stupor. She held the snake
pressed TO her withered breast. was
lickened, terrified, faint.
"Do you see that wretched hut yon-
derT' said Maurice. 'That is old Jeze-
bells home. We must enter it,"
"Oh, why?" asked in terrified whis-
per.
Because there only is the talisman
which will save Portia," he answered.
Creeping stealthily forward, we passed
the stupid voodoos, worn out with their
disgusting orgies. The hut, quite over
grown with trailing vines, was scarcely
fit for swine to inhabit. Through the
half open door the red gleam Of the fire
darted, lighting up the miserable room.
In one corner was wretched pallet of
straw and rags, and on it something lay.
Come here" said Maurice solemnly,
taking off his hat as if in the presence of
death; "come here, Prudence.
/ looked--and. oh, God! Oh, God!
What was this2
Worn and wasted to skeleton, clad
In filthy rags, pale as marble, insensible,
dead perhaps, lay-Portia!
Yes, the real Portia-not the hand
some, bold pretender up at the great
house yonder. but my Portia--my Por-
tia, the friend of my girlhood, the cousin
of my Maurice.
/ flung my arms about the wasted
form. kissed the pallid brow. Iwept
and moaned as a mother might over a
dead child.
"You recognize herr" said Maurice.
"Oh, my Portia, my dear friend, who
has done this cruel thingy Let us take
her away" sobbed.
Maurice bent down and lifted her in
his arms. AS he did so faint moan
escaped from her lips.
"She is alivew / cried joyfully.
Slowly she opened her eyes and looked
straight in Maurice's face.
"Oh, home, homer was all she
moaned.
"Yes, dearest" said Maurice tenderly,
"you are going home"
Gathering her closer, he strobe from
the hut. followed more dead than
alive.
Past the sodden voodoos, back through
the night and the noisome swamp, we
fed with our precious burden; back to
the gate guarded by the faithful serv-
ants. Jake flung it open when he heard
our footsteps.
"Are you all right, Mr.. Raymond"
he cried, advancing to meet us. You
were so long was afraid something
had happened. Sdy God, what is it7'
Strike match, jake" said Maurice.
The man obeyed.
"Come closer, and you, Tom, and you,
George" he added, "and tell mo who is
this"
The men bent their rugged faces.
"Great Godi' said Jake, "Mrs March
mont"
'It's missus," cried the others. "Den
who?"
Eyes. Who-who is tho otherr' cried
Maurice, white with rage. II know
who it is. You were all blind to what
was going ON, but knew her from the
first Lock the gate, Jake, and you men
come up TO the house with me. I've
work for you yet tonight"
Up 10 the great silent mansion we hur-
ried-the steps, the piazza, the hall and
now the library.
Colonel Marchmont had risen at tho
sound of our footsteps and stood facing
the door.
"Jermyn," said Maurice in n voice
choked with emotion, "Jermyn, have
brought homo your poor wife,"
lie laid her tcnderly in her husbands
arms. Colonel Marchmont stared at
Portia as he might at a specter.
"Is it trueg' he whispered hoarsely.
"Is IL trueS Have you come back from
the grave, darlingr"
His pathetic words moved us all, and
George, one of the biggest, blackest ne
groes on the place, suddenly burst out
crving like a baby,. ,-'