Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-11-15
CHAPTER III.

Frozen with terror, listened for re- turn of those velvet footsteps, but no sound was heard.
 I threw myself dressed as l was on the bed. did not dare sleep. The can dies in their vast gilt sticks burned lower and lower. watched them with strain ing eyes, shuddering as thought of the darkness which would come. At last they went out. was alone in the pro- found and awful silence of night.
 Toward morning I slept from utter exhaustion, and when wakened the sun was shining full i'll my eyes. I turned drowsily. Then, sitting upright, looked at my dusty. travel stained gown ill which had slept. Suddenly the occur renee of the night before returned to me,
 What did it mean? Why was Por- tia spying upon me? What possible ex- planation could there be of that stealthy survey through the window?
 "She must be mad" said as weari- ly rose. Yes, that must be it. She has had peor health, and possibly her brain may be turned trife. Dear me, don't relish the idea of being watched like that. Well. must get away as soon as possible. wonder if it would do to go today?"
 There was a knock at the door. and a trim quadroon maid entered with hot water. She explained that her mistress had delegated her to wait upon mo dur ing my stay.
 wy, you all dressed already?' she cried in surprise.
 Without thinking. carelessly an- swered. Yes, slept in my clothes"
 The girl gave me quick glance. II was so tired" said, "that l must have dropped to sleep before knowing it. "
 "Yes'm," she glihly replied, but there was a queer expression on her face. Presently she went over to the window as if to open it wider.
 wy, you slep wid you'ah shuttahs open" she exclaimed. Wouldn't do dat ef wuz you, miss"
 Why" demanded.
 "Waal," she answered in some confu- sion, II doan' no, but sometimes folks gifts kinder skeery. Wouldn't sleep wid my shuttahs open, deed wouldn't. I'd like to keep my winders shet, but den I'm on de swamp side-dat's worse" l Why is it worse:" I asked.
 "Waal, miss, we ain't lowed to speak 1 bout it-missus dat mad wen she hyahs us sayin anythin. But I tell ye some, times de goin's on in dat swamp just orfel"
 Look here" said, with consider able show of asperity. What do you mean by '9oin's on? "
 'Waal," she hesitated, screams al hollerin an de debble's own noise some times. Dey say dat whah de voodoo: gor''
 Why doesn't Colonel Marchmont put a stop to it:"
 Lord bless ye, miss, he doan' car, muffin bout it. A lot ob drunken mig gahs. he says. He jest gives ordahs non, ob de niggahs off his plantation go dah An dey doan' dast go. But we hyah de awfulest noises. an Sue Some seer lights, an ole Pete tole me las night h, wah down by de marsh, an he declah h, done see somepin comin out de swamp wid horns an tail an pitchfork."
 Nonsense, said severely; don't le me hear any more of such superstition stuff"
 ''Al right, miss," Lizzie said meekly and as my toilet was, now completed told her she might go. laughed hearti ly when I was alone.
 II am tasting some of the delights O southern life" said. 'Portia used t tell me about these superstitious slaves but don't remember that she said any thing about voodooism. I must speal to her about it. It should be quite a interesting study. Of course that hide ous scream heard last night must hay come from some of their horrid orgies.
 Musing thus, wended my way dow the corridor and stairs into the lowe hall. The great front doors were opene