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

delicious air. She sighed in ecstasy, and
smiled at each of US In turn.
Suddenly she spoke.
"Oh, how good it is to be alivef"
Her husband lifted her hand and kissed
ii with intensity.
II remember it all now," she said
slowly. "Yes-everytLing. 1t has been
coming back to me little by little.
have pieced together all those dreadful
episodes, and the whole frightful story
is before me. know you are all long.
ing to hear it.
Dearest, nor interrupted her hus-
band hastily, mot until you are quito
well and strong. Don't agitate yourself.
beg"
~ am we'll enough now, Jermyn," she
gently replied. II am well enough to
tell you about it. think it will be re-
lief to me-"
"very well then, dear one, If it is your
wish"
"Jermyn," she said solemnly, laying
her hand upon his head, II have known
for years that Sidonie worshiped you. I
discovered this just before our marriage,
when one evening came upon her in the
library passionately kissing rose which
had fallen from your coat. The discovery
shocked me, and yet ! pitied her and
spoke kindly and tenderIy to her. You
know how always loved Sidonie. can
never forget the agony and despair in her
face and her voice as see cried out that
had all in life, she nothing; that she
prayed and longed for death; that she
cursed the hour she was born. Oh l
pitied her-I pitied her." and Portals
voice shook with sublime compassion.
There was silence for few minutes.
Then she resumed her story,
after that was more indulgent and
considerate than ever to Sidonie. She
was given greater liberty. / intrusted
her with many little commissions. hop
ing that busy life and certain amount
of responsibility would be some compen-
eation for her sad fate. But she seemed
to grow more and more imbittered and
our marriage. she disappeared.
"Do you know" she said, looking ear.
nestly at us, IL always hoped she would
not be captured2 While shuddered at
the thought of what her fate might be
with her fiery temper and her inordinats
vanity, still it was relief to me not to
see her, and fancied that perhaps she
would be happier under different en-
vironments. Her value as a piece Of
property never occurred to me.
"In my new home and my new life
soon forgot Sidonie, though often re-
membrance Of her waywardness and her
beauty would drift in my thoughts.
was often told of my folly in allowing
so valuable a slave to slip out Of my
hands without greater endeavor to arrest
her; but. as said before, was relieved
to have her out of my sight.
"When Jermyn was summoned to
England two years ago, it was with
dull sensation of apprehension that
saw him go. Ali my dear husband,
never can tell you my emotion as l
watched your carriage disappear. 1t
seemed to me that you were going out of
my life forever.
"You had not been long away when
one morning Jake came to me and asked
me what he should do about old Jezebel.
He said that she would not remain on
the plantation, but spent her time idling
about in the swamp, occasionally pre-
senting herself st the quarters fer her
rations, encouraging the negroes to shift
less and lazy ways and frightening them
nearly out of their wits by weird prac-
tices and tales. He hesitated to punish
her on account of her years and because
to the other negroes she bore charmed
life. In fine, he did not want trouble II
1t could be avoided, and would / give
him orders in the matter. l told him
would see Jezebel myself and directed
that she be sent to me.
"Tlet evening-it was just such an
evening as this--I was walking alone
through the grounds. Icame to the wall
separating the plantation from the
swamp. / had always known of this
old gate, but having had no curiosity con-
cerning the swamp had never opened 1t.
Now, as approached it, / thought of the
old negress, and the audacious idea Of
exploring this unknown territory sud
denly entered my head. In those days
did not know fear, and therefore without
any reflection pushed open the gate and
sauntered along the path leading to the
heart of the swamp. / decided to investi-
gate old Jezebel's retreat for myself and
see tho hut learned she had built for
her use, declaring the cabin assigned to
her at the quarters not good enough for
an African princess, as she proudly
claimed to be.
II wandered on, quite enjoying the
novelty of my walk. The sun was set
ting, and the last rays darted across the
pines as entered the gloomy forest. On,
on, farther plunged into this wilder
ness and presently came out into the
open space near Jezebers hut.
"The old woman was sitting ON the
ground before the hut grooming and
muttering to herself. She looked not
human as she peered up at me through
the tangles Of her coarse, matted gray
hair. For the first time felt trihe