The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-28
CHAPTER III.
D..n-1 y. ,urrt

FROZEN Win ttFTOr, llSleueu lOT u re-
turn of those velvet footsteps, but no
sound was heard.
threw myself dressed as | was on
the bed. Ibid not dare sleep. The can
dies in their vast gilt sticks burned lower
and lower. watched them with strain
ing eyes, shuddering us 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 | slept from utter
exhaustion, and when l wakened the sun
was shining full in my eyes. turned
drowsily, Then, sitting upright, Hooked
at my dusty, travel stained gown in
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-
PLANTATION 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 poor 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 us possible. wonder if it would
do to go todayT
There was a knock at the door, and q
trim quadroon maid entered with hot
water She explained that her mistress
had delegated her to wait upon me dur
ing my stay.
"W'y, you all dressed already" she
cried in surprise.
Without thinking, / carelessly an
swered, "Yes, slept in my Clothes"
The girl gave me quick glance.
81 was SO tired, l said, THAT | must
have dropped to sleep before knowing it."
'.Yes'm," she gl;bly replied, but there
WAS queer expression on her face.
Presently she went over to the window
as if to open it wider.
IVY, You slep wild you'ah shuttahs
openl' she exclaimed. "Wouldn't do
dat of | WIZ you, miss.
"Why?" demanded.
"Waal,' she answered in some confu-
sion, II doan no, but sometimes folks
gifts kinder skeery. Wouldn't sleep wi,
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"
"Why is it worse?" asked.
"Waal, miss, we amt lowed to speak
bout it-missus dat mad wen she hyahs
us sayin anythin. But | tell We some-
times de COINS on in dat swamp just
orfel."
"Look here" ! said, with consider
able show of asperity. What do you
mean by COINS on?"
"Waal," she hesitated, "screams an
hollerin an dc debble's own noise some
times. Dey say dat whah de voodoos
go!"
why doesn't Colonel Marchmont put
stop TO it,"
Lord bless ye. miss, he doan' care
muffin bout it. A lot OBJ drunken mig
gahs, he says. He Jest gives ordahs none
OBJ de niggahs off his plantation go dab.
An dey doan' dast go. But we hyahs
de awfulest noises. an Sue Some seen
lights, IN ole Pete tole me las night he
wah down by de marsh an he declah he
done see somepin comm ont de swamp.
wild horns an tail an pitchfork."
"Nonsense,h said severely; don't let
me hear any more of such superstitious
stuff"
"All right miss Lizzie said meelly,
and as my toilet was now completed
told her She might go. laughed hearti.
ly when | was alone.
Il am tasting some of the delights of
=. southern life," said. "Portia used to
tell me about these superstitious slaves.
but don't remember that she said any.
thing about voodooism. must speak
10 her about it, 1t should be quite an
interesting study. Of course that hide.
GUS scream heard last night must have
come from some Of their horrid orgies"
Musing thus, ! wended my way down
the corridor and stairs into the lower
hall. The great front doors We're opened
wide, and food of glorious sunshine
was pouring across the tessellated floor.
The sunlight cheered me. | banished all