The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-05
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CHAPTER XII.
A BATTLE ROYAL,
ooP~RioHr BY AMERICAN PRESS AssocA-so ,sss
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A BATTLE ROYAL.
In reading over what have written
find appear more or less in the role Of
an accidental eavesdropper. am now
about to describe scene to which was
an intentional listener.
Let me excuse myself. | had become
firmly convinced that Portia was plot
ting harm TO Daphne; that she was visit
ing the old hag Of Dead Mans swamp
to urge her to hasten the destruction of
tho child, for whom, through some un-
accountable madness, she had conceived
a violent hatred.
| felt myself, then, quite justified in
| frustrating her wicked schemes. con-
stituted myself q detective and watched
Portia increasingly. | determined that
at the first suspicious movement would
report everything to Colonel Marchmont
and leave him to act
! But Maurice Raymond He was al.
most as great mystery to me as his
cousin. And my instinct warned me
that he, too, was studying and watching
Portia. His puzzled air at first sight of
her, his quizzing and leading questions,
and above all that iuexplicablc examina-
| tion of her arm in so rude and mastery
fashion were all mystifying and vexing.
| How l wished to penetrate his thoughts,
to read what was passing behind the
impassive facet AT times Twas prompt
ed to seek him and contide all the de-
tails which were SO troubling me, but
my natural timidity and reticence for
bade this step.
Portia was ike a Gagged tigress these
days. She fumed and stormed and
lashed herself into tempests of rage.
She feared and hated this cool, calm, in
scrutible man. who was for some reason
dissecting and analyzing her. She tried
to avoid him, but it was useless. He
was ever at her side. Did she lounge in
one of the great bamboo piazza chairs,
Mr.. Raymond took the one next her IL
she snatched shawl and fled down one
of the garden paths, Maurice at once
lighted cigar and followed, keeping at
respectful distance enough, but allow
ing her to see she was under his constant
surveillance.
His manner, too, when he addressed
her was peculiar. 1t was n combination
of authority and mocking courtesy. She
WINGED perceptibly when he spoke to
her and seemed relieved when his utter
ance was not q question concerning the
past.
Imarveled greatly that Colonel March,
mont did not mark the comedy-or was
1t tragedyp-that was being enacted
under his eyes. But he appeared to live
apart, wrapped in sorrowful and gloomy
thoughts, and rousing only when his
child sprang upon his knee and cuddled
closely to his heart
But TO return to the scene of which I
was at first an involuntary, then inten-
tional listener. One dreary, rainy after
noon was sitting in the window seat Of
tho library, the heavy curtains shutting
me in and completely conccaling me from
view. l knew Daphne was asleep in
the nursery with Sophie watching her.
The colonel had driven to the neighbor-
ing town. Portia had shut herself In her
rooms after luncheon and refused to adj
init me when / knocked. | supposed Mr.,
Raymond to be in the smoking room at
the end of the hall. Presently, however,
heard mans tread, and peering be-
tween the curtains saw him come in the
library, throw himself down in big
easy chair in the corner by the fire and
fall to studying the glowing Goals.
l reflected whether | should speak to
him, but decided not. HE will go soon,"
thought, land in any event he would
not care to talk to me-"
The door softly opened, and Portia
came in. She wore long white dress
ing gown, and her heavy braids of hair
were tumbling down. She appeared
half asleep and did not see her cousin.
Crossing to the bookshelves, she selected
novel, and turning prepared to leave
the room, but with the quick, stealthy
spring of tiger Maurice was before
her He locked the door, and turning
gave her terrible smile.
"How dare your she painted.
'.Tho stereotyped question of woman
when she is vanquished," sneered he.
''Dear cousin, why do you not so in for
something originalF"
"Open that door" she fumed, land
let Inc go"
Il will not" he retorted. ''Do you
think after all the slirmishing between
us since my arrival now that 1t has
come to battle that you are to escape
me7 That may be your mode of fight
ing-to run away think it very likely
but it does not please me"
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