Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-12-12
CHAPTER II.
PORTIA

The woman stood m0ti0nlees - u
carved from stone.
"Portiar' I cried again.
Slowly she moved across the piazza.
"who calls mey she asked.
"Portia. II is I-your old friend, Pru.
dence Mason. Oh, do not tell me
you have forgotten me-that you are
not glad to see me. Ihsve come 30 far,
and choked with my emotion hurried
up the steps, holding out my arms to her.
The light from the huge bronze lamp
In the hall shone straight upon my host
ess. saw the face Of which ! had 10
often thought-the faceof my old friend.
Why, what was it3
I stopped, dazed and bewildered. This
was not Portia!
I had prepared myself for great
change In my friend. had not looked
to see the girl. I remembered the morn.
Ing we babe each other farewell, but
had anticipated seeing an older, o ma.
turer Portia, In whose features ! yet
might trace the lines and expression Of
my friend OF long ago.
But this cold, proud-yes, insolent-
iiced woman. where were the amiabili-
By, the swes ness and the tenderness ]
rememberedf vanished-all-and In
their stead ! remarked only disdain and
vexatiou.
She saw my surprise, my hesitation
yes, my alarm-and singular expression
srept In her face, an expression OF min.
gled cunning and dread.
"why. you are not Portiar J STAN.
uered.
"Oh, yes, | am she replied, with O
light laugh-"ycs, and very glad to see
you, Prudence. II was good Of you to
come 80 far. You think I have changed
80 ! have. But am Portia." and abe
bent and kissed me.
The caress was intolersble. ! could
have screamed when her cold lps
touched ,nipa. All. how different q 70
ception ! had pictured! What did u
meani Was II she who was changed or 1
She led me In. with many polite In
quiries, uttered In perfunctory and me
chanical fashion. Servants were sum
moned; tea was brewed; my bags ant
wraps taken; everything that the mos
punctilious hostess could do for guesl
was done for me. And yet through oil
these kindly offices ! was conscious Of
vague feeling Of uneasiness and distrust
Under the glow Of the great drawing
room chandelier ! studied Portals fac'
closely. What was III Where was th'
great change which seemed TO separate
the friend Of my youth from me a. by
gulf. There was the same lustrous hair
untinged by q thread Of silver; Their
were the great almond shaped liquit
eyes, like black velvet; the same faultless
ly faultless features; the same ivorylik'
complexion. But the soul was gon'
from the face; the essence Of an exquisite
nature no longer looked out from thu
eyes. It was Portia and yet not Portia
She caught my intent scrutiny.
II have grown old. Prudence, sh'
said In answer to my inquiring looks
"and our southern climate has not i'm
proved my complexion. Then. too,
have lived monotonous life, have beer
very much alone, and that, you know
70 not good for one" and then sh'
laughed.
recalled Portals lsugh-mirth pro
voking, contagious, hearty. could heaI
again its silvery sweetness ringing
through the leafy avenues Of the old con
rent gardens. Ny hostess laugh wa
hollow, sinister and harsh. like tho crack
ling Of thorns under . pot. Had tn
years wrought . complete revolution u
her character - well - her facet
II am sorry Colonel Marchmout isno
at home," she said after abe had sra
ciously pressed o second cup Of tee upoi
me. He went to Atlanta last week.
expect him back very soon-possibly to
morrow"
"You have children, Portiay
"One," she replied ooldly. - II tn
subject were obnoxious-"a little CIR
Q years old-a headstrong little creature
Ican do nothing with her. I'm glad
have bat one"
looked at her In amusement l hal
often thought Of Portis a. . mother
How tender. loving and womanly Oh
would bs In that relationi had pic
tured her holding . baby on her bress
and looking down st II with that divin
expression only to Be seen IN . younl
mothers eyes, and I had fancied be
surrounded by merry, romping. hspp.
children. Her scarcely yelled distast
for maternity shocked me.
"You must DO very weary, Prudence,
shs said after . little. "If you like.
win show you TO your ROOM"
AL was only too anxious 70 be alone
| I dgnined my wish 10 retire at once.
Riding, my hostess took from the man
Tel q tall diver candlestick and led th
way through the Wide hall and mp th
old time winding stairs.
I followed. With . strange sinking q
my heart. NJ reception, though couI
teous, had BEEN utterly mechanical.
saw my blundsr In having thrust su IN
solicited vidt upon a old friend who
alasi was not the friend Of old. ] n
flectsd, however, that Il was not nscel
sary 70 proloug my stay and dscidsd thl
e looa = posshls ! veqA rstsn nort