Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-11-18
CHAPTER NJ.
\ SLIGHT ENCOUNTER.

After luncheon the colonel took his
guest out to view the plantation, and we
did not see them again until dinner.
Portia was absolutely dazzling when
she swept in and took her seat at the
head of the table. She was dressed i'll
scarlet from head to foot. Her superb
shoulders rose from folds of fiery silk,
and the little feet that wandered in and
out beneath her skirts were shod in the
same lurid hue She looked veritable
daughter of Mephisto. Her eyes spar
kled dangerously, and on her face was
an expression of audacity. Evidently
she had nerved herself for the oncoming
contest which was in the air.
When Maurice saw her, he coolly and
deliberately ran his eyes over her cos
tune and then said nonchalantly as he
shook out his napkin. Evidently You
have overcome that intense dislike of
scarlet which was one of your marked
traits as girl, belle cousine."
Portia did not answer, but looked
straight at him.
1t was most extraordinary" Contin-
ued Maurice. L never knew any one to
hate particular color as you hated red.
Do you remember what you used to
call IT."
No" said Portia.
"A niger color replied Maurice,
and declared it only fit for the quad
room girls"
y great pallor overspread Porta' face,
but she laughed and lifted her glass of
sherry to her lips.
How absurd!" she said We'll, other
times, other manners"
Yes" said Raymond as he lifted his
glass to her, Il myself adore scarlet. II
is vibrant with life and action"
DO you remember, cousin" he went
on as he set down his glass. do You re
member the day your pony ran away
and threw you? l can see you now lying
white and cold on the moss and-and-
why, what the deuce was your ponys
name?-the one your father brought
from Atlanta and TO whom you We're so
devoted, Astonishing that l can't re-
member-I know the name of that par
ticular nag as well as l do my own.
Surely, cousin, you can help me-"
No, do not remember" said Portia
in low voice.
The chestnut with the white name
and tail. Jacko-no-ah! was it not
Jacqueline:'
oh, yes!' cried Portia, as if greatly
relieved.
No, no, cousin, said Maurice. Why,
no; Jacqueline was the pony your father
got after the runaway-a black one. But
the chestnut-how amazing that neither
one of US can recall her namer'
Il have such a wretched memory" Ue
gan Portia.
There, too, you have changed" rat.
tied on Maurice. why, Portia, used
to boast of your remarkable memory
The dates, the names, the numbers, you
would dash off We're astounding. re-
member it was rather trial to me that
Your memory should be so superior to
mine"
could see that Portia was worried,
and also that for some reason Mr.. Ray
mond was trying to trap her But to
what purpose: Was this his revenge
for the frigid reception she had given
him?
All through dinner he was constantly
reminding her of some of their youthful
experiences. Occasionally, she answered
him Understandings, but as rule her
replies were wide Of tho mark One
would have said that so far as that period
Of her life was concerned Mrs. March
mont's memory was blank.
When we entered the drawing room,
Maurice opened the grand piano, and
turning 10 Portia said with great ami
ability:
Dear cousin, am longing to hear
your sweet voice again. Sing some of
those dear old songs"
Hooked at Portia. Would she sing
at his bidding? Again and again during
my stay had asked her to sing for me,
but she had always refused on one pre-
text or another.
You will excuse me, cousin" she
said coldly. 81 gave up singing long
since. l found my voice was growing
thin and metallic and could not endure
its sound"
That is absurd" said Colonel March
mont, suddenly rising and coming over
to us. "She sang just as well as she
ever did before went to England. On
my return she refused to sing and has
persisted in that determination ever
since. One of her many caprices."
How long were You in England,
Marchmont:" asked Mr.. Raymond qui-
city.
"A year." replied the colonel. Il was
detained on business. was sent for as
the heir to property near Nottingham,
and after got there pretender turned
up. Well, you know the laws delay,
especially in that slow going country
The result was, | was away from
Swamplands for over twelvemonth."
"And during that time you were lady
of the manor" said Mr.. Raymond to
Portia, What an interminable absence!"
he continued, fumbling the music, but
then the reunion-how delightfulr'
Colonel Marchmont looked embar-
raised, while Portia was very pale. What
manner of man was this who appeared
to play upon their heart strings? 1t was
not possible that so observant student
of human nature could have failed to
remark the cool relations existing be-
tween the husband and wife. No. Mr..
Raymond was simply drawing them
.Jut. The situation was becoming
strained, when broke the ice by sitting
down at the piano and playing few Sc
lections in my amateur fashion.
l was conscious that Colonel March
mont left the room after few minutes
and that Portia and her guest were alone.
Just over the piano hung huge old
fashioned mirror, and glancing in it ]
saw an extraordinary scene. 1 saw our
polished, courtly visitor suddenly ap-
proach his hostess, who shrank back with
look of absolute terror on her face.
saw him roughly seize her arm and push
back the loosely flowing sleeve and in
tently scrutiniZe the lovely bare flesh.
In vain she silently struggled to free her