Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-01-23

high and low, q big reward offered for
her capture and s~arch made every
where. all 20 no purpose. There In
gap here % several years which cannot
all. She was seen In various cities. but
always escaped apprehension. What
her life was during this perici one can
only surmise.
"Now. about this old nigger. Jerebel.
and her cohort of followers. lcan re-
member when was mere lad thinking
the old hag. soothsayrr and fortune
teller was century old. j don't be-
liev- any one knows Just how old she IL.
bidonie. for soin- reason. was always
crazy 20 he with her. and while she
looked down ON all the other niggers
would slip away and spend hours In
Jetebel's hut. The old devil fattercd
her vanity and prophesied . roscats fu.
ture for the girl. You won't always 10
. slave, honey. she would tell her. and
inch by inch she turnesi her foolish head.
"Even In ,hose days Jelebsl was popu.
iarly supp-ed To be Ia league with "a
tan. She Wa. said 20 have the evil eye
and to IT, able 10 work charms and cast
spells. The darki.. applied To her for
potions AMI ilc.e- % cure all manner Of
silmentsl Jermyn tells me that for the
last two years she has not slept on this
plantation. but has liv~l In that wretch.
ed hut In the swamp.
II heard whispers and riiGors among
the negroes here ~ these midnight OF.
sres and determined to witness Que for
myself. ! went out night before last.
and having easily found the path came
plump up against the wall and ths closed
gate. While ! was ruminating what
plan 90 pursue. I heard footsteps and
saw q woman approaching. Iquickiy
concealed myself In IN. thicket. and
when ! saw our hostess let herself
through this gate I resolved to follow
her. easily scaled the wall AMI took
the path she was pursuing ani presently
found myself wher. We were last night.
This impo-isr mingled with thoss naked
nigycrs, and while she did not dance
herself encouraged them In their de-
bauch. After they were s,upeh~i from
their frenzy. che and old Jezeb-l enter
VI the hut.
II has,enci "a the window and Isered
n. heari faint moan aud saw some
thing move on that filthy pallet. Then
the old woman brew.d some diabolical
me.s and forced poor Por'ia TO drink Il
while this sidorie stood by looking on
with triumphant, smile.
IL saw u all In an instant-how by her
sit and cunning she hal caused the
transfer of identity while Jermyn was
Ia England. The slave hal become
the mistress, and the poor mistrcss was
q captive In th. hands Of Sidoni.'s fellow
conspirator. I don't know how ! kept
FROM rushing In then and denOuncing
her. hut I feared II I did sidonie might
escape. And was determined she should
not eluds me.
Il took Jake partially into my conn.
dcnce. told him 10 guard the gate and
no, 10 permit any one 10 pass through
II save you and Inc. and N Mrs. March
mont attempted 90 open u to summon
the colonel 90 me at once. that foul play
wa. bsing done, and would lie rr-pon-
sible for any consequences. Jake isa
singularly reliable man. and having
been told Jus, enough did his duty.
Il know si,lonis could not leave the
bous- without my kno~lcige. was
confident shc would try and waited for
that attempt which you know was
made.
When shs fainte,l. Icarric,l her into
her rom. locked that pair % hsndcufi.
On her loft. pretty wrists and secured
,hs door behind me. Tho rcst you
know. When PortiA RECEIVERS. she will
tell Nc more which will doubtless sup
ply all the inis.ing details. A terrible
story, is IL noi No stranger. though.
than many % Wild tale ~ the souih-the
land of romance and revenge. But how
weary you arei Come. ! insist you
,hall 20 in and ret. Don't worry about
Portia. She will live. Those hends did
not succeed In killing her. and the good
Gcd will restore her to her husband and
child.'
As ws ross 10 return To the house Jake.
th. o,erseer. cams running up the path
from the swamp. lie was greatly eI.
cited.
Sir. Mr. Raymond. hecried, waving
hi. lat Ne he came ON, what do you
think has hapI.ns-i nowr'
''for Gods sake. don't tell mo you have
let that creature escapsr shouted Aau-
rice angrily.
mo, no. sir. She'sfsst In the hut and
George ou guard. but the old woman.
sir. IL stone deal"
"D-sdy' we cri~i.
YES. lying there ON her throne dead.
An awful sight, cir. DO you know I'm
thinking the snake che WAS playing with
may have bitten her. Anyway she has
gone to the devil. where she belonged.