Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-01-16

en. What could L. MAurice's motive In
visiting that sIoty How was Portia 10
be benefited 10y such AN adventure,
A. II he rad my thoughts. Mr.. Ray
mond said:
"Y.s. little woman. you hesitate.
expected that but you need have NO
fear. You will be amply protected. and
want your as-istanc. and pr-sence. ]
ne,,l you. VIII YOU Gomez
A thrill shot through me At thee
words. raised my eyes aud saw la
his only the kindest and tsndecst eI.
preston.
Come he said again. holding os.
his hand.
I would have followed him To the
ends of the earth hal be - hidden me.
put my hand IA his.
IL will go." .aii.
Al nighifall the rain ceased. but the
sky was black AMI overcast. I shudder.
,d as I drew hack the curtains aud look.
ci out and thought of th. dens. tansle,
and thickcis q th. gloomy swamp How
black. how awful. how impsne,rable.
sssm.-i tho.' dusky r,ccs-.s I r-mem.
bsrd. wha, was To- ss--,o hear on
thi. Wild midnight qucsti -carccly
darrd ask myself.
But l resolved there should L. mo- mia.
giyings, mo- faint h-art~iu,ss. hal put
my hani 10 the pillow. snd ] would not
turn back. To s,y. POrtis, Mauric.
had said. All. ycs' " by any s,crifc.
Of creature comfort could exercise the
evil influences surrounding my poor
friend. how gladly would ] max. iha,
isnial'
But what dill u mesnl HAD Maurice
In any way discovered iha, poriia In.
t.nd,-l "a Iay one of her nocturnal visits
Ia ih. swamp Was u his plan 10 follow
her and plead. threaten or command her
to CIV. over forever her association with
'he half human de,o,r,s of that bsllish
.ul,.
But of what avail were quest!ouing,,
found no answers ,o the many riddles
puEIling my mini. l trusted Maurice
with th. blind. unr-aspning trust which
every woman giv-- IA the man she loves.
For I had Acknowledged the fast Ia
my lonely heart that | loved this bril-.
liant. intellectual. mast.rfui man.
Though my superior In every way. yet
lifted my eyes to him as weci clings
10 the base u = mighty trc-. Did he
love mel II secm-i absolute folly Ia
think ~. and ye, could no, banish the
look In his eyes. the ring Ia his voice nor
the magnetic pressure of his lips upon
my hands ''Goci little hands" /" bs hal
AID. looking down on them. And now
a. I looked down on them. ton. and re-
m.mler.i hisworls was thankful they
had never b-cn stainel with evil. aud
that though small they were strOng aud
could help him on his mission. whatever
IL might H..
Poriia did no, APPEAR a, dinner. send'
Ing down u message that she was not
well. I knocked at the door. but she
would not admit Inc.
Colonel Marchmont appeared Ia L.
plunged in dccIsr gloom than ever. lie
.carcely poticcd Mr.. Raymond " my.
LII. Daphne only could rou-s hiIa from
the lethargy which surrounded aud en-.
vsiopi him. II was painful to s,e him
~ depr--~l, ~ unhappy. When spoken
TO. his gsle wandered. ami his answers
w.r. incoher-nt."
"You ar- not well. dear fellow said
Maurice as We left the dining room.
Il cannot .l~ep. I have NO, slept for
two nights" returned the colonel.
"when close my eyes, ! te. her as she
used Ia be. not a. she u now-oh. dcsi!
wildly breaking of.
Listen. Jermyn." sald Maurice In u
low voice. Your troubles are nearly
a, an end. No. do no, ask ON. question
now. Before another day dawn, your
ioubts. your sorrows, will bs dispell~i.
All I ak ~ you .. 10 30 Ia the library
AMI remain there until ! come. DO not
leave the room ar house. Wait there for
me II yOu wait until daybrrak. do oyou
promise
Colonel Marchmont stared at Ray.
moni in n ,lazel fashion.
Trust iae. J,rmyn." said MAurscs,
and promise me.
IL promise" said the colonel In q
strange voice.
oycrhcaring this, ! mar,elei NOR
than ever. Was II possible that Mau.
rice intended. after bringing Poriil from
her rendezvous with the vocloo-. 90 lead
her into her husbands presen,e and
oblige her 90 bes Lisforgivenessl tgrew
more and more mystified.
The evening dragged away. Daphne
wa. sent to lel. Sophie receiving or-
l.r- from Maurice. who seemed 10 have
| assumed command of everything. not to
leave the clild for one moment during
the night.
Eleven o'clock. Isat in the drawing
room waiting for Maurice. rs ws had
agreed to meet there. The great house
was still. There were lights In the II.
brary, where the unhappy husband kept
his vigil. But everywhere else darkness
brooiei over the mansion. The sIlence.
the hour, tho nervous expectancy pos
.essing Inc grew almost unbearable.
Where is he. Why does he not come
cried TO myself.
Suddenly I heard Aiealthy footsteps in
the hall a,ove. On the stairs. then the
rustic Of woman's dress.
Stepping softly to the drawing room
door. I looked cut. A figure wrappe'i In
black was descending the stairs. II WAS
Portia. Clinging To the stair rail with
vne hand. with the other she was draw.
ing q long black lace scarf over her face.
which In the dim light waa ghsstly and
terrible to see.
Just as she reached the lower stairs .
man stepped quickly out from the cor
ner Of tho hall. Mauricei
Without . word be confronted her.
She stared at him for an instant with
dilating eyes; then. evidently realizing
her helplessnsss, with q gasp fell for.
ward. lie csught her In his arms and
earned her mp the stairs. ! heard the
door Of the room oTrn and In another
moment shut. Then . key softly clicked
| ,,, n iock and or~sentiv Naurica camD