Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-01-11
CHAPTER II.
PORTAL" | cried.
There WIS no answer

IherC WIS no answer
The woman stood motionlnss as if
carved from stone.
PORTAL" | cried again.
Slowly she moved across the piazza
"Who calls mc?" she asked.
"Portia, it 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. Ihaye come so 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 so
often thought-the faceof my old friend
Why, what was it?
Istopped, dazed and bewildered. This
was not Portia! %~
l had prepared myself for .agreat
change in my friend. had not looked
to see the girl. remembered the morn
ing we bade each other. farewell, but
had anticipated seeing an older, a 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-
faced woman, where were the amiabili
ty, the sweetness and the tenderness
remembered? Yanished-all-and in
their. stead | remarked only disdain and
vexation.
She saw my surprise, my hesitation
yes, my alarm-and singul larexpression
crept in her face, an expression of min
gled cunning and dread.
"Why, you are not Portal" ! STAN.
mered.
"Oh, yes, | am" she replied, with a
light laugh-"yes, and very glad to see
you, Prudence. 1t was good of you to
come so far. You think have changed?
So have. But l am Portia," and she
bent and kissed me.
The caress was intolerable. | could
have screamed when her cold lips
touched mine. All, how different a re-
ccption | had pictured! What did it
mean? Was it she who was changed or I?
She led me in, with many polite in
quiries, uttered in perfunctory and me-
chauical fashion Servants were sum-
moned; tea was brewed; my bags and
wraps taken; everything that the most
punctilious hostess could do for guest
was done for me. And yet through all
these kindly Offices | was conscious Of a
vague feeling of uneasiness and distrust.
Under the glow of the great drawing
room chandelier studied Portals face
closely. What was it? Where was the
great change which seemed to separate
the friend Of my youth from me as by a
gulf. There was the same lustrous hair,
untinged by thread of silver; there
were the great almond shaped liquid
eyes, like black velvet; the same faultless,
ly faultless features; the same ivorylike
complexion. But the soul was gone
from the face; the essence of an exquisite
nature no longer looked out from the
eyes. 1t WAS Portia and yet not Portia
She caught my intent scrutiny.
81 have grown old, Prudence" she
said in answer to my inquir;ng looks
"and our southern climate has not i'm.
proved my complexion. Then, too,
have lived a monotonous life, have been
very much alone, and that. you know,
is not good for one," and then she
laughed.
| recalled Portals laugh-mir.h pro-
voking, contagious, hearty. could hear
again it's silvcry sweetness ringing
through the leafy avenues of the old con
vent gardens. My hostess laugh wa:
hollow, sinister and harsh, like the crack
ling of thorns under q pot. Had the
years wrought complete revolution ir
her character as well as her face?
81 am sorry Colonel Marchmont is not
at home" she said after sine had gra
ciously pressed a second cup of tea upon
me- "He went to Atlanta last week.
expect him back very soon-possibly to
morrow"
"You have children, Portal"
"One," she replied coldly, as if the
subject were obnoXious-"a little cir
years old-a headstropg little creature
can do nothing with her I'm glad
! have but one"
| looked at her in amazement. hat
often thought Of Portia as a mother
How tender, loving and womanly sht
would be in that rclationl had pic
tured her holding baby on her breas
and looking down at it with that divine
expression only to be s""n ii youn.
mothers eyes AMI | h;:, flncied he,
surrounded by merry, rGmpins, happ,
children. Her scarcely vc,le,l ,'islastI
for maternity shocked NE.