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

We uenf OFT into ihc fr,sh morniag dtr.
that up 10 the time Marchinont went TO
England his wife was superb specimen
of physical strength and endurance.
Then thi. womah's remarkable io~s OF
memory set ine thinking. The search
for the ia,,oo mark on her arm con-
6rrne,l all my suspicious. When rec
ogniIei the mark had put on Sidonie.
the slave grl, I knew directly there hal
ben foul play. What Feared wss that
INV cousin had b-~n murdered.
"But I am getting far ahead of my
story. Let the ~ back to my boyhood.
As you already know. ] was born and
brought NJ ON the Vane plantation. My
mother lic,l when was very young. and
my aunt became my second mother.
Ny earliest recollections circle round
my sweet little cousin Portia and her
play mate. Sidonie. the daughter OF -
beautiful. accomplished creole. whom
my uncle bought In New Orleans as =
present for my aunt. j recall now q
scene I witnessed when - child. which
dill not ~ cours. then understand. but
which nevertheless impressed me deepl-.
These little "a Is were roinpine across
tho lawn one day. rolling aud tuinbling
about like two grac.ful kittens. My
aunt anil uncle were sitting on the vi.
ara. AMI I was on the steps repairing .
kite. Suddenly my aunt called the chill.
dren % her. They came flying up the
stei~. black curls waving. eyes flashing.
cheeks glowing-sn exquisite picture Ut
happy. bealth.ul childhood. My aunt
caused them to stand nj her knee aud
locked steadily for solns time IN their
faces. She WAS very pale when she dis
missed them. and rs they ran shouting
back To their gaines shc rose, totierci to
the hall door end fell senseless across
the threshold. She was never well after
that and ,lrified slowly out VI life"
Mr.. Raymond WAS silent moment,
and shadow settled across his face.
Presently he went on;
The children grew into lovely young
girls. PUrtia was finely educated ~ You
know, and in addition 10 her convent
facilities had gvverue~ses and masters
st home. Nothing would do but that
Sidonie. my Sid.' she used TO call her.
must have these advantages too"
"Yes." said. interrupting him, IL
remember, she used to speak of pretty
sisve girl TO whom she WAS greatly nj.
tsched. but had forgotten the name"
80 Sidonie waA taught music and
language and dancing and painting.
She came To he almost ~ accomplished
a. her mistrvss. Portia sang divinely.
but Sidonie had NO voice. You under.
stand now why the latter would not
sing for us. But one thing she could
never acquire, and that Was Portia'a
lovely and amiable disposition. From
her creole mother Silonis had inherited
vanity, love of dress aud . nery temper.
She was - pettel and favored by Portia
that she came TO look upon herself ~ .
lady aud to take On the airs Of one. The
Marchmont plantation joined my unclss,
and Il was easy 10 ses that Jermyn and
Portia were boy and girl lovers. But
Bidouis's face always grew dark wbsn
shs saw them together. used 70 taunt
her with being Jealous Of Portia. never
dreaming how closely I hit her. I left
home several years before Portia wss
married and cannot speak definitely of
the events Of the tims. However, Portia
ussd 70 write me often and tsllme many
dstails Of her daily life. Just before The
Wedding thsrs Wa Q great hue and CRY.
olasais lad sua sway. ehs WEE huatsd