Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-01-09

"Opew fsat door," shs f1msd, "ond <s
NC 60"
In reading over what I have written ]
And appear more or lees In the role OF
an accidental eave-iroppcr. am now
about to describe q scene 20 which ! WAS
an intentional listener.
Let me excuse myself I had become
firmly convinced that Por'ia was plot
ting harm 10 Daphne; tha, she was visit
ing the old hag of Deal Mans swamp
10 urgc her 10 hasten the destruction OF
the child. for whom, through some un.
accountable madness. shs had conceived
q violent hatred.
I felt myself. then. quite justified In
frustrating her wickel schemes. con
stitutei myself . detective and watched
Portia INCREASINGLY. determined that
at the frs, suspicious movement l would
vport everything toColonel Marchmont
anil leave him Ia act.
But Maurice Raymond! lie WAS nj
most rs srca, q mystery TO he ~ his
cousin. And my instinct warned ne
that he. too. was study ying aud watching
Portia. Ills puzzled sir At first sigh, of
her. his quirEins ani leading questions.
aud above all that iucxplicablo cxAmina-
ton of her arm In ~ rude and mastery u
fashion were I'll iuystifylng AM yc1ins.
How wishel 10 lsnc,Iaie his Thoughts.
a. rad what was I'assing behind the
impassiye face. AZ time val prompt
sd 10 seek him anil ccni.,.c all the lie
tails which were 80 troubling me. but
my natural ,lmiiiiy aud ro,iccncc for
babe ,hi. s;sp.
Poriia was like q cagcl tlgrcss th'sc
days. She funei anil siorned and
lashed herself into teinpes,s Of rage.
She feared and hated this cool. calm. In
scruiible man. who was Tor some reason
dissec,ing and analyIing her. She tired
to avoid him. but Il was useless. lie
was ever ut her side. Did she lounge In
one of the great bamboo piaIra chairs.
Mr.. Raymond took the one nett her. IL
she sna,ch~l shawl and Del down one
Of the garden paths. Maurice at once
lighted cigar and followed. keeping at
. respectful distance enough, but allow
ing her 10 ..c she was under his constant
surveillance.
Ills manner. too. when be addressed
her was peculiar. II was a combination
Of authority aud mocking courtesy. She
winced pyrceptibly when he spoke 10
her ani ssemci relieved when his utter.
Ancc WAS not question CONCERNING the
past.
Imarveled greatly that Colonel March.
mont did not mark the comeiy-or Was
Il q trAg,dyi-that was being enacted
under his eyes. But be appeared 20 live
spart. wrappd In sorrowful and gloomy
thoughts. and rousing only when his
child sprang upon his knee and cuddl~i
closely to his heart.
But To return 10 the scene of which
was at fir-t an involuntary. then intsn.
tiOnal listener. One drcary. rainy after.
noon was sitting In the window soat u
the library. the heavy curtains shutting
me In and completely concealing ne from
view. knew Daphne was asleep In
the nursery with sophie watching her.
TIL. colonel hal driven a. the neighlpr.
ing town. Poriia had shut herself In her
rooms after lunchcon and refused % al.
init me when ! knocked. SUPPOSED Mr..
Raymond 10 Ia In the smoking room At
the snd Of the hall. Presently. however,
heard mans tread. and peering bc-
tween the curtains saw him come In the
library, throw himself down In . big
easy chair In the corner by the fire and
fall To studying the glowing Goals.
I reflected whether l should speak ~
him, bat decided not. "Ilc will gosoon."
I thought. "and In any event lie would
not care to talk TO me-"
The door softly opened. and Po.tia
came In. She wore long white drc-s-
ing gown. and her heavy braids of hair
were tumbling down. She APPEARED
half asleep and did not see her cousin.
Crossing to the bookshelves. che selected
. novel. and turning prepared TO leave
tho room, but with tho quick. stcalthy
| spring of y tiger Maurice was before
her. IIe loc..ed tho door. and turning
gave her terrible smile.
"iIow darc your she painted.
"Tbe siereo,ypcl question of woman
when she Is yanquished." sneered he.
"D-ar cousin. why DO you not 20 In for
something original!
"open that door shs fumed, "and
VET me CO.
Il will not" he rctortei. "Do you
think after NIL the skirmishing between
Ms since my arrival now that II has
.omc 20 battle that you are To escape
me, That may he your mode of fight
ing-to run away; think II very likely
but IL does not please me"
She turned toward the hell rope. evi.
IDENTIFY with the intention Of sulnmoning
help. With . cruel laugh. he whipped
ont his knife aud cut the rope and
tossed II contemptuously at her feet.
"Ring for your servants, do" hs said
tauntingly.
Ibegan 10 be frightened. Ought I 10
make my presence known! While ! hes-
itaied Portia spoke:
IL am not afraid Of you, you coward"
"Oh. ye.. you ere. !" hs retorted lightly.
"You have been afraid of ins ever since
came-before came. do not won.
der--you--you"-
Maurice. Maurice" she cried wildly.
"Don't dare to call me Maurice when
We are alone" he said. you may keep
mp the farce before Others little long
er"-
"Farcey she cried. Enough. Twill
not be insulted any longer. Open that
door. Mr.. Raymond. and let me 20. or !
will rouss the whole house."
He simply burst out into nt OF the
most mocking laughter ! have ever
heard. Il maddened Portia, and abe
new at him like fury. He caught her
hands and pushed her way.
sit down" he said sternly. and lis-
ten TO me. You have not imposed upon
me. I have recognized your infamy.
You have deluded everybody but me.
though I think tbs little northern girl