Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-01-31
go in now. I must go up stairs, dress

TO entertain hlm until you are ready 10
relieve me. But do not tax me too long"
Portia did not reply, but rose and left
the room. She appeared confused and
helpless Suddenly I recalled the proph-
ecy of the old negress-"Dangeh is comm
from de souf." All, perhaps the peril
which had 1nenaced Portia was at hand.
As entered the drawing room thevis-
itor rose quickly and came forward to
greet me. What most impressed me in
this first meeting with Maurice Ray
mond vas the atmosphere of latent
power which seemed to emanate from his
personality. He was not q handsome
man, though his face was good, his deep
set eyes keen, his nose straight. His
lips were not hidden by beard or mus
tache, and in their firm lines read the
positive character of the man. He car
ried himself like prince, with grace
and hauteur. His general appearance
was impressive and commanding.
'You are not Mrs. Marchmont?" he
said half in inquiry as he took my hand.
"No, indeed" I replied-"Mrs. March
mont's friend, Prudence Mason. Mrs.
Marchmont is not feeling well and
hopes you will excuse her for a little
while"
"And the colonel:" asked the visitor.
"He is somewhere about the planta-
ton. but will soon be in for luncheon
81 have arrived few days ahead of
time," said Mr.. Raymond "but finished
I my business in Atlanta sooner than
had anticipated and SO hurried on. l
was so anxious to see the country in
which I passed my boyhood, and above
all to see my dear cousin again, whom
I remember as the idol of my youth-a
beautiful and lovely girl"
"Mrs. Marchmont is very beautiful
woman" l said gravely.
eThere is Il child believe" said Mr..
RAYMOND. called Daphne from the Ii
brary, glad of an excuse to have her once
more in my sight. She camerunning in,
delighted to see q stranger, and was soon
on very good terms with the visitor.
Presently Colonel Marchmont entered,
profuse with apologies and extending
genuine southern welcome to his guest.
ssV-hv vnorn &c Portia>" ha denandnd
she had nerved herself for the onconlinS
contest which was in the air.
When Maurice saw her, he coolly and
deliberately ran his eyes over her cos
tune and hen said nonchaiantly as he
shook out his napkin, Evidently you
have overcome that intense dislike of
scarlet which was one Of your marked
traits as q girl, belle cousine.'
Portia did not answer, but looked
straight 1T Linn.
cit was most extraordinary contin-
ued Maurice. IL never knew any cnc to
hate particular color as You hated red.
Do you remember what you used to
call it,
"No,n said Portia.
ga nigger color" replied Maurice,
"and declared it only fit for the quad
room girls
A great pallor overspread Portals face,
but she laughed and lifted her glass of
sherry to her lips.
'Eow absurd!' she SAID. wen, other
times, other manners"
eyes," said Raymond as he lifted his
glass to her, 81 myself adore scarlet. 1t
is vibrant with life and action"
"Do you remember, cousin" he went
on as he set down his glass, "do you re-
member the day your pony ran away
and threw you? I can see you now lying
white and cold on the moss and-and-
why, what the deuce was your ponys
name?- one your father brought
from Atlanta and to whom you We're so
devoted. Astonishing that l can't re.
member-I know the name Of that par
ticular nag as well as 1 do ny own.
Surely, cousin, you can help me-"
"No, I do not remember" said Portia
in a low voice.
s'The chestnut with the white name
and tail. Jacko-no-ah! was Il not
Jacqueline:"
"Oh, yesr' cried Portia, as if greatly
relieved.
"No, no, cousin" said Maurice. "Why,
no; Jacqueline was the pony your father
got after the runaway-a black one. But
the chestnut-how amazing that neither
one of us can recall her name"
"I have such wretched memory" be-
gan Portia.
"There, too, you have changed" rat
tied on Maurice. "Why, Portia, used
to boast of your remarkable memory.
The dates, the names, the numbers, you
would dash off were astounding. re-
member it was rather trial to me that
your memory should be so superior to
mine"
could see that Portia was worried,
and also that for some reason Mr.. Ray
mond was trying to trap her. But to
what purpose? Was this his revenge
for the frigid reception she had given
him?
All through dinner he was constantly
reminding her of some of their youthful
experiences. Occasionally, she answered
him understandingly, but as rule her
replies were wide of the mark. One
would have said that so far as that period
of her life was concerned Mrs. March-
mont's memory was blank.
When we entered the drawing room,
Maurice opened the grand piano, and
turning to Portia said with great ami
ability:
"Dear cousin, am longing to hear
Jour sweet voice again. Sing some of
those dear old songs"
Hooked at Portia. Would she sing
at his bidding? Again and again during
my stay had l asked her to sing for me,
but she had always refused On one pre-
text Or another.
:sYou will excuse me, cousin" she
said coldly. 81 gave up singing long
since. l found my voice was growing
thin and metallic and could not endure
it's sound"
"That is absurd" said Colonel March
mont, suddenly rising and coming over
to us. "She sang just as well as she
ever did before went to England. On