Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-01-25
CHAPTER VIII.
THE AUDACIOUs DANCE.

"dGCuSl ulu1 ptoo Soo "a S4oAo eo =
turn of the shrubbery.
"WelI," said aloud to myself, "that
certainly is about the most astonishing
feature yet of this remarkable business.
In one instant the colonel declares with
an emphasis which leaves little doubt OF
his earnestness that he hates and loathes
Portia, and in the next cries out to her
in accents imploring enough to melt a
heart of stone. My private opinion is
that the entire Marchmont family is
voodooed."
At dinner that evening 1 particularly
remarked Portals beauty, Mover had
she been so radiant. Her eyes glittered
as if she had been drinking champagne,
and her checks slowed like roses.
could not keep my eyes from her fasci-
mating face and grew more aud more in
censed at the cold, silent man who re.
garded her so indiferently.
After we had gone Into the drawing
room I bethought Inc of a book il which
I was greatly interested, and czcusias
myself went into the library to find It.
Returning few minutes later. WAS tie
forced witness of a most painful scene.
The door between the rooms was open,
and as I approached saw Portia steal
up behind her husband with a look OF
longing on her face. The colonel was i'll
tent upon lis newspaper and did not
perceive her until she pat both white
arms about his throat and tcnderly laid
her check upon his head.
He sprang from his chair as if a SER
pent had stung him. Turning, he con.
fronted her with an awful lace, white,
stern, contemptuous.
elbow dare you2-he said in low
voice, vibrant With hatred.
sob, Jermyn, forgive me! Love me-
after all. lam yourwife, begged Portia.
"Yes, I have not forgotten that intol-
erable fact" replied Colonel Marchmont,
with studied GOODNESS. Then he hurried
from the room.
Portia came flying toward me like q
whirlwind. Her eyes blazed. With one
clinched hand she struck at her heart.
prudence" she cried, che will kill me.
But first
She broke off and burst into demoni-
acal laughter. Then, calming a bit, she
continued: mo, I will not tell you, you
soft little mouse, what I will do. Jer.
myn Marchmont shall know one day
what he has accomplished tonight"
s'Portia, what is it?" I asked. "What
is this mystery which surrounds you
Instantly saw that look of cunning
spring to her face.
"Mystery!' she repeated almost gayly.
absurd! There is no mystery. My
husband has simply wearied of me,
Nothing very mysterious about that, is
there?" and seizing me around the waist
she waltzed me up and down the hall.
AS soon as could disengage myself
from her embrace stepped back. But
Portia went on dancing. She looked q
veritable Moenad as she whirled and
waved her white arms and tossed back
her disheveled hair. She was the most
graceful creature imaginable, but at the
same time there was something both
grotescue and frightful about the wild
dance in which she indulged. Her face
grew wicked, her postures audacious
All could think of was La Carmagnole
or the mad tarantella of one writhing
in death agony.
"For heavens sake, Portia, stopl"
cried at last.
She only laughed mockingly and
whirled faster than ever.
The door at the upper end of the hal.
opened suddenly, and her husband ap
peared. The look of disg ,st that cross
ed his face sobered her. She stopped il
confusion and began nervously twisting
up her hair and arranging her draperies
"Really, Portia," Colonel M;,rchmont
said disdainfully, 81 cannot admireyoul
method of entertaining Miss Prudence
Your dance is more suitable to the or
gies of Dead Mans swamp than to G
gentleman's house."
1t was a brutal speech, and it told
Portia stared gloomily after her husband
ss he went out upon the piazza, anc
then, turning to me, said in an under
tone:
You heard what he said? Well, since
he sends me to the swamp, Ill go.
have work there, Prudence"
"What do you mean:" cried as she
fed up the stairs. But she made no an
swer. Only her taunting laughter floated
down. I heard her slam the door of hcl
room and knew that in all probability
we should not see her again that even
ing, as it was the custom to take hel
nightly leave in some such unceremo
NOUS fashion.
Nor did Colonial Marchmont return.
read an hour or so, then vert to my
room. I heard his heavy tread later as
he went to his apartments, then silence
settled down over tie great house.
I did not feel like sleeping. Some
strange influence oppressed me. At times
I was conscious of premonition of i'm
pending trouble. Something was surely
about to happen. What was it?
1t was nearly midnight when | dis
tinctly heard a distant door open and
shut. While stood intently listening
heard soft footsteps gliding along the
corridor, and an object brushed against
my door. Although had not disrobed
had pat out the lights in my room, TO,
which ROW was dcvoutiy thankful, rs
hey would have been visible to any one
prowling outside N the hail.
"Is it a burglart" asked myself, "or
belated servant" With every nerve
quivering like = violin string / listened.
The footsteps went toward the stairway
-yes-down it. Then heard the great
hall floor softly open and close.
opened my window and stepped out
upon the balcony. I followed it to the
corner of the house. whence ! could