The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-01-04

the western sky. A mild breeze was
springing up, ruffing the tall, nodding
lilies standing in huge jars along the
piazza and lightly lifting the little rings
of hair on the invalid's brow.
She drank in the scene and the soft,
delicious air. She sighed in ecstasy, and
smiled at each of US in turn.
Suddenly she spoke.
"Oh, how good it is to be alive!''
Her husband lifted her hand and kissed
it with intensity.
81 remember it all now" she said
slowly. "Yes-everything. It has been
coming back to me little by little. l
have pieced together all those dreadful
episodes, and the whole frightful story
is before me. know you are all long
ing to hear it,
dearest, nor interrupted her hus-
band hastily, mot until you are quite
we'll and strong. Don't agitate yourself,
I beg"
81 am we'll enough now, Jermyn," she
gently replied. Il am we'll enough to
tell you about it, I think it will be a re-
lief to me-"
every we'll then, dear one, if it is your
WISH"
'Jermyn,'' she said solemnly, laying
her hand upon his head, II have known
for years that Sidonie worshiped you. !
discovered this just before our marriage,
when one evening came upon her in the
library passionately kissing rose which
had fallen from your coat The discovery
shocked me, and yet I pitied her and
spoke kindly and tenderly to her. You
know how Ialways loved DOME. I can
never forget the agony and despair in her
face and her voice as see cried out that l
had all in life, she nothing; that she
prayed and longed for death; that she
cursed the hour she was born. Oh, l
pitied her-I pitied her," and Portals
voice shook with sublime compassion.
There was silence for few minutes.
Then she resumed her story:
'sAft~1 that was more indulgent and
considerate than ever to Sidonie. She
was given greater liberty. I intrusted
her with many little commissions, hop
ing that busy life and a certain amount
Of responsibility would be some compen-
sation for her sad fate. But she seemed
to grow more and more imbittered and
despairing. At last, a few days before
our marriage, she disappeared.
do you know" she said, looking ear
nestly at US, II always hoped she would
not be captured? While I shuddered at
the thought of what her fate might be
with her fiery temper and her inordinate
vanity, still it was relief to me not to
w. her, and fancied chat perhaps she
would be happier under different en-
vironments. Her value as a piece of
property never occurred to me.
'"In my new home and my new life l
soon forgot Sidonie, though often a re-
mem brance of her waywardness and her
beauty would drift in my thoughts. l
was often told of my folly in allowing
so valuable a slave to slip out Of my
hands without greater endeavor to arrest
her; but, as I said before, l was relieved
to have her out of my sight.
"When Jermyn was summoned to
England two years ago, it was with q
dull sensation of apprehension that l
saw him go. All! my dear husband,
never can tell you my emotion as I
watched your carriage disappear. It
seemed to me that you were going out OF
my life forever.
you had not been long away when
one morning Jake came to me and asked
me what he should do about old Jezebel.
He said that she would not remain on
the plantation, but spent her time idling
about in the swamp, occasionally pre-
senting herself at the quarters for her
rations, encouraging the negroes toshift-
less and lazy ways aud frightening them
nearly out of their wits by weird prac-
tees and tales. He hesitated to punish
her on account of her years and because
to the other negroes she bore charmed
life. In fine, he did not want trouble if
it could be avoided, and would I give
him orders in the matter. told him I
would see Jezebel myself and directed
that she be sent to me.
"That evening-it YVES just such an
evening AZ this-1 was walking alone
through tho grounds. Icame to thewall
separating the plantation from the
swamp. / had always known of this
old gate, but having had no curiosity con-
corning the swamp had never opened it.
Now, as approached it, I thought of th
old negress, and the audacious idea of
exploring this unknown territory sud-
denly entered my head. In those days l
did not know fear, and therefore without
any reflection pushed open the gate and
sauntered along the path leading to the
heart of the swamp. 1 decided to investi-
gate old Jezebel's retreat for myself and
see the hut learned she had built for
>her use. declaring the cabin assigned to
XII a. III: egg ~