Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-01-02
CHAPTER xI.
! si.iGiIr ENCOUNTER.

Portia was absolutely dazzling when
she swept In anil took her seat At the
head of the table. She was dressed In
scarlet from head 90 foot. Her superb
shoulders ro-e from folds of fiery silk.
and the little feet that wandered In aud
out beneath her skirts were shcd In the
same lurid hue. She lookel . yeritable
daughter of Mephi.to. Her eyes spar.
kled dangerously. and on her face was
an expr,s.ion ~ audacity, Evidently
sne had ncrv-d herself for the oncomins
contest which was In the air.
When Maurice saw her. he ooolly and
deliberately ran his EYES over her Cos
tune and then said nonchalantiy rs he
shook out his napkin. Evidently you
have overcome that intense dislike Of
scarlet which was one ~ your marked
traits as girl, belle cousine."
Poriia dill not answer. but looked
straight at him.
1T was most extraordinary" contin.
aei Maurice. Il never knew any one to
hate . particular color rs you hated red.
Do You remember what you used 10
call iiy'
"No.- saii Portia.
"a nigger color" replied Maurice.
"ani declared 10 only ht for the quad.
room girls"
a grea, pallor ov.rspread Portia's face.
bu, she laughed and lifted her glass of
sherry 10 her lips.
"IIow absurl!' she said. well. other
times. other manners"
"Ycs.- said Raymond a- he lifted his
vlass 10 her. Il myself adore scarlet. II
h vibrant with III. aud action"
DO You remember. cousin" he went
on a. he at down hi glass. do You re-
member ,h. lay your pony ran away
AMI threw your can see you now lying
white and cold on the moss and-and-
why. what the deuce was your pony.
nam.l-the ca. your father brought
frOm Atlanta aud 10 whom you were 80
devoted. Astonishing that ! cant re-
meml-r-i know the name ~ that par.
ticular nag as well as do my own.
surely. cousin. you can help me-
mo. I do not remember" said Portia
In n low voice.
"Thc CHESTNUT with the white name
AMI tail. Jacko-no-ah! was u not
JacquelincY'
"Oh. ycsr' criei Portia, As II greatly
relieved.
"No. no, cousin, said Maurice. "Why.
~; Jacqueline was the pony your father
got after the runaway-a black one. But
the chcs,nut-how amafing that neither
one of US can recall her name
Il have such awrrtched memory" BE-
gan Poriia.
There. too. you have changed" rat
tlel On Maurice. why. Portia. used
% boast of your remarkable memory.
Tho dates. the names. the numbers. you
would dash III were astounding. re-
member u WAS rather trial 10 me tina,
your memory should IL - superior 10
mine"
I could ses that Por,ia was worriei.
and also that for come reason Mr.. Ray.
mond was trying to trap her. But 90
what purpose, Was this his revenge
for the frgid reception she hal gwen
himi
All through dinner he was constantly
reminding her of some of their youthful
experiences. Occasionally, she answered
him understandin;ly. but as rule her
replies wer, wide Of the mark. one
would have aid that ~ far as that period
of her life Was concerned Mrs. March.
mont's memory was blank.
When we entered the drawing room.
Maurice oIsncd the grand piano, and
turning TO Portia said with great ami.
ability;
"Dcar cousin. I Am longing 10 hear
ycur sweet voice again. Sing some u
those dear old songs"
Hooked at Poriia. Would abe sing
., his biddingi Again and again during
my stay had I asked her 90 sing for ne.
bu, sho had always refused ON one pre-
text or another.
"You will excuse me, cousin che
said coldly. II gave UP singing long
since. found my voice was growing
thin anil metallic and could not endure
Its sound"
That Is absur,l.- said Colonel March.
mont. suddenly rising and coming over
20 us. "she sang just rs well ~ she
ever did before went TO England. On
my return she refused 10 sing and has
persisted Ia that determination ever
since. One of her many caprices."
"IIow long were you In England.
Marchmonty' asked Mr. Raymond qui.
etly.
"a year." replied the colonel. IL was
detained on business. was sent for NJ
the heir 10 property near Nottingham,
and after ! got there apretender turned
up. Well, you know the laws delay.
especially in that slow going country.
The result was, I WAS away from
Swainplands for over twelvemonth."
".And during that time you were lady
Of the manor" said Mr.. Raymond 10
Portia, "what an interminable absencer'
he continued. fumbling the music. "but
then the reunion-how delightfulr
Colonel Marchmont looked embar-
rassed. while Portis was very pale. What
manner Of man was this who appeared
10 play upon their heart stringsi II was
not possible that 10 obseryant . student
of human nature could have failed to
remark the cool relations existing be-
tween the husband and wife. No. Mr..
Raymond was simply drawing them