Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-01-31
,pra,car 1898. BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.
CHAPTER <.
MAURTCE

The morning dawned cherries and
gloomy. A storm was setting in. The
dull gray clouds weighed upon the hori-
zon even as my dreadful discovery op-
pressed my heart.
Life seemed intolerable. AS I sat at
breakfast and studied Portals face-the
face Of murderer-it was at times
with difficulty that I kept from scream
ing aloud. I did not allow Daphne to
go ont of my sight, but kept her with
me, amusing her in every possible way
with toys and story books.
was conscious, too, that Portia was
watching me. She evidently possessed
half defined suspicious, for once she asked
me IN careless manner, which was pal
pably assumed, whether I had heard
any unusual sounds about the house the
night before. I said 'tno" and in return
asked the reason of her inquiry. She
replied she had slept lightly and would
have said that once she heard the hall
door shut.
'She is sounding me-" reflected and
forthwith grew as cunning as my inter-
locutor.
'No," said indiferently. 81 heard
nothing"
It was nearly noon when a carriage
dashed up to the piazza, and a tall, fash
ionably dressed man alighted, looked
about with some curiosity, paid the
driver and then ran lightly up the front
steps. Presently the great knocker re-
sounded through the hall.
ga visitor" I said, with some interest,
for visitors were not numerous at
Swamplands.
Tom, the butler, came into the library
carrying card on a silver salver. Por-
tia was lying on broad couch drawn
up before the open fire, sleeping or feign-
ing sleep. She Cad not seen the car
rage drive up and opened her big eyes
lazily as Tom approached her.
"What is it," she murmuredl languidly.
ga gem'man, missis.
Portia took the card and read it. She
stared at the name before her in dazed
manner. AtLaSt she turned her blood
less face toward me.
prudence, she said, wearily passing
her hand over her head.
eyes, Portia," I answered, leaving
Daphne in the window with her dolls
and going over to her mother.
"Read that name-aloud,' she com
manded, th-rsting the card in my hand.
read, "Maurice Raymond.
81 could not see-then he has come"
Portia muttereI in incoherent, wander
inA fashion. Then sharply to Tom, Il
will not see him."
Tom bowed gravely and was about to
go, when said: ''Portia, is not this the
guest you have been expecting? What
would Colonel Marchmont say if you
were to send such message as that'
Had you not better reconsider"
"You see him, Prudence" she begged
in an almost childish fashion. II cannot
looking about after the first greetings
were exchanged.
As automatically as possible I ex-
planned her absence. But dark look
crossed her husbands face, and ringing
for maid he ordered her to tell her mis-
tress that Colonel Marchmont desired
her presence at once in the drawing room.
In a few minutes the soft swish of
Portals silken skirts was heard. She
came in with bowed head and toying
nervously with dainty fan she held.
She did not look her cousin in the eyes
as she extended her limp hand and
turned coldly away as quickly as posi-
BILE after her little speech of welcome
uttered in perfunctory fashion.
I could see that Mr.. Raymond was
both puzzled and disappointed with his
reception. He watched his cousin curl
ously, though he did not address much