They came, slowly and singly, and drew around the table more like ghosts
than living persons, a few remarks upon the storm, and then they sunk
into silence--and as soon as the gloomy meal was over, one by one they
dropped away from the room--first went poor Fanny, then Mr. Willcoxen,
then Miriam.
"Where are you going, Miriam?" asked Paul, as the latter was leaving the
room.
"To my chamber."
And before he could farther question, or longer detain her, she pressed
his hand and went out. And Paul, with a deep sigh and a strangely
foreboding heart, sank back into his seat.
When Miriam reached her bedroom, she carefully closed and locked the
door, went to her bureau, opened the top-drawer, and took from it a
small oblong mahogany glove-box. She unlocked the latter, and took out a
small parcel, which she unwrapped and laid before her upon the bureau.
It was the xyphias poniard.
The weapon had come into her possession some time before in the
following manner: During the first winter of Paul Douglass' absence from
home, Mr. Willcoxen had emancipated several of his slaves and provided
means for their emigration to Liberia. They were to sail early in March.
Among the number was Melchisedek.
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