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She sat in her roo through her fingers the strands of her long, silky brown hair

that hung about her shoulders The baby, half naked, lay asleep upon

her own great any bed, that was like a sumptuous throne, with its

satin-lined half-canopy One of La Blanche's little quadroon boys--half

naked too--stood fanning the child sloith a fan of peacock

feathers Desiree's eyes had been fixed absently and sadly upon the

baby, while she was striving to penetrate the threateningabout her She looked froain; over and over "Ah!" It was a cry that she

could not help; which she was not conscious of having uttered The blood

turned like ice in her veins, and a claathered upon her

face

She tried to speak to the little quadroon boy; but no sound would come,

at first When he heard his na to the door He laid aside the great, soft fan, and

obediently stole away, over the polished floor, on his bare tiptoes

She stayed aze riveted upon her child, and her face

the picture of fright

Presently her husband entered the rooan to search a some papers which covered it