Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-13
fugitives. Tho sight OF Zoe steadied my
thoughts at once With gentle tug sent

WAS Just IN TINE.
Seslskin to the right of her. was Just in time
Another ten seconds and she would have been
over the cliffs. Throwing my reins over nv
arm as Sealskln caught the gait Of the other
! horse. leaned forward and passing my arm
calm, commanding voice:
'Csst yourself loose from the saddle, Miss
Zoe; have hold Of you."
At that instant there was q simultaneous
fash Of lightning and deafening rattle of
thunder. Freed from all restraint Zoe's horse
dashed forward and disappeared over the cliffs
1t was hardly necessary for me to rein in Seal
| skin, 30 alert was he to do his whole duty The
lightning had cut its way through the sto rm
cloud; had caught glimpse of Zoes face.
Death could not have made it paler. She had
swooned. completely. Her eyes were closed
and her long, black lashes, beaten against her
cheeks by the rain, gave her beautiful face the
look OF death by drowning. A keepers lodge
stood only fow hundred feet away. Thther
turned Sealskin's head. and lifted TINT loved
burden to which my arms we're 30 accustomed
gently down and bore it into the house. As
was firmly resolved. if at all possible, to keep
from Zoe the knowledge Of my having saved
her life, hastily confded her to the care of the
keepers wife. saying that l would ride back to
the Hall to get a carriage.
Up to this moment had not given thought
to Algernon and Lindsay. Should I NOT ride
to their assistance? And yeti hated to betray
myself. As the storm had spent its fury and
nature was once more serene and smiling l
could get view Of long stretch Of roadway.
My mind was relieved Of terrible weight of
anxiety upon seeing the two young men can
tering slowly toward me. had just time to
avoid them. BY the time / was back into my
own clothes again the carriage came around
from the stables and springing upon the box
took the reins out of the coachman's hands. for
! wanted to do everything myself. and would
have been only too happy to drag the carriage.
In few moments had clasped my beloved
Zoe, radiant and smiling. but bit agitated, in
my arms. She broke down completely the
moment the carriage door was slammed upon
us. and lay for a moment or so weeping and
sobbing in my arms. Suddenly she burst out
in deliciousIy naive way:
"But, dearest, what shall do for Huggins2
What do people generally do when other people
save their lves2 1t was really a piece of
impertinence on his part, just as if l didn't
know the cliffs We're there. / have a great
mind to discharge him. All at once her gayety
left her, her face clouded up, her eyes opened
with strange look of mystifcation in them.
''Justin, Justin look, look" she half shrieked:
''the print OF your ring on the back Of nv
hand. What does 1t mean? Speak, tell me.
when did it happen? Oh, miserable man, see
it all. 1t was you and not Huggins who saved
me. Look, look, wretch that you are, see the
imprint left upon me. l felt it as you lifted
me from my horse. Justin, Justin. you have
branded me, poor slave that l am. shall
never draw another happy breath"
did not know then what this wild talk
meant. l thought it was natural that Zoe
should be somewhat hysterical and paid little
attention to her strange words In fact, at
tempted to pooh-pooh the idea that and not
Higgins had saved her life. But no, the evil
dence was overwhelming. There upon the
back of her soft white hand was the perfect i'm
press OF strange seal ring which I wore upon
the third finger Of my left hand-a class ring
jeweled serpent coiled upon u large moon
stone with his tail in his mouth encircling the
Greek word "IEi' (forever).
So as we neared the hall made full con-
fession, and as l said 70 Zoe, threw myself
upon the mercy OF the court" Miserable
man" she exclaimed, lyon shall receive the
heaviest penalty tho law allows"
Zoe seemed quite herself when her father
and mother met her At the door, both of them
too much overcome ~ do more than rain
caresses upon this wild and maynard child
whom had snatched from the very jaws of
death for them and for myself.
And OH, what season Of sweet triumph this
was for me, for me who had been for so many
years the butt OF indifference, the object of
covert ridicule, thu target of contumelv at thu.
tiaii, where vsrity believe 'Zoe's love for me
only savcd mo from death at the hands of these
Jealous brothers. Now they Rugged me. quar-
relied for the privilege OF handing me q cigar
cite or doing me some small service. And how
sweet to me was the spectacle Of the neglected
Lindsay! How entirely delightful was it for
me. And yet there was voice, a low, thin
cold voice that spoiled my triumph. 1 didn't
recognize il at first, and was startled to find
that it came from Zoes sweet lips. A she
turned to go upstairs she leaned over the rail-
ing. drewh hand out of mine and whispered:
THAT ring"
/ took it off and handed it TO- her. When
dinner was announced Zoe was u little late aud
we were waiting for her. To the surprise of AL
and to my secret disquiet. the beautiful Zoe
glided into the drawing room clad not in her
customary white, but IN black. Although the
material was tnlle and displayed through its
diaphanous web the faultless symmetry of her
figure. making her look as radiant as the even
ing star, yet was troubled.
Hanging on the same chain with tho locket
which held my likeness was the mystic ring.
You see, dearest" she murmured. as she
raised her speaking eyes TO me, "your slave
wears the SYMBOL Of her bondage. 1t is AEI,
foreverw
When night came a strange silence settled
upon the hall Every one seemed too weary for
music or cards. Zoe and parted at an early
passing the time studying the fantastic shapes
psneied by the moonlight on the walls and
hangings.
What was in my room tonight? What pres
ence haunted it with forebodings OF sorrow?
Signs seemed to fill the air-one would have
SAID that woman Was gently weeping.
peered all around, but no one was to be seen.
When l drew back the curtains and looked out
the moonlight lay like a silver sheet over the
grass, and the moon herself shone high like
FURNISHED shield III the clear. unclouded sky.
But In the room was still tho consciousness of
q presence, the faint echo OF signs, and a
wOmans quiet weeping. ..
i was not asleep; had not lost consciousness
for half a moment. when suddenly / became
aware OF something more than myself close 10
me. l opened my eyes, and there leaning
over me, but as II lowering in the air. not
standing on the EARTH saw the face and form
OF Zoe. The moonlight shone on her as it
shone on the grass and flowers Of the garden
as it shone on the silent trees and the still
waters OF the tranquil lake. l saw her as
clearly as saw that moonlight itself. She was
as vislbie-and as intangible. l put out my
hand to her, as she bent over me, but it met
nothing-grasped nothing. 1t seemed to part,
to disperse, the substance, whatever it was
that formed this intangible vision; aud when
withdrew it and sank buck on the pillow she
reappeared as visibly As before.
She bent over Inc and her face cayne nearer
to mine As live felt the shadowy touch Of
her sweet lips on mine and heard-and vet
did. not hear with my outer ears, but in my
inner senses-her soft voice whisper tendcrly:
Justin. love you. Forgive me; love you!
love you. Don't doubt it; but dare not be
yours Forgive me, poor weak woman that
am; cannot help it." q
Hark! Was not that a football? Whence came
mat faint rustieI l sprang up. tiny white
object lay upon the floor. stopped and picked
these words:
Dearest, Fam on my knees az write these
lines in prayer to you. I am about TO put your
In Tn tr, H. e. Y