The morning call., 1891-02-22

DO you not know it as well as II Since we
left New York, six months ago, have l not
been devoted to you-have not been con-
staDtly the submissive slave of your will, of
your caprices? You wished 10 wait, you
said. until the period of mourning for your
dead husband had expired before bestowing
upon me your hand in marriage. And what
has been the result You have determined
to break our engagement, TO cast me off and
become the wife of an Italian nobleman
''Your role has been difficult to play, but
you have filed it like consummate actressi
You, for whom love was but poetic aspira-
tions, ethereal dreams, soarings into the
azure space; you, whose siren voice, with
its vibrating melodies, sang to me the de-
lights of an infinite ecstacy, Of an ideal
flight into the blue heavens like the flights
of the swallows and eagleSi Well, your
dream is realized, and you are going to
live it out until il kills you'll You are caught
in the trap of your own within, for it was
you who yesterday took the notion OF buying
this balloon from the aeronaut who was
going to ascend in it and of departing in it
with me. SeaSonable caprice, was il not, to
worthily finish the Neapolitan carnival? 1t
was my vengeance you offered mel seized
II. And now 1t is another vengeance l de-
liver you, to that of the azure space jeered
at by your poetic falsehoods, TO that OF the
heavens Knocked by your sacriiegiouS irony
THE PUNISHMENT.
"Ah! they ayenge themselves cruelty.
these impossible judges! DO you know
what punishment they will infiict upon
the air. too rash, made the experiment.
They were found in their car, rigid and
cold, their viSageS swollen, the blood having
flowed from their ears, their eyes and their
mouthsl Such is the end that awaits you.
Soon red foam will heighten the carmine
of your lips and red drops will hang like
coral pendants from your delicate ears,
while your beautiful eyes will weep tears
of blood!"
The young woman had Strengthened her
self up, seized upon by conyulSive trem-
bling
You will not do that, Oliver" she cried.
" 1t is too horrible! l do not want to die
that fTightful DEATH"
breast.
IF wished to prevent ii. could not do
so nowI' said he.
She sprang upon him and tore from him
the knife he yet held in his hand.
But with this" cried size. Il can cut
open the ball00n!
She raised her eyes to the round bulk of
the aero>tat.
Try" said Oliver coldly.
She grasped the ropes, put one foot on the
edge of the car, and stroYe to raise herself
by the strength of her wrists. But dizziness
oVercame her, and she fell backward,
breathless. The knife, escaping from her
hand, went whirling through the air.
A wOMAN'S WIT.
She remained a moment as if annihilated
See" said Oliver, in a mocking voice,
"the scorchng southern sun is heating the
balloon aud .dilating the gas. We are max
ing very rapid headway!"
He looked upward, contemplating the
azure heavens with an ecstatic air.
Suddenly, While he was speaking, the
young woman uttered an exclamation OF Joy,
aud flash of hope Illuminated her viSage.
Slowly, quietly, she put her hand in the
pocket OF her dress, drew from it an object
which she concealed, then abruptly raised
her arm and two explosions res0undad.
You have reckoned without your hostr'
cried she. with laugh of triumph. ''Some
American women never travel without
revolver, and they are right"
Cut through and through by the two
balls, the aerostat was already beginning to
descend.
Oliver leaned over the edge OF the car.
80 be itr' said he. we are over the
open sea- Blue for blue. we shall still die
in the azure"
The balloon was visibly coliapsing. It's
speed became teri Idle. Oliver himself, chok-