, 1891-08-09

There were twenty-five persons OF
board when the ship left st. Elmo; at
the end of a week after the fever ap-
peared only fifteen were left alive. The
captain. Dupont and Solange were the
most active in nursing the sufferers. The
two first had seen yellow fever before
and Solange showed the hardness and
adaptability of an old ~campaigner. Thes,
three were also the only ones who escaped
the panic that is among the most effect
i've predisposing causes of the disease
As fast as the men died they were stitched
up in their hammocks and buried in the
sea. No one who had been attacked re
covered, but at length the epidemic
seemed to have run its course, and fOI
two days there were no fresh cases.
Then, when all seemed well, Solange
himself was smitten. He struggled man
fully against the fatal grasp of the fever,
but in vain.
When he realized that his time had in
deed come, the anxiety caused by the
thought of the peril to which his recent
mission was thereby exposed had the
effect Of worsening his disorder. His
mind was in no less pain than his body;
he had set his whole soul upon fulfilling
the emperor's command, and he could
look upon his illness in no other light
than as n crime on his own part. He
had undertaken a duty-as important a
one rs had ever been intrusted to a sol
dier-and be was about to fail in it. The
emperor, never hearing from him, would
suppose that he had been unfaithful and
had yielded TO a base temptation. 1t was
more than probable that the whole fut-
ure of France might be Compromised by
his failure. He writhed in helpless ago
ny at the reflection. And every hour
every minute-he grew worse, and knew
that fate would be too much for him.
Dupont meanwhile faithfully tended
him; the lank, red haired adventurer dis
played all the tact and cleverness of a
woman He always spoke cheerfully TO
the sick man, and his genius for telling
amusing stories seemed to grow with the
demands upon it. Nevertheless, Dupont
knew that the chances of his friends re-
covery were infinitesimal, and he per-
ceived that he had something on his
mind. Dupont had previously made up
his mind that he would find out what
Solange's mystery was, and he awaited
developments.
One evening, after n long silence, So
lange spoke:
"How far are we from Panama, Fran
coisY'
"Still two days at least, if the wind Is
fair, mon brave"
"Sacrei-I shall never last it out!"
"Never lose heartl You will be all
right in a day or two"
81 shall be Mt the bottom of the ocean.
All. l know i'll | have tried my best,
but it is no use. The emperor will curse
me for n scoundrel!'
"The EMPEROR repeated Dupont, look
ing up.
mind wanders."
Listen to me, Maurice" said Dupont,
bending over. your mind is not wan
dering, but there is "A weight upon it. l
have seen it all along, it has retarded
your recovery. Come! | am your friend,
am l not? If | were as you are l would
confide in you. don't know what wor-
ries you; but, If / did, l might be able to
help you. And if | can you don't doubt
that l will-eh2 Come, free your soul,
my lad, and your body viii be all the
better for it."
"If | were sure that Unjust die"-mut-
tered SOlange, hesitating.
"You are n sick man; but / have told
you the only chance for recovery" said
Dupont, struggling his shoulders. zone
believes in Providence, l SUPPOSED Well.
is it not Providence that has sent your
best friend to your side At such a mo-
mentl"
Tha lpf,r, ,,n, Cx,I lie - 49,. ~.
speaker. Francois" he said, elf | tell
you this secret will you swear to be
faithful to the trust? Will you carry it
out as if you were myself? This is no
child's play, be sure of that You are a
good fellow-you are my friend; but If
you We're my brother or my father it
would not be too much"
Make yourself easy on that score,
mon cher" returned the adventurer, lay
ing his hand on the others shoulder. ~
don't want to drag out of you anything
You prefer to keep to yourself, and it is
only in your own interest that | speak.
But as to trusting me-what shall | saw?
| have lived as ] CAM don't DENY il:
but after all, | am an honest man, and |
would as o think of ~betraying o N MS
of scuttling this ship and swimming,
ashore. Voila!'
"If you keep your word, Francois, you
will be fortunate the rest of your life
said Solange; "but," he added, hall
raising himself on one elbow, "if yor
do betray me, may you die as | am dy
ing, and with no one to love You; ant
until you die my ghost shall haunt yol
day and night and make your life a hor
rorl'
''Bah! bahl there is no need of this,
said Dupont, with n laugh. Il hav
said that You may trust me, and | ca
say no more. Now, do a best please
you."
Bend over here faltered the othe
huskily, ''and let me whisper in you
ear"
Solange died Just after midnight. Dr.
pont, after securing all the papers tina
he could find in the stateroom, prepare
the body for burial, and with the assis.
ance of the captain heaved it overheard
MAY your sleep be peaceful, old con
rade," he muttered, as he leaned owe
the bulwarks and marked the phosph,
resent glimmer as the corpse sank int
the depths of the sea. Truly you ha
n heavy load to carry on this earth. Yo
were not equal to it; and Providenc
who favors the strong, transferred it
me. Well, l shall know what to
with it, ghost or no ghost! Farewell
The Santa Lucia reached her port tw
days later. A tall, red haired man, wi
announced himself to the authorities
n Solange, n peddler of wax fruit
came ashore, and with n carpet ba
and "a an, hnr tntna1iata1x 1aft e.,