Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-28
rI,HE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMER coNsT1-

TINHE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMER CONsTI-
tuition, bound from San Francisco to Pam
ANA. was within few days journey Of her des-
iination- short, tropical twilight had faded
INTO the blue brilliancy of tropical night
The vessel seemed to be floating between two
vast. starry spheres she sped onward, her
engines thrilling like pulse. The upper deck
was crowded with groups, laughing and CHAT
ting
Apart from the others sat two young people.
lovers, who had met for the first time on this
voysge-Miss Elinor yerney. the daughter
OF one Of the cattle kings Of the Pacific slope,
and a handsome young Italian named Juliano
Sizani
Miss verney was in her steamer chair. Sirani
lounged on . coil of rope at her feet, whence
he could see in the shadow her face framed in
black lace.
Tell me" she pleaded, what is the secret
that You keep from me that at times steels your
heart TO mel know that you love me and I
have seen your sadness fade away. but you
have some secret purpose that you hide"
We will not speak of that, he said, touch
ing his lips to her hands. ''See. let i. fade
away so, ike a snowflake on your hand. Ihave
forgotten 1t will not como back, hope, and
yet-it must"
M, ucdf MERIT. salu the g1fl, KNOW tnat
whatever your sorrow is that some day you will
tell it to me: Ihsve prayed that We may be
happy and know
There vas eloquent pause. They both
dreamed Of the future when they would go to
his home in Naples. Sirani lost sight OF the
melancholy which had preyed upon him in the
harmony OF murmlred words and the swish Of
waters lulling him Letheward.
From across the deck the sound of name
often repeated began to beat deep into his
ali VnwrnD s.lNl Il
ing east to spend his money. was relating in a
loud voice to group of men the remarkable
adventures of "Aie and My Partner. Hugh Rat
clifse."
IL was the constant recurrence of this name
that caused Sirani to spring up. He leaned,
alert and attentive. upon the rail, gazing with
half-closed eyes into the darkness.
Startled and hurt. Miss yerney whispered
You do not love me them"
He turned quickly. with sad ewes devouring
her face. Death has followed me-" he cried.
Il have nothing to do with love- With the
despair Of one who bids farewell to all that is
sweetest in life, he drew her face to him.
b-okenly gasping, "Addio. sddio.'' Rising
hastily, he walked across the deck and joined
the group of men.
With slight SILVER Miss verney arose after
a Few moments. drawing the black scarf around
her hair. and passed Sirani as he stood in a
connlet OF emotions, Srasping the rope railing
Until his nails cut deep into his palms
She turned to him. He took a step forward.
but did not unclasp his hands She walked
slowly through the saloon to her state room.
Before could fire it.. Dobbin was saving
Il heard a crack and that bar fell over-stone
dead 1t was my partner, Hugh Ratcliffe, as
shot it That's all.
That man Eatcliffe.'' said Sirani eagerly.
moving around the group to Dobbin's side and
sPeaklng with a slight foreign accent, lis he an
Englishman?'
Tibet he is" replied the Californian. Hes
regular tip-topper, too; but thar's no airs or
'iandylsm about him. Been my partner now
goin on five years Think yer know him?''
"A tall man with yellow hair and a scar over
his left eyebrow?
''Thets him-Hugh-to a dot: that's INV
partner. hind er Teller yer never forget-that
Yer kin Jest freeze ter
The other men had moved of, leaving these
two alone.
Where is he now?'' Sirani leaned back in
the shadow, his quiet. moiulated tone contrast
ing with the enthusiasm of the Californian.
Down on our ranch at Gopher Gulch. Kern
county We made pretty little pile thar. an
and settle things up before he pulls up stakes
an goes back to his folks. Wizard you know
him.
There was a pause Of few seconds
Il viii tell you, said Sirani, mechanically.
ike man IN his sleep. 1T was at Naples. my
home, five years ago He was one of a party
OF Ensilshrnen on a yacht. They had been
cruising about the Mediterranean and put
INTO Naples One evening large party of us
were playing beecarat. This man, as stupid
Englishmen always are. was half drunk, and
accused Luigi. a friend of mine and an honor
able man, OF cheating. Luigi sprarg up
called him bar and flung the cards in his face
and this man, this drunken beast drew his
pistol and shot him; shot him as he stood there
young and happy, and he fell-dead'' His
voice, which had been dry and constrained
broke here and ended in a sob
Hugh did that!' asked Dobbin. "He's a
mighty quick sort Of teller in fight. Hugh
l.. an he's bound (admiringly) 20 git the dead
wood on the other Teller every time"
In the confusion and excitement his friends
hurried him of. and the yacht put out Of mort
before the authorities took any measures But
he mas not escaped yet The young brother of
that dead man. kneeling by the corpse Of him
that he had loved-ah, so loved-swore that he
would devote his whole life to tracking the
murderer. and that when he found him he
would Kill him where he stood-like the beast
that he is
Like ter see him do il. that's all, puess
Hateiiffe II hev something ter say ter tibet little
game; Sounds mighty fine. all the same, jest
like the theater."
Dobbin spurred the Italian to white heat.
HE will keep his word. For years. all over
The earth. he has followed that man like a
bloodhound, tracking his movements, but
never being able TO meet him face TO face
When in Australia he heard of this man. this
tatehfe. as being IN California. and went
X.
trace of him and had given up In despair, fear
Tag that death had robbed him of the low of
killing his brothers murderer"
kinder lost the trail. eh? But look here ~
sald Dobbin. persuasively, air yer goin' ter
tell yer theatrical young friend where Hugh
L.! What's the use of kickin' up a row now
when he's kinder got reconciled? Some er
these days he thank yer for keepin' num-
Yer see, he's kinder young now and excitable
AIR yer goin' ter write ter him?
Sirani noiselessly disappeared in the dark
ness. from the friendly cover of which he heard
Dob5in say:
''Naal, now. ef that amt the slipperie,t cus-
toner. sneakin of like a coyote when / was
lalAin' ter him Jest like them ferriners. They
I'm call themselves Spanish or Portugee or
Italian. but they ain I nothin butd-greasers
after all
In the loneliness Of the great waste sirani
passed the vigil Of the night filed with sad
memories-
Everywhere he seemed to see face some
what IKE his own and then the same face still
aud cold.
When morning broke the ship was plough-
ing through green gray waters under a sullen
SKY.
sirani. coming on deck about 10 o'clock saw
Miss Nerney sitting in her usual place
lie turned away and walked forward to .he
Dow, watching the green waves that, like hum
CRY sea serpents. crawled over and over each
other, showing their white teeth.
u.