The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-15

she said, "what does that matterf Yot
love me! can see 1t in your eyes hun
dred times a dayl What do / care aboui
your wife? I will go home with you ant
be your slave-your servant"
could hardly restrain a smile at this
unconventional idea, but the situatior
was an embarrassing one, and was at n.
wits end to find way out, when bright
idea occurred to me.
"Zoe," said, az must tell you my
plans. You say you love me, then you
would not like me to be disgraced among
my comrades, so you must let me go.
must see my commanding officer, who no
doubt believes me dead; but ! will come
back tonight, and then we will arrange
about your journey with me-"
"Oh, no, mol II you go you will never
come back!"
silenced her remonstrances with
kisses, and very reluctantly she allowed
me to leave her.
Once again in the open air, hurried n
headquarters, where / was welcomed as
one risen from the dead.
After various matters had been dis
cussed / went apart and wrote to Zoe,
saying good bye to her and telling her
had made up my mind never to see her
again, as loved her so dearly that felt
the only way was TO use, like Lancelot,
little trough discourtesy," and leave her
without an adieu.
Then / went out and bought her hand
some diamond ornament, inclosing it
with my letter, and sent il to her house.
The next day was on the point OF en-
barking, when native servant presented
me with a letter.
IL ran thus:
"Cruel!-cruel! You have broken my
hearth But grant me, at least, this request.
Mr. servant, Assim, longs to see England
take him with you-you are not strong
yet, and he will look after you. Surely
you will not refuse mel ZOE"
was surprised at the tone of the letter,
for i had expected to be overwhelmed
with reproaches for having broken my
promise to return. / supposed that,
woman-like, she was beginning TO forget
me; but felt could not refuse her last
request, so, after some difficulty, l OBJ
tanned leave TO take the native with me.
gave him my keys and told him TO go
to my cabin and unpack my things.
was fortunate enough to have had allotted
to me a small hole to myBelf-a great boon
TO wounded man.
had so much to talk over with the
other fellows that il was more than two
hours before / went below. i opened my
cabin door, and weak as i still was from
my wounds, nearly fell back with hor-
ror, for there on my berth sat Zoe, her
eyes shining with delight, and a false
beard and mustache lying by her side.
shut the door hurriedly and came ~
to her. She sprang into my arms, laugh
ing and crying and telling me how she
loved me.
"Have not managed it all wellp Are
you not surprised? You cannot refuse to
take me now! We shall never be parted
any more, my darling, for ! will go every
where with you. And see, am richl
Look what / have brought you'll" And
she took out of her pocket several rows of
magnificent pearls and some unset dia-
monds of large size. "They are mine and
give them 90 you. Are you not happy?"
Iappyl vas the most miserable man
on earthl What was l. to do with her?
Here, clone with only men on board!
"Alas!" she cried, "you are not gladi
I see IL IN your face. Wretch! wretchi
Why did you mske me love you? Why
did you write me that dear latter, saying
you loved me and were miserable st ,eav-
ing me-"
Her eyes flashed ominously, and she
suddenly drew q dagger from her Lelt and
made as IL she would strike me.
started back, but her eyes melted and
she cried: "No, cannot hurt you. Kiss
me once more, oh, my love! and will go
away. will never see you again-I will
do all you wish!"
She drew me to her, and our lips clung
together again and again. Then she
pushed me from her. The steel gilt
tered for one second before my eyes, and
then was buried in her breast
shouted for help and raised her gently
in my arms.
"My own dear love-" she painted,
"there was no way but this, for you do
not love me, and could not live without
your love. All! don't touch the dagger,
it hurtsl Kiss me once again!"
And her head fell back.
Zoe was dead.
My cry for help was drowned by the
noise OF the engines, for no one came.
Like one distraught / rushed on deck
and staggered toward the colonel.
Great heavens, mani" he exclaimed,
"what have you been doing to yourselff
You are all over blood!' N
could not speak. seized his arm and
took him to my cabin.
nc eACldiHltu, us tho
awful sight met his eyes, "what is this?"
els she desd-quite dead9" gasped.
"Quite deadl" he answered, gravely.
"But what lovely creaturei How did she
come here7" os ol3.
told him, and then i tainted, II was
some days before recovered conscious
ness. The terribly shock, coming immed-
lately after my severe illness, had been too
much for me, and at one time they feared
would lose my reason. This trial was
merclfully averted, for woke in my right
mind.
found myself in the colonel's cabin,
which he had given up TO me.
"And Zoe?" asked him.
"I had her buried the next morning
and have kept the whole matter as quiet
as possible; and, do you know, as good
fortune would have 1t, one of the sailors
was about to close your skylight at the
very moment the poor girl stabbed her.
self and was an eye witness to the whole
proceeding, which is a good thing for you,
my boy, otherwise l am afraid this might
have proved an awkward business.