The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-06

admiration, as she was yesterday. She
was the CALLED jade whom he could not
vince at MS pleasure, and would
But when he called she was not az home,
and the servant could not say when she
would return.
He went into the drawing-room with
such masterful air that the maid won
dered az him, and specuiated az the rea-
son why and how he could dare; ana
sitting at the very writing desk where
Zillsh kept under lock and key those
| packets, the contents Of one OF whicn ne
| drank yesterday, he wrote her short and
| peremptory note, saying: Feel seedy
| Come and see me tomorrow - sharp. No
matter what your engagements. COM
mand you TO come"
Not minute too soon, devil" said I'll
| lah 70 herself, when she read this Insoient
| mandate. "Thiswould have been my lie.
| ] knew il only too well. and he richly de-
serves what he has got"
To himself, however, she wrote IN differ
| ent strain.
''yery sorry to hear you are not well. Is
| il influenza? Never mind l am not
afraid OF infection. will come 70 see you
| tomorrow, as Won say. at O'Clock, and
| hope TO find you better"
But when tomorrow came he was no bet
| ter. On the contrary, he was rather worse,
| aad decidedly he had influenza in some
| what novel and more than usually severe
| form.
you must have doctor" said Zillah,
| feeling his pulse.
| For an answer he swore roundly.
You are so feverish." she continued,
soothingiy. shall / make you some lem
! onade? / brought some lemons IN my
1 bag. Shall ring for hot water and make
You some?"
i sharp look passed over his face.
| Let me see you make il, he said, IN
| pleasantly.
Her cheek burnt. but she was perfectly
| self-possessed and amiable.
| "Of course, dear" she said. "If it viii
| amuse you you shall make it yourself.
| NO. l only want to see you do it and
see all that you do" he returned signif-
| cantly.
| She rang the bell Water, glasses and
sugar were brought up, and she took two
one, retaining the other, which she
| squeezed quickly, having cut 1t.
| shall | use both ?' she asked.
| Eyes. / am thirsty enough to die" he
| answered with an impatient toss OF his
head.
While she was stirring and pairing and
| pressing, all according 70 rule, Albert
| watching her, he said suddenly:
''It would be a good thing for you, I'll
! lab. if l were ont Of the way"
| Her eyes blazed with sudden light. as
| if in their depths the fires of hell were
visible. But she answered carelessly:
| Indeed, no, Albert! You are my friend,
and have no fear of you"
| Yet l could crush you-I could ruin
| you" he said cruelty. ''One word to that
fool who IS going 70 marry you and you
are nowhere"
THAT word you will never sayl" she
said fiercely.
"Can you make sure of that?'
| For an instant she hesitated. That
| light still blazed iercely in her downcast
| eyes. She dared not raise them, lest he
| should see it. Or should she, and let him
| know his fate? Mo- She must forego
the sweets of expression-the joy of con-
| fessed triumph. This part OF her re-
venge-this desperate deed, done for self
! defense, must suffice
"If know you at all, can," she re-
| turned.
"Why do you not look at me when you
speak z" said Albert, peeEi.hly. Look at
| me, ZilIahf'
How cross you are, poor dearrr she
answered, going up 10 him and caressing
| him; but even then her eyes did not meet
| his: and though she kissed his forehead,
she avoided his lips.
She waited there a little while longer,
until the lemonade had become cool TO
| take. Then she poured out a tumbler full.
| which she watched him drink, thirstily. to
! the end. After which she went away,
amiably promising to come again tomor-
| row, and. meanwhile, advising physician,
| 10 which proposal he assented ungraciousy,
| falling foul of the influenza which had at
| tackled him so inopportunely. and cursing
| his ill-luck and Ziilah together as il she
had brought him the plague in her pocket.
The physician was not of much good
/ when he did come. Undoubtedly It was
| influenza. Some of the symptoms were
! unmistakable, but others baffied him and
| he did not know how to treat them. He
! ohray,r ha.v har-
| deal. and tried all sorts OF remedies. But
none were OF the slightest good. Assur-
| eddy II was quite new development of
! this mysterious epIdemic-One worthy of
| publishing in the medical journals. He
| gave great deal OF time and care to this
| strange case-the strangest he had had;
| but disease made steady progress and
barrier there was none 70 arrest its strides,
| Mrs. Harcourt was as attentive, as SYM
| pathetic, as sister, and good Josh Main
waring sent kindly inquiries daily: while
this once gay, gallant, this handsome
writhed in sore pains, his life burning
away in fever that nothing could calm or
| subdue.
So the fortnight passed, and the night
| before the marriage came on. The end
was drawing near. His hours were num-
| bered. 1t was CHASTITY vigil that the
! bride-expectant was keeping, but she must
go through her appointed task TO the end.
| She must be on the watch 70 prevent anv
| attempt at betrayal and to stifie all nascent
! suspicion. She must carry on the cheat
| 10 the end, and let him die in ignorance of
the cause. This was the only common
sense reasoning of self-protection. If her
marriage had to be put off for a day she
must hold her post
| But 1t would not need to be put off The
| last moments were at hand. Sitting by
him, her hand in his. Zillah watched him
slowly passing into death. He was living
| opened his eyes. Already the glaze of
| death was over them, but for one brief in
| slant the old tire came back. He essayed
| TO speak, and she bent her ear to his lips
| 'Murderessi" he said in hoarse whis-
| per. u see it all now. You have poisoned
| mel
| His strength failed him. else he would
! have strangled her then and there; and
| the dread death-rattle choked all further
| words. In this supreme moment he dis
| cerned the truth, and his enlightenment
| completed her triumph. He had known
| as well as felt her power and she was now
| victorious and safe
ears and years after. when Josh Main
warins died, an old man, with her with
cred hand N his, he died loving. trustful.
| and blessing her TO the end He never
| knew that he had married a sinful Jade
| VINO had ruthlessly murdered her accom-
plce. 10 him she had been the angel of
| the house-the good genius of his life
ana the awful secret she carried in her
heart never escaped from its safe hiding
| place conscience she had none to prick
ner, ana justice was a mere searecrow-
| good only for frightening towards His
| ignorance was bliss, and she took care that
: ~