Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-17
P0UPA.

Poupa was big and strong, and he loved
Marina, who was a drudge In Stefano Cas-
tro's kitchen. AS for Stefano, he was
wicked-yet his dark, handsome face, with
its bold, black eyes, won many hearts. If
woman were handsome, he would love
her. Then he would win her only to
throw her aside.
O.,o evening he rave feeet In honor of
West Indian who had many slaves and
wide plantations. 1t was rich repast,
set ont in lofty room with mirrored walls
and a blue ceiling, lowered with silver.
The guests sat long at table, until they
needed coffee, for the liquor they drank
burned their Threats and dulled their
brains
1t was the custom for coffee to be
brought in by Poupa, but today he was
i'll, and the cook sent Marina in his stead.
Being timid thing the girl was loath
to go among strangers and as she entered
the room she paused on the threshold
opening from the dark passageway. Her
slim, brown feet were bare, and not
scrap of ribbon frightened her poor blue
cottonade nor the massive braids of her
dark hair. But her face was perfect, as
the color flashed in her cheeks like light
across rose. Timorously hating, she gave
no thought to her own beauty, though the
darkness from which she emerged into the
brilliant light lessened as she went the
length of the chamber. 1t was as the
blooming Of vivid flower in dark "a
vine-so lingering was her coming from
the dimness.
The mirrors threw back q radiant re-
Election of her when she stood beside Stef-
auo with the coffee In her uplifted hands.
The West Indian-who had an evil heart
-sprang up and kissed her, whereupon
she shrank close against the master, with
q great fear in her eyes.
Leaping up, Stefano plucked the dagger
sheathed in silver from his belt and looked
fercely at the Cuban, who also drew his
slender blade and held it ready to strike
at the least word. In twinkling Stefano
took a step forward with reaching, MUIR
derous hand; his guest, with the move
ment of treacherous beast, sprang aside,
and-Stefano was reeling back with q tor
rent of hot blood bursting up from q cut
in his neck. AS he fell his cleaning steel
pierced the heart of the other, who drop
ped dead at Marina's feet.
She made the sign of the cross upon his
brow, then covered on the floor, her gown
Redeemed in two streams Of blood-the
rich glow of her cheeks smitten with q
livid hue.
The guests arose from the table, with
loud calculations Then seeing that Stef-
ano was not dead, they sent for q doctor
before they bore him to his chamber
An italian sat and drained the last drop
of his liquor before he stirred. Such
scenes were an everyday occurrence, and
he was not one to blanch because his host
was wounded and man lay dead in pool
of blood. When he, too, rose, he passed
Marina, with a shrug, as she crouched by
the stiffening corpse, wondering why she
did not go before the stain crept higher up
the mean texture Of her oottonade. Com
mon servant though she was, it was no
place for her, he thought, as he went away
and left her muttering prayer
Days went by, and Stefano was Il-so
very i'll that Poupa took all his strength
to hold the master in the big rosewood
bed. And when the fever left Stefano
Marina would sit beside him to brush
away the mosquitoes.
After time he grew strong and well,
and there came mad love in his soul for
One would not have thought that so fine
q creature as love could find it's way into
Stefano's kitchen. Yet, fair and beautiful
as the young god is, he floated there into
Marina's life and softly touched her heart
and lips.
At the rouleaux in the sugar houses
there is dangerous place; the whir of the
machinery makes one sleepy-so sleepy
and if one falls asleep but for q moment
one is gone.
Poupa was in Stefano's way.
He was jealous, the master, for he knew
Marina loved his servant. One evening he
gave Poupa glass Of rich, sweet wine
and ordered him to stand that night beside
the rouleaux
Poupa obeyed, though he felt drowsy
and longed to throw himself down and
sleep anywhere.
The whir grew fainter in his ears, while |
he stood there, until it seemed no more |
than the buzzing of the smallest mosquito
the singing of the negroes at their work
sank into the merest film Of melody.
Lower and lower all sound sank until |
Poupa slept, and
Stefano married Marina, as he should |
have done, since he killed two mon for her
Bozeman Lyon in New Or
leans Times Democrat.