Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-16

POljPl

Poupa was big and strong, and he loved
Marina, who was 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 II
q woman were handsome, he would love
her. Then he would win her only TO
throw her aside
One evening he gave feast I'm honor Of
q West Indian who had many slaves and
wide plantations. It was a rich repast.
set out In a lofty room with mirrored walls
and a blue ceiling, howered with silver.
The guests sat long at table, until thoy
needed coffee, for the liquor they drank
burned their throats and dulled their
brains.
II was the custom for coffee TO be
brought In by Poupa, but today he was
Ill, and the cook sent Marins In his stead.
Being q timid thing. the girl was loath
90 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 q
scrap Of ribbon frightened her poor blue
cottonade nor the massive bpnids Of her
dark hair. But her lace was perfect as
the color flashed In her checks like light
across rose. Timorously halting. she gave
no thought to her own beauty, though the
darkness from which she emerged into tho
brilliant light lessened as sho went the
length Of the chamber. Il was as the
blooming OF vivid flower In a dark ra-
vine--so lingering was her coming from
the dimness.
The mirrors threw back a radiant re-
fection of her when she stood beside Stef-
ano with the coffee In her uplifted hands.
MI ..wN
-sprang up and kissed her, whereupon
she shrank close against the master, with
q great fear In her eyes.
teaping up, Stefano plucked the dagger
sheathed In silver from his bolt and looked
fercely at the Cuban, who also drew his
slender blade and held 10 ready to strike
at the least word In twinkling Stefano
took q step forward with reaching mur-
derous hand; his guest. with the move
ment Of treacherous beast, sprang aside.
and-Stefano was reeling back with tor
rent of hot blood bursting up from cut
In his neck. As he fell his cleaning steel
pierced the heart Of the other, who drop
ped dead al Marina's foot
She made tho sign Of tho cross upon his
brow, then covered on the floor, her gown
redeemed In two streams Of blood-the
rich glow Of her checks sInitten with
livid hue.
The guests arose from the table, with
loud CALCULATIONS Then seeing that Stef-
ano was not dead, they sent for a 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 oocurronce, and
he was not ono TO blanoh because his host
was wounded and man lay dead In pool
of blood. When he, too, rose, he passed
Marina, with shrug as she crouohed by
the stiffening CORPSE wondering why she
did not 90 before the stain crept higher up
the mean texture Of her oottonadel 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 ill--so
very i'll that Poupa took all his strength
to hold the master In tho big rosewood
bed. And when the fever left Stefano
Marina would SIT beside him TO brush
away the mosquitoes.
After q time he grew strong and well,
and there came a mad love In his soul for
Marina But Marina loved Poupa
One would not have Thought that so fine
O creature as love could find its way into
Stefano's kitchen. Yet, fair and beautiful
as the young god is, he noated there INTO
Marinn's life and softly touched her heart
and lips.
At the rouleaux In tho sugar houses
there 10 dangerous place; the whir Of the
machinery makes one sleepy-so sleepy
and II one falls asleep but for moment
one is gone.
Poupa was In Stefano's way.
He was jealous. the master. for he know
Marina loved his servant One evening he
gave Poupa a 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 10 seemed no more
than the buzzing Of tho smallest mosquito;
the singing Of the negroes st 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 men for her
sake.-Anne Bozeman Lyon In New Or
leans Times Democrat.