Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-10
THE MEETING.

JcphsonI young widow lady. The doctor
says hor heart Is weak. No. 4 cabin"
The passenger entered on the ships list
In the name OF Mrs. Marshall took hor
way to tho cabin indicated and opened the
door.
"The stewardess tells me you arc Ill.
She IL very busy at present Can do any
thing for your"
my head, moancd tho sufferer, closing
her eyes again. II can't bear tho pain. I"
A slight expression Of contempt crossed
the face OF tho woman Her desire To help
tho stewardess had risen solely from tho
wish to occupy her hands.
She bent down 10y the sufferer and began
to rub her forehead with tho practiced
hand Of the masseuse. Before half an hour
had elapsed the pained expression had
fed from Mrs. Jephson's faoo and she lay
sleeping as peacefully as child.
III spend my life searching for him,
will track him down." said Mrs. Mar
shall. "To leave me for another woman
perhaps such "a weak fool as thisi''
In hor sleep Mrs. Jcphson had tossed the
coverlet from her shoulders Her night
dress had come unfastened at the throat,
md the keen eyes that watched her caught
sight OF small white silk case that even
"The photo OF the dead husband or the
portrait Of the new lover, said tho watch
or sneeringly "Oome, I will look at the
face OF the man who Is guarded 80 jealous
ly"
With deft, quick movement she un-
loosed tho case from the small fingers. A
faint sigh escaped the sleeper, but her reg
ular breathing told that as yet she was
unconscious.
The thief rose to her feet and stole eau
tiously to tho portfolio. Her long fingers
united the string that fastened the silk
case. and In another second the precious
contents were in her hand.
"A photo wrapped In q letter! AS sus-
pected, the husband Is forgotten for the
lover"
Tho masses of water surged heavily
light. Mrs Marshall held the photo up to
the round aperture and peered closely at
the features
"Heavensl Harry"
The cold, contemptuous woman had dis
appeared. In her place stood one whose
features, distorted with passion, bore the
aspect of fend.
Her trembling hand, still clutching the
photo, opened the sheet Of paper The let
ter was short. The contents ran thus:
MY OWN DARLING NELL-To avoid suspicion
follow me by the next boat. Shall meet you
at New York. Darling, my marriage has been
hell. With you my life will be paradise. Bless
you. my own darling, in giving your dearest
self to yours IN life and death, HARRY.
The readers breath came in deep, con-
vulsive palpitations Great drops Of mois-
<,,~ <~io x1n<ld TIT
were fixed In awful dtlation upon the
words that Knocked her by their love.
The ship swung heavily to one side. The
sleeping woman uttered faint moan, and
her hand closed unconsciously over her
bosom.
Still holding the photo and letter In her
fingers, the watcher crept to the side OF the
berth.
Delivered into my hand Heaven, I
thank thee for this Justice"
That cunning stealthy look that marks
the eye of the maniac was in the face that
peered over the sleeping woman.
A small pillow lay near at hand. With
unfaltering fingers the forsaken wife
grasped the innocent looking object and
held it few inches above the mouth Of
the woman who had supplanted her in her
husbands heart.
But even as she lowered the pillow that
an who lay helpless in her power the look
Of madness faded from her eyes.
She rose from her knees.
"A painless DEATH No, there is a
sweeter revenge than that. She shall live
and suffer"
When Mrs. Jephson awoke from her
eli 4 t<>A ApI ,Ial IA
patiently in the same place by the side Of
her berth.
The invalid uttered some words of
thanks, and though inwardly shrinking
from the cold face that confronted her
gaze felt compelled to accept the minis
trations that her self installed nurse Insist
cd on showering upon her. AS the weather
improved, the nurse insisted upon Mrs.
Jephson leaving her cabin and coming on
deck.
"You will feel the benefit of the fresh
air." she said, installing herself by the
side Of the deck chair in which Mrs. Jeph-
son reclined languidly. "Alas would that
my pains could be as easily cured as
yoursp'
"You are In trouble9 Can do any
thing for your You have been so kind to
me that I should like to help you, If can"
The sweet voice rang harshly upon Mrs.
Marshall's ears.
"My trouble Is mental, she said, try
ing to subdue the harshness of her own
tones. Another woman has robbed me
of my husbands love, and my heart is
broken"
Mrs. Jepbson had fallen back In the
chair, her hand pressed to her side.
II see you are sorry for me-" went on
tho cold voice, while the speakers eyes
gazed triumphantly at the sudden white
ness that blanched the cheek. "You can
not understand why woman should DO
so wicked ac TO rob another of the husband
she loved. zen the storm ragged tho other
day, one of q sailors said there must be q
Jonah on board But you are faint, Mrs.
Jephson."
A broken gasp came from the invalid's
lips.
Mrs Marshall seized tho cold hand that
hung Imply down by the deck chair
"May heaven curse this wicked woman