Evening star., 1901-04-27

rumor OF phosphorescence, the air was
SOFT and warm: the breath Of Italy was in
It; the delicious sound Of the water was
IN their ears. the whole world seemed half
an enchantment. Tomorrow we shall be
at Genoa. We ought to land for little
while: I should like to show you the
Red Palace II you will let me-"
Il am sorry we are coming to the land
again." she said. II should like to stay on
thing
before?"
"oh. don't know" she answered. he
knew as little about her as he had done
on on e the day they met first. She listened
70 everything he said concerning him.
history. "a Ae' '"'-
paeerhaps you had relations to look af-
Yes. had them to look after" she hos
uated; then she went on. There were a
great many OF us at home and I was the
eiueSI e were poor. and had no time to
80 ABOUT. used to teach my little sisters
.heir french verbs and make them play
tnelr scales till was eighteen. That was
ten years ago-I feel like haggard old
woman, but am only eight and twenty
90. put you have not just left home
=! left it when 1 was nineteen. / went
to take care of some one. don't want TO
talk about it," she added. but | have
never neveI naa any happiness-never in my life
and have longed for it so much.'' Then
WITH quiet jerk of her voice, she went on,
You spoke of the Waylett case the other
hlgnt; your father tried it. do you remem-
,oneed fox Khew that woman-and l have
ionSeu ior happiness just as she did
~ You Knew herr" He was almost startled.
YES; knew her very we'll"
DO you think she did it?'
IL can't tell you that but I know that
she married him to escape from novertv
ana worry. He treated her shamefully: he
sruoged every penny she spent or cost and
an any moments peace that seemed possible
vr,ith
sne Killed him she lost her soul in doing a
righteous deed, and it was her desperate
munger for happiness that made her do it
II she did do it, I say
What 1 couldn't stand about her was
tnat' after she was acquitted, she calmly
proved MS will and took his money. He
eouidn nave been such very bad chap
lot ne left her all he had"
he couldn't take it with him." she "a i'll
grimly. '-ie sa'o
DO you know what became Of herr"
Sne disappeared-I suppose she Is an
outcast forever" 40 OH
We'll, crime or no crime she besn.+
gained happiness yet"
;. >, feopie never gain it; they only pursue
BY heaven" he said with sudden emo-
ton, what an awful thing to be that wo-
mani" ~ ~ ' wv
But there are so many awful things in
which variety we draw"
GU must have suffered horribly" he
said, uneasily, ito speak as you have done
tonight '0N nav uoiie
Perhaps"
anyhow. you're not as badly off as the
Waylett woman is, If she did it. 1 mean
you We nothing on your mind
NO., she said. Il suppose not. I have
certainly done nothing that 1 would not do
over again; though l suppose we have ali
dcne some things that we regret" She
looked over her shoulder in the odd way
that characterized her. as If she were half
AFRAID OF the dark But sometimes we do
such desperate things to gain happiness
she said almost in whisper. "only to lose
Its possibility. We are like slaves who
make a desperate struggle for freedom.
and only make their captivity worse"
w ny do you harp on SO much happiness? d?
| wish you would tell me about yourself"
he said suddenly rs it-I mean, have Won
cared for some one?"
NO. she said in low voice. "I have
never loved any one," she hesitated almost
as If she were going to say before" and
chose her words carefully, ''in the way
you mean.in my whole life. Perhaps that
Is really the tragedy of it,
wv ont you trust me?' he said hoarsely
we have only known each other a few
days. but we have hurried years into them
feel toward you as l never felt yet to-
ward a woman. but when 1 reach out
to you in my thoughts it is into the un-
known or the darkness"
Into the darkness" she echoed
Ieil me about yourself" he said pas
slonately. He rose and pulled her gently
from her seat, and putting his arm about
her waist drew her gently toward the end
of the ship. 1t was dark and none could
see them, the deck was deserted and none
could hear Trust me with your whole
life. Tell me if 1 may care for you. 1t
you could ever come to think of me It
is such little while since we met, but
we are not strangers. l feel as II we had
started out from opposite ends Of the world
to meet each other
Il have felt 1t. too." and, as If against
her will, she drew closer to him.
Il love you," he said. Il swear 1 love
you"
A little sound came from her lips. She
put her arms up softly round his necS
Il think it Is killing me- she whispered
Mono, 1t is all right he answered
we are not fools. We can't nave made a
mistake. We love each other and there
is no reason why we should not
Love you" she said; Il feel as if 1 stood
by heavens open door-but 1 shall never
enter it."
You will. You shall! We will walk its
whole length together. Oh, my beloved
woman, whom God has given me-" But
she only shuddered at his words.
God will take me from YOU" she said.
"Why should He be so cruel?"
Say you love me, say it again. 1t goes
through me- she said desperately.
Il love you,' he repeated. Il love you'
and he held her in his arms and kissed her
long and slow, while he felt as if the world
stood still to let them drink deep Of love-
Suddenly through the darkness they heard
footsteps.
'Who is it?" she cried, starting.
"It is only the captain Travers said
How nervous you are!"
He frightened me-" she whispered. 81
thought
"A dark night" said the captain, cheerily:
doesn't look as If we should be at Genoa
in the morning. does it?''
What time do we get in?'
About 7, I hope, and out again at night.
Just day there and he passed on.
"a long. good day." Travers said, as he
turned to her again. But she held him
away further
81 cannot" she said. II cannot! Let me
go. Tomorrow you will understand" He
took the hands she was holding out, and
stopped and kissed them. 81 want to tell
you again." she went on, under her breath,
II have never loved any one in my whole
life before-I mean, in this way. It has
-