The progress., 1904-05-21

6n0 De8u0 70 tomp0rl2os hoping
conquer his resistance later.
II may take It with me now3" "a
asked.
AT fee.'
II will pay It."
The jewel doctor went to the doc
| and called In Abdul. Five minutes
| later the princess passed the singini
| Arab at the corner Of the street, Ru'
Ben-Ziad. She had signed pape
pledging herself to return the emerald
to Safti at the end of 48 hours and K
pay $25 for her possession Of 1t during
that time. And shs wore the emerald
on the forefinger Of her left hand.
On the following morning Nine. d.
Rosnikoff said to the princess:
II hate Tunis. 1t has an evil eli.
mate. The tea here Is too strong ant
feel sure the drains are bad. Las
night was feverish. am always fe'
verish when am near bad drains"
The princess, who had slept well and
had walked with no pain in her eyes
answered these complaints cheerily
made the countess some tea that was
really Weak, and drove her out in the
sunshine to see Carthage. The count
ess did not see it, because there is nc
longer Carthage. She went to bed
that night in bad humor and again
complained Of drains the next morn
ing. This time the princess did moi
heed her, for she was thinking of the
hour when she must return the emerald
to Safti.
what an ugly ring that is" said
the old countess. where did you get
it? 1t is too small. Why do you wear
it,?
I'll bought it in the bazaars," an
swered the princess.
my dear, you wasted your money .
said the companion, and she went to
bed with another French novel.
That afternoon the princess implored
Safti to sell her the emerald and as he
persistently declined she renewed her
lease of it for another 48 hours. AS
she left the jewel doctors house she
did not notice that he spoke some
words in a low and eager voice to Abb
dul, pointing towards her as he did SO.
Nor did she see the strange hustle OF
varied life in the street as she walked
slowly under the great Moorish arch
Of the Porte de France. She was deep
ly thoughtful.
Since she had worn the ugly ring OF
Safti she had suffered no pain from
her eyes, and strange certainty had
gradually come upon her that while
the emerald was in her possession she
would be safe from the terrible disease
of which she had SO long lived in ter
ror. Yet Safti would not let her have
the ring. And she could not live for
ever in Tunis. Already she had pro-
longed her stay abroad and was due in
Russia, where her anxious husband
awaited her. She knew not what to
do. Suddenly an idea occurred to her.
IT. made her flush red and tingle with
shame. She glanced up and saw the
lustrous eyes of Abdul fixed intently
upon her. AS he left her at the door
Of the hotel he said:
"The princess will stay long in
Tunis?"
Another week at least, Abdul" she
answered carelessly. "You can go
home now. l shall not want you any
more to-day"
And she walked into the hotel with
out looking at him again. When she
was in her room she sent for list of
the steamers sailing daily from Tunis
for the different ports of Africa and
Europe. Presently she came to the
bedside of Nine. de Rosnikoff.
Countess" she said. "You are no
better?'
How can be? The drains are bad
and the tea here is too strong"
There is a boat that leaves for
Sicily at midnight-for Marsala. Shall
we go on it?"
The older woman bounded on her
pillow. :,
Straight on by Italy to Russian"
she cried joyfully.
The princess nodded. A fierce ex-
citement shone in her pretty eyes, and
her little hands were trembling as she
looked down at the dull emerald of
Safti.
At II o'clock that night the princess
and the countess got into a carriage,
drove to the edge Of the huge salt lake
by which Tunis lies. and went on
board the Stella dItalia. The sky was
starless. The winds were still, and it
was dark. As the ship glided out from
the shore the old countess hurried be-
low. But the princess remained on
deck, leaning upon the bulwark, and
gazing at the fading lights of the city
where Safti dwelt. Two flames seemed
burning in her heart, fierce flame OF
Joy, a fierce flame of contempt-of con-
tempt for herself. For was she not a
common thief? She looked at Safti's
ring on her finger and flushed scarlet
in the darkness. Yet she was joyful,
triumphant, as she heard the beating
Of the ships heart, and saw the lights
of Tunis growing fainter in the dis
tdhCC aiiu iCit tuC OHWdiu HONCmCnt
Of the Stella d'Italia through the night.
She felt herself nearer to Russia with
each throb of the machinery. And
from Russia she would expiate her sin.
From Russia she would compensate
Safti for his loss. The lights Of Tunis
grew fainter. She thought of the open
sea.
But suddenly she felt that the ship |
was slowing down. The engines beat
more feebly, then ceased to beat. The |
ship glided on for moment in silence |
and stopped. A cold fear ran over the
princess. She called to a sailor.
why" she said. why do we stop! |
Is anything wrong?"
He pointed to some lights on the port |
side.
I'VE are off Hammam-Lif, madam"
he said. I'VE are going to lie to for
half an hour to take in cargo"
To the princess that half hour
seemed all eternity. She remained up
On deck and whenever she heard the
splash of oars as a boat drew near OF
Tho c1,ffuraI sound of an Arab xoice