Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-04-07
that lime. And She wore Tine emerald

mate. 1He ted ueT6 ID lOO sIIOHS anu
| feel sure the drains are bad. Last
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 no
longer a Carthage. She went to bed
that night in a bad humor and again
complained of drains the next morn
ing. This time the princess did not
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?"
FL bought it in the bazaars," an
swered the princess.
"My dear, you wasted your money"
oahu ilC SoH1Pdhioht ouu ohS "ShS ~
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 4S 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
dull, 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 frcm
her eyes, and a 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.
1t 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:
1.-THE princess will stay long in
Tunis?"
Another week at least, Abdul" she
answered carelessly. "You can go
home now. I 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 a 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 MARSHA. Shall
we go on it,"
The older woman bounded on he.
pillow.
Straight on by Italy to Russian
she cried joyfully.
The princess nodded. A fierce ex.
element shone in her pretty eyes, an(
her little hands were trembling as She
looked down at the dull emerald Of
Safti:
IL
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 OF
board the Stella d'Italia. The sky wa
starless. The winds were still, and i
was dark. AS the ship glided out from
the sh ore the old countess hurried be
low. But the princess remained OF
deck, leaning upon the bulwark, ant
gazing at the fading lights of the cit.
where Safti dwelt. Two flames seemed
burning in her heart, a fierce flame O
joy, a fierce flame of contempt-of con
tempt for herself. For was she not {
common thief? She looked at Safti'i
ring on her finger and flushed scarle
in the darkness. Yet she was joyful
triumphant, as she heard the beatin,
Of the ships heart, and saw the light
Of Tunis growing fainter in the dis
lance and felt the onward movemen
of the Stella d'Italia through the night
She felt herself nearer to Russia witt
each throb of the machinery. AM
from Russia she would eXpiate her sin
From Russia she would compensat
Safti for his loss. The lights of Tuni
grew fainter. She thought of the opel
sea.
But suddenly she felt that the shi,
was slowing down. The engines bea
more feebly, then ceased to beat. TIL
ship glided on for a moment in silenc
and stopped. A cold fear ran over tn
princess. She called to a sailor.
Why" she said, why do we stop
Is anything wrong?"
eve are off Hammam-Lif, madam,
he said. 1--WE are going to lie to TO
half an hour to take in cargo"
To the princess that half hou
seemed all eternity. She remained up
on deck and whenever she heard tn
splash of oars as a boat drew lea o
the cultural sound of an Arab voic
she trembled, and, staring into tn
blackness, fancied that she saw the tai
figure, the pointed head, and the de
formed eyes of the jewel doctor. Blu
the minutes passed. The cargo was a
on board. The boats drew off. An
once again the ship shuddered as tn
heart of it began to beat, and the ebo
water ran backward from it's prov.