The San Francisco call., 1908-03-29

We had the same father, though we
never knew him He died of the plague
when we were few months old.
Zeno was perfectly satisfied with this
logical explanation which entirely ex
planned Zoe's aristocratic beauty, heT
mobility of manner and the delicate
rearing that was so apparent in all her
ways as well as the feariessness which
had made her turn upon and tell him
that she hated him. The only point he
could not understand was that Zoe
should have smiled. But he thought.
as was quite possible. that there might
have been jealousy and even hatred be-
tween the mistress and her slave born
sister, and he would not inquire too
closely yet since all was so clear to
him. Such unnatural doings were not
rare in a city half filed with slaves.
Zoes mistress had probably sold her in
a fit of anger, or perhaps deliberately
and with a cruel purpose, or even out
of avarice. TO buy string of pearls
The girl did not offer to say more, but
she looked away from her owner and
seemed to be thinking of the past, as
indeed she was. though ID was so dif-
ferent from that which his ina agination
was inventing for her
He, on his side. peeled another wal
nut thoughtfully and looked at her
from time to time. sure that he knew
the truth, and wondering what he
ought to do. and above all what he
really wished to do. He had believed
her deeply wronged, and had paid
great sum to redress that wrong. al
most without hesitating. because 1T was
his nature to help any one in distress
and because he, who counted neither
life nor limb when his cause was good,
had never counted such stuT as gold in
a like case.
But now it was all clear. She was a
slave. in spite OF all appearances. She
had suffered no injustice; her smile had
told him that the change in her life
had not been to greater unhappiness.
that she should fear to be sent back to
Gullabi was only natural
What should he do with her? He was
passionate rather than material or
pleasure loving; he was consequently
an optimist and an idealist where
women were concerned. and was full
of a vague belief in the romantic side
of love. He could no more really love
slave girl than he could have loved
hired maid, though she might be
beautiful beyond comparison, for he
was incapable of attaching himself to
beauty alone. Only his equal could be
his mate and he never could care long
or truly for any creature that was less
At 20 the youth In him would have
boiled up and over for week. or a
month; but he was verging on 80. his
so years that had been crammed with
the deeds of many daring mans
whole lifetime. and his nature had
hardened In a nobler mold than his
early youth had promised. He would
not make a plaything Of any woman
dered what he should do with Zoe
now that she was his.
In this mood of uncertainty he rose
to leave her. more or less resolved not
to see her again until he had come to
some conclusion as to her future; for
in spite of all he still felt himself at
tracted to her and the line of her
cheek and throat when her face was
half turned away was OF exquisite
beauty. Standing beside her for mo-
ment he knew that If ever again in
his life he stopped TO take woman
for a toy, Iovelessly. stupidity, con-
temptibly, the plaything would be this
Arethusa whom he had bought OF q
scoundrelly Armenian dealer.
Good night" he said. looking down
into her upturned eyes. IF you need
anything. If you want anything. send
for Omobono and you shall have IL.
Good night, Arethusa."
1t was the first time he had called
her by her name. as he knew 1t. He
did not even hold out his hand She
looked up steadily.
asked very anxiously. surprised by his
sudden leave taking.
She was so lovely then that he felt
a despicable impulse to take her into
his arms, just for her loveliness, and
close her sad eyes with kisses In
stead. he shook his head and turned
away
'I do not know" he said. half aloud.
He reached the door. II do not know"
he repeated, as If the problem were
very hard to solve; and he went out,
not turning back to look at her.
Zoe slept 10 hours without dreaming
and she awoke refreshed and rested. to
wonder presently why her mood had
changed 50 much. But Zeno was rest
less In the night. and dissatisfied with
himself and with what he had done:
when he lay awake he found fault with
his impulsive action. but when he fell
asleep for half an hour Zoe haunted
his dreams. When morning came his
face was a little paler than usual, and
he felt that he was in bad humor
Onfobono only guessed it from a GER
tain increase of his natural reserve, but
that was enough for the experienced
secretary, who was wonderfully care
full not to speak unless Zeno spoke to
him, and, above all. not to mention the
existence of the women's apartment up
stairs. Although 1t was a Sunday he
had expected to be sent by his master
to draw the money from the house of
Corner, according to Pesaro's letter, Of
which he had thoroughly mastered the
contents. But the order was not given.
and as Zeno was neither forgetful OF
details nor slack in matter of busf-
ness. Omobono began to wonder what
had happened.
On Monday Zeno's mood had not
changed. nor did he send for the money
and the secretary's curiosity grew
nightly; on Tuesday it became almost
unbearable. So far as he knew. and
he knew most things that went on in
the house. Zeno had only once gone
upstairs, when he had supped with
Zoe on Saturday evening, and had re-
manned barely an hour. Since then be
had not even asked after the slave
and no one had seen her except the
two little maids, who came out upon
the landing to receive the meals at
regular hours. but never spoke to the
men servants. The Industrious secre
tary had fits OF abstraction over his
letters and accounts. and stared out Of
the window, stroking his neatly
trimmed gray beard very thouzhtfullv.
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