The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15
TT Is TIE ONLY WAY.
GOOD BYE :.

Zoe caught her eye and held out the
heavy little bag. The woman stared.
looked at Kyria Agatha's sleeping face,
set down the pan upon the floor and
came forward
He has brought the money. $50
ducats." Zoe whispered, forcing the bag
into Nectaria,s trembling hands 1T IS
the only way. Good by-quiek-shul the
door before she Eakes-tell her I am
asleep IN the straw-cod bless you'--
Before Nectaria could answer Zoe had
pulled the door TIL it shut behind her,
and was outside, barefosted on the
hardening mud. and scarcely covered.
She said nothing now, ard GuIlabi was
silent. too, but he had taken one Of
her wrists and held it firmly without
hurting it The feet, young c. eature
might make a dash for freedom yet
foolish that would be. since he could
easily force his way into the ruined
house and take back his money II she
escaped him But he had nearly lost q
young slave once bslore, and ne would
risk nothing. so he kept his strong hand
tightly ciasped round the slender wrist,
though Zoe walked beside him quietly.
covering himself from his gaze. though
indeed he could scarcely see the outline
of her figure.
A few steps further and Gullabi stopped
short. still holding her fast by the wrist.
and she saw that they had come upon
a group of men who We're waiting for
them One suddenly held UP lantern
which had been covered, and now shed
q yellow light through thin leaves of
horn. and Zoe saw that he was a big
Ethiopian. as black as ebony She drew
her tatters still more closely over her
head with her free hand and turned
away from the light, as well as Gull
labfs unrelaxing hold would allow.
A moment later some one she could
not see threw wide warm cloak over
her shoulders from behind her. and she
caught II gladly and drew the folds TO
her breast
Get into the litter said Gullabi
sharply. but not loudly.
There was nothing soft or oily in his
tone now He had bought her and she
was q part of his property.
Four men carried the litter fifth
armed with an iron shod staff. went
before with the lantern, and Gullabi
followed after. There was nothing in
the appearance Of the party TO excite
surprise or curiosity in a city where
every well TO do person who went out
in the evening was carried in palan-
ouin and accompanied by at least two
trusty servants For that matter. too,
Gullabi's business was perfectly legiti-
mate and il concerned no one that he
Shou11 nave z DeWlF Do1gnl DeauIl
carried in a closed litter from g distant
quarter OF the city to his home
In an age and a land Of slavery the
slaves fate was familiar TO her She
knew that there We're public markets
and private markets. and that her
beauty which lent her value, would
save her from the former: but 70 the
daughter of free born parents the dir-
ference between the one and the other
was not so great as TO be consolation
She would be well lodged. well covered
and well fed, il was true. and she need
not fear cruel treatment: but custom
ers would come. perhaps tomorrow, and
she was 10 be shown 10 them like &
valuable horse They would judge her
points and discuss her and the sum that
Gullabi would ask, and If they thought
the price too high they would go away
and others would come, and others. till
bargain was struck at last After
that she would only think of death as
the end
AS she lay among her cushions dread
ing the end OF her Journey, but Eradu-
ally wearying of the future. hel