ZEALANDIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 49

ZEALANDIA.

Alone on Lhc boundless ocean, Id tbe midst of the sounding main, The clear, blue sky above her. Does tho Queen of the South Seas leign. The wild wave, voiced with thunder, Doth guard her throne around, And at her feet, unceasing, Its shouts of homage sound. The rich, warm blood of summer Glows in her southern veins, And her azure eye is lit with A soul where freedom reigns. Her lip bids courteous welcome To the stranger at her gates, And smiling, rose-crowned Plenty Upon her footsteps waits. The fair young face is queenly, With looks of gentle pride, And in its sheath she carries A falchion at her side. A diadem of sunshine Upon her brow is bound, And a robe of soft green girdles Her graceful form around. Proud argosies come flocking Unto her favoured shore, And toiling thousands delve at Her mines for golden store. Her marts are filled with commerce; In able, wise debato A patriotic senate Does guide Hor ship of Stale, The people kinship seeking In labour of the soil, Have framed with golden honour The dignity of toil. H'.-r plains with fatness (ecnntig, Her vales with wealt.ii ot gram — God's arm, with blessings luden, Hangs over her domain. She stands before the nations A glorioU3, rising f-Ur, And Fame, to north, fculli, cast, ond vc&t, Proclaims her name afar. Uehkx J. Fletcher. Katikftti, Julj 189&

pelled to switch on the electric light in order to see to write. During two hours she had not risen, but had continued covering sheet after sheet of foolscap with her fine angular handwriting. She wro;e with the air of one accustomed to write, folding down the left hand edge of her pap^r so as to cicate a margin, and writing on o^e side ot the sheet only. Before commencing she had several times read through a long, and apparently deeply-interesting letter, making careful* notes upon it before commencing. Then drawing her chair close to the table, she took up her pen and wrote away at express speed, now and then halting to reflect, but quickly resuming until she had filled a dozen" folios. At last she concludxt, abruptly and without signature, afterwards leaning'back in her little Chippendale armchair, turning over the numbered pages and reading through what she had written. When she had fiuished she paused and looked straight before her blankly. Hei lips moved but no sound escaped them. Presently she took from the dressing-bag open beside her a large linen-lined blue envelope whereon was printed in Italian, "Private—To His Excellency the Marquis Montelupo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rome." Into this fe'ie placed what she had written, afterwards sealing it at each corner and in the centre in the manner the Italian \Admmistraton ot Posts requires insured letters to be secured. This done, she paused, resting her ba-id wearily upon her hands, as if tired out. Suddenly there was a loud lap at the door, and one' of the hotel message Itovs entered with a card.

" Show him up at once," Gemma answered in her brokeii English, after plk> had glanced at the name, and a few miim o» latei a thin-faced, middle-aged Italian entejed, bcnvhig. •' Good evening, C'alii'ano," she said. '" It is finite ready,'" ami «he handed him the secret despatch. " You leave ior Rome tonight — eh?' 11 Si — Signora Contessa,*' the man answered. "1 ui rived in London only an. hum- ago, and 1 leave again suhito. The Marquis &ent me exjn-essly tor this.' 1 '•Then sea that hu gets it at the earliest possible moment," she said quickly. "It i> ot the utmost secrecy and importance. ' " 1 quite understand', Signora Contessa,'" the man ecnnteoubly replied, caiefully pl.icmg the envelope in' the breast pocket of h'm heavy frieze overcoat. '" His Kxcelleney lias already given me instructions."' " Bei.e. Then go. Make all hasle. for t-vciv hour lost may place Italy in greater jeopardy. Hemember that your eaily omv.il in Roiiie is absolutely imperative." She spoke authoritatively, and it was evide it that they were not strangers. "I shall not Ins'e an instant:." soid the Minister's private messenger. " The Contc«sa has no further command-' V he a'UUnl iiifjuiriiigly. " >'one," she answered biK'fl,.. '" Auvctk'ic!!"'

" .Aiivcdeici, Signora C'oiUe^sa," he it})lied, and a mouw:.t later (lemma fouml hoi - again alone. '• tjod forgive me !" s-he uiurmured, ;us she paml the icom svikllv agitated. "It's the only way— the only wav ! I have transpressed bei'oie mini and before heaven in order to free myself from this hateful tie of heinous, sin ; I* have risked all in order to

gain happiness vrith the man I love. And if I fail"'— she paused, pale-faced, haggardeyed, shuddering — " if I fail," she went on in a changed voice, "then I must take 'my life."

She threw herself into a chair before the fire, and was silent for a long time. The dressing bell sounded, but she took no heed ; she had no appetite. The crowded table d'hote with its glare and colour raid clattor jarred 'upon her highly-strung nerves. She had dined in the great gilded saloon the night before, and had resolved not to do so again. She would have a little soup and a cutlet brought to her room.

At that moment she was calmly, deliberately contemplating suicide.

She sat in the low chair, her elbows on her knees, gazing gloomily into the fire. The loose gown of pale lilac silk with deep lace at the collar and cuffs suited her complexion admirably, although it imparted to her a wan appearance, and made her look older than she really was, while the tendrils of her gold-brown hair, straying acr«ss her brow, gave her a wild wanton look. Even as she sat, her eyes fixed upon the leaping games, hers was still a countenance frail, child-like in its softness, purity, and innoence'of expression, a face* perfect in its symmetry, and one in which it was difficult to conceive that any evil could lurk.

' "The diamonds upon her fingers sparkli.ig lin the fitful firelight caught her gaze. She :£: £ looked long and earnestly at "the strange ring of turquoise and diamonds upon her ! right hand, and the sad memories it recalled i caused her to sigh deeply/ as the}- ever did. Again -she remained plunged in a deep debauch of melancholy, until suddenly she was aroused from her reverie by a loud knocking at hei door and her hotel number being shouted by the lad in buttons.

" Gentleman wishes to see you, ma'am," the youngster said, handing' her another card.

She glanced quickly at the name, and then rising slowly, answered :

" Show him up."

Her breath seemed to catch in hey throat, but to her cheeks there came a slight flush whether of excitement or ot anger it was difficult to determine. Her brows were knit, and as she glanced at herself in tho mirror she felt dissatisfied with herself, Lecause she knew she looked haggard and ugly-

As she turned away irom the glass with a gesture of determination Frank Tristram entered.

" Well," she inquired, turning quickly upon him the moment they were alone. " Why have you the audacity to seek me?"

" Hear me out, Gemma, before you grow angry!" he exclaimed advancing .towards her. " \ have come to crave your forgiveness." and he stood' Avith bent head before her. motionless, penitent.'

''My forgiveness? You ask that, after your attempt to take my life?" she retorted.

" I was mad then," he declared quickly. *' Forgive me. T ask your forgiveness in order that one you know may be made hapny." " I don't understand you."

"Canuenilla. I'm going to marry her," he explained briefly. "To marry Carmenilla. !" she exclaimed, surprised lie nodded. " Tell me that you forgive my madness that night," he urged. " Remember that both you and I are hemmed in by enemies on every side ; that our inteiests are exactly identical. In return for your forgiveness I am ready to assist you in any way possible."

Her clear eyes rested upon him with unwavering gaze. " And you ask my forgiveness," she said in a tone of contempt at length. " Yon — who murdered Vittoriua — a helpless, friendless girl."

"I — murdered her!" he cried uneasily, with a look of abject terror. This denunciation was utterly unexpected. " What ma ie you suspect that?" "To anyone who had knowledge of tho facts it's quite plain," she answered boldly. " Ah ! do not try to deceive me. The police were in ignorance ; therefore they could have no clue, and could make no arrest. I, however am aware of the reason poor Vittorina's life was taken ; I know that her presence was detrimental to all our plans, and that she was enticed here to London, in order that she might die. It is useless for you to protest your innocence to me." Her face was hard, her eyes fixed immovably on his.

He shrank beneath her searching glance, and stood before hei with bent head in silence.

" You cannot deny that you had a hand in the crime,"' she went on relentlessly. "' You, a murderer, ask my forgiveness!"

" Ah, Gemma," he cried hoarsely, " forgive me." Then, without heeding the terrible denunciation she had levelled against him, he continued, " We have both suffered much, you and I ; you perhaps more than myself because you have earned ill- repute, arid been compelled to pose as an adventuress. But those who know you are well aware that you have always been an honest woman, that your so-called adventures have only been taken in order to act the ignoble part you were compelled to act, and that you are iii every way worthy the love o£ au upright man* like' Army ta"ge. Forgive me," he urged in a low, iiiiense voice, fetching forth "his hand. " Forgive me !" Her troubled breast heaved and fell. In that instant she remembered what the blackrobed nuns had told her long ago at rJan Paolo della Croce. that the first step towards penitence was forgiveness.. .She looked straight into the face of the nun before her for several moments m hesitation, then at last, in a low. faltering tone, replied: " The evil you tried to do me, I forgive freely ; but— but I cannot lake the hand of a, murderer," and she turned away suddenly, her silken gown sweeping past him where he stood.

'• Then you will ollow me to marry Carmcpilla? You will not denounce me as one who Hied to lake your life," he crivl ; eagerly, following her a few paces. " Your secret will be mine.'' she answered , coldly. "I have forgotten, and bear you no malke."

She was standing before ths fire, once again idly contemplating her rings. The diumoirls of the quaint one with its turquoise centre seemed to glitter with extreme brilliance and with an evil glint that night. Presently Tristram' advanced swiftly, al-

moflt noiselessly, until he reached her sid** Then again he proffered his hand, asking : "May we not be friends?" "We are no longer enemies," she an* swered, disregarding his invitation to txchange the hand-clasp oi friendship. " This interview is painful," she added. "I havo forgiven you. Surely that is sufficient?" " I believed you to be an enemy — I thought) you had denounced me to the police on that night when my mad passion got the mas-> tery," he said apologetically. " I assure you that I have deeply regretted ever since." "It is past," she said, in a chilly voice. "To recall it is needless." After reflecting for some moments he commenced to protest his innocence of the crime she attributed to him, but with a gesture of impatience she held up both her hands as if to shut out his presence from her gaze, and then slowly he left the room without further word. Afterwards she stood, a slim, grftoo/n ] figure, leaning upon the inintehJidf r^n.^ down into the fire. Now and then, tigl.-. escaped her ; once a shudder ran over hcv,. for her thoughts were still weir "ttd morbid. She was debating whether death Vy her own hand was not preferable to the strange life she had been for \ the past two years compelled to lead ; still dubious as to whether at last she could secure happiness beside the young Englishman whom she loved with all her soul, fcr whom she had risked her life. Through 10 days she remained alone in the great hotel, and found London horrible. She went out but little, as the weather was gloomy and wet, and spent her time in hec warm private sitting-room in reading or doing fancy needlework. She had written to Armytage and received an immediate response, winch set her mind at case. , ITe had urged that he might he allowed to see hex, but she had replied firmly in. the negative. If she desired him to come to her, she would telegraph. In a couple of hours he could be at her side. Fettered as shewas, iiand and foot, knowing that her lover's enemies sought his life, yet without power to save him, she existed in those days in constant dread lest they should discover his presence in England and carry out their design. The life of a man is just as easily taken in England as it is in Italy, and she well knew her associates to be desperate, and that they would now hesitate at nothingin order to guarantee the success of their plans.

One night, after she had been at' tho hotel about a fortnight, she dressed her hair as carefully as she could, possessing no maid, and putting on a pretty evening gown of pale blue, cut low and frilled with fine old lace drawn round the throat in a manner 1 of evening dresses in vogue in Italy,- she wound around her head a, pale blue silken scarf she had purchased in Livorno, one of those worn by Livornese girls on festal days, and assuming a rich cape trimmed -with otter, drove in a hansom' to Lady Marshfie.ld's in Sussex square.

The man-servant, without taking in* her name, showed her at one to the drawingroom. He had no doubt received instructions. Upon the threshold she stood for an instant holding her breath, as if in fear, then bracing herself up for an effort entered the room, a striking figure,, proud, erect, handsome, the diamond crescent sparklingin her hair, her silken skirts sweeping behind her with loud frou-frou. At that moment she was La Funaro, the notorious woman whose- striking costumes had so often been the envy and admiration of fashionable Italy. In the great apartment there had assembled in a group near the fire the Docttu* , the Gobbo, Romanelli, and Nenci. AH four were in well-cut evening clothes, and ..wer** chatting affably, her ladyship, ugly, yet affecting youth, holding a, little court about her. On .Gemma's entrance there -vas an instant's silence. Then with almost oir voice they welcomed her, crying. " Yh\t. La Funaro ! "

Smiling, she shook aands with cc,ch '*"* turn, and sank on the silken settee be?ic^ her hostess.

"We are still waiting for one other," her ladyship said, glancing at the cloc'^. "He is late." Afterwards, turning to Gemma, the eccentric old woman began toher all sorts of compliments in very fair Italian, while the men stood together smoking and chatting, sometimes in mysterious undertones. At last? the person for whom <,hey lia<. apnarentv been waiting entered, hot- an^. Hushed. It was Tristram. He shook han'W with all, except with Gemma, 'to hor ht» merely bowed. ■ Lady Marshfield a few minutes ..atcr rose and passed into the small inner room, a signal for her guests to follow Then, when they had entered the door was locked, Romanelli alone remaining outside in ih<» drawim'-room to guard against the possibility of any of the servants acting as eavesdropper. A table, had been placed m the centre of the apartment, and around this they at once assembled, while Nenci, opening' the lady's dressing-bag which he carried, took therefrom a " small oblong box >.f polished oak, which he set upon the tab'e, afterwards displaying the exquisite rep'ica of the bust of the reigning sovereign oi Italy. "Beautiful!" they all cried with 01 c accord. '' Nothing could be better. ' "Its action is marvellous," Malvauo^v plained. "We have already tried it. I effect is frightful. When set it customs explosives enough to reduce every house in this street to ruins." They looked at one another and shuddered. , . „, "It is really very inoffensive-looking, her Jadvship remarked, raising her glasses, deeply interested. " I hope it isn't charged. " Cih dear, no," Nenci laughed, taking it in his hand. "I've brought it heio to. show how the mechanism is contrived," and l>enttino- towards her,- he opened its malachite bate, showing the empty receptacle for the explosive compound, the hole for the tiny tube of acid, and the small clockwurkmechauism no larger than a watch, imbedded 'deeply in cotton wool,' so as to be noiseless. Standing at the table, he glanced keer.ly from one to the other as he explained iis working. As he handled the bust tender./ his keen black eyes seemed to shine with ;.v evil light. When ke had concluded he replaced t! \ mechanical portions he had removed anxi