AN OFFICIAL FRIEND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8002, 4 May 1904, Page 4

AN OFFICIAL FRIEND.

" Rheitmo," the marvellous medicine that readily .relieves. Rheumatism 1 , las made a friend in the Postal Department. Mr. T. Finch, Postmasteiv Geraldine, write?:— "l , have been troubled with Rheumatism for many years, and a friend of mine, residing , at Wellington knowing I wak bad sent me a bottlo of 'Rheumo,' which, afte. taking a dose or two promptly relieved tihe pain. ■Whenever! get a bad attack of the trouble I take two or three doses o_ 'Rheumo,' and the pain speedily goes. . Thank, to 'Rheumo' I am able to attend to any duties with regularity." Wholesale Agents, N.Z. Drug 00. ' . 6.

__H_ni^___-a__________B____a____B_ss__ara___rnT I feared now that I was the victim of some diabolical magic. I .tried to convince myself that I was ; fool, and that the likeness between th* woman and the picture was but a curiou*coincidence; but fche matter- would not let me rest. My hatred towards Corasti grew even intenser while, stranger still, I confused in my thoughts the living woman and the picture, and began to feel for the one tb* same intense admiration that I entertained for the latter, not distinguishing- that sh. was motfe than colours on wood. I hurry on. *pwo nights later I met Corasti in a place of public entertainment. It was still early in the evening. Each being alone, we conversed together, and he invited me to accompany him to a quiet cabaret that he knew where the wine and the table were good. 1 consented. The same kind of fascination that had previously worked on me prevented my refusing. I felt that I had, too, a personal interest in the matter. Very soon I began to drink heavily to conceal my feelings. .Corasti, who knew nothing of this, was friendly and lively. After supper he proposed cards. We placed, and the attendant, placing all that we needed near at hand, left us. Corasti won from me a large sum of money. Suddenly there arose a discussion abou. a card misdealt. I called him a liar. H< retorted hotly. We both rose. Then 1 dealt him a blow ; he raised his hand to strike me, but in an instant my dagger was out-yl did' not remember taking it with me— and Corasti lay at my feet with the great steel thing in his heart. He had died without a groan. The table and the floor were covered with cards, blood spatter© my clothes— the floor — the legs of the table. I felt easy, lighthearted. Quickly I wiped my hands and clothes with the dead man's handkerchief. Then I left the gold that, he had won from me on the table, and walked out of the house by a side door witboat being observed, I had no hesitation as to what I was going, to do. After walking through a few streets I hailed a public carriage and bade .the' 'driver take me to a house to which 1 directed him. . It was tbe residence of the man I had murdered. i There were lights on the ground floor, and a servant in livery opened to me. I dismissed my coach and asked to be announced to the Signora. It was now late, but after leaving me for a minute the man returned and bade me follow him. In a beautifully furnished salon, lighted only by a shaded lamp, sat Flora Corasti. As I entered she rose and gave me her hand. "You!" she said. We had never spoken, before. 'She had only seen me once' when 1 saluted "her husband in. the street. "Yes," I answered. "I have brought you news." " My husband is dead?" she asked. "He was killed half an hour ago." " Then you killed him. I guessed it would be so." . Tears rose to her eyes, but they were not tears of grief. "I hated him," she said. "I was forced to marry him by my parents-^-oh 1 bow I hated him!, He was cruel to me"." " I also hated him," I answered. " I know. I was the cause." "You?" "Yes. I. made up my mind that someone should v kill him. For very long this had been in my mind. I determined tbat someone should deliver me-*-should revenge me. I did not know who it would be, but whoever did it would earn my gratitude." She gave me her hand again, I took it and kissed it. "Nay, your love," I said. "It is. worth it,", she -answered. ' , . . She said all in a calm quiet voice, and I believed all she said. , Tb.en I spoke to her of my picture, and how I believed it had verily influenced me. She seemed not at all surprised. "Heaven also wished to help me," she exclaimed. "You have been good to me." "I love you," I cried. " You have freed me from a horror — from a living death." - Then our lips met in a long embrace. She lay in my arms, nor for long attempted to star. She was feeling the new freedom of her position. Then I spoke. "What will happen to us?" I asked. .■ * "Nothing," she whispered. "Wo shall remain here until the dawn. Then we shall take carriage and drive away from Rome — far, far away where we shall be safe." ■ We sat in the elegant room pressed close together, but speaking little until the silvery dawn stole in. Then she kissed me on the lips again, and rose. Quickly she went to another room, changed her drees, ! gathered together her jewels and some [ money, making a packet of them, and then [enveloped herself in a heavy cloak. ! "'Come,'' she said, and we stole together out of tbe house. •>Qn, on. we walked fearless and free, until we encountered one of the public coaches that plied for bare and was returning from a late engagement. This we stopped, and first bade the driver take us far beyond the city's limits. Then I helped the lady in, but as I. was stepping in myself a heavy hand was laid on my shoulder. I started and looked round, while a shriek broke from the Corasti's lips. With, a groan and a shudder I fell into the arms' of two of the Prince's officers. Our journey was ended. I repeat wpat I said in the beginning, that that which I have written is truth. And now I await my doom.