_.

S------ merely acknowledged her letter and sent her L25. In another six
months he got a letter from Fiji. She was a governess there, she said,
at L75 a year. Much contrition and love, also, in this letter.

S------ sent another L25, and remarked that he would see her soon. Fate
one day sent him to take command of a steamer in Calcutta bound to Fiji
with coolies, thence to Noumea to load nickel ore. And all the way out
across the tropics S------'s heart was leaping at the thought of seeing
his lost love--and telling her that he hated her for her black frozen
treachery.

As soon as he had landed his coolies he cautiously set about discovering
the family with whom she lived. No one could help him, but a planter
explained matters: "I know the lady for whom you inquire, but she
doesn't go by that name. Ask any one about Miss ------, the barmaid. She
has gone to New Caledonia."

He asked, and learned that she was well known; and S------ wondered why
she had brought her beauty to such a climate as that of Fiji when it
would have paid her so much better to parade it in Melbourne.

The evening of the day on which his steamer arrived at Noumea a man
brought him a letter. He showed it to Chester.

My darling Will,--Thank God you have come, for surely you have come for
me--my heart tells me so. For God's sake wait on board for me. I will
come at eight. To live in this place is breaking my heart. Ever yours,
------

She came. He stood her kisses passively, but gave none in return, until
she asked him to kiss her. "When you are my wife," he said, evasively.
And then--she must have loved him--she burst out into passionate sobs
and fell at his feet in the quiet cabin and told him of her debased life
in Fiji. "But, as God hears me, Will, that is all past since your last
letter. I was mad. I loved money and did not care how I got it. I left
Fiji to come here, intending to return to Australia. But, Will, dear
Will, if it is only to throw me overboard, take me away from this hell
upon earth. For your sake, Will, I have resisted them here, although
I suffer daily, hourly, torture and insult. I have no money, and I am
afraid to die and end my sufferings."

Captain S------, speaking calmly and slowly, placed money in her hand
and said, "You must not see me again till the day I am ready for sea.
Then bring your luggage and come on board."

With a smothered sob bursting from her, despite the joy in her heart,
the woman turned and