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sometimes；〃 he interpolated； with an apologetic smile； 〃trifle with
the Muse。 Perhaps I ought not to use the word 'trifle' in
connection with a composition of a threnodial and dirge…like
character；〃 he continued deprecatingly。 〃Certainly not in the
presence of a gentleman as accomplished and educated as yourself；
to whom recreation of this kind is undoubtedly familiar。 My
occupations have been； unfortunately； of a nature not favorable to
the indulgence of verse。 As a college man yourself； my dear sir；
you will probably forgive the lucubrations of an old graduate of
William and Mary's； who has forgotten his 'ars poetica。' The
verses you have possibly glanced at are crude； I am aware； and
perhaps show the difficulty of expressing at once the dictates of
the heart and the brain。 They refer to a dear friend now at peace。
You have perhaps； in happier and more careless hours； heard me
speak of Mrs。 Euphemia M'Corkle； of Illinois？〃
Hurlstone remembered indistinctly to have heard； even in his
reserved exclusiveness on the Excelsior； the current badinage of
the passengers concerning Senor Perkins' extravagant adulation of
this unknown poetess。 As a part of the staple monotonous humor of
the voyage； it had only disgusted him。 With a feeling that he was
unconsciously sharing the burlesque relief of the passengers； he
said； with a polite attempt at interest；
〃Then the lady isno more？〃
〃If that term can be applied to one whose work is immortal；〃
corrected Senor Perkins gently。 〃All that was finite of this
gifted woman was lately forwarded by Adams's Express Company from
San Juan； to receive sepulture among her kindred at Keokuk； Iowa。〃
〃Did she say she was from that place？〃 asked Hurlstone； with half
automatic interest。
〃The Consul says she gave that request to the priest。〃
〃Then you were not with her when she died？〃 said Hurlstone
absently。
〃I was NEVER with her； neither then nor before；〃 returned Senor
Perkins gravely。 Seeing Hurlstone's momentary surprise； he went
on； 〃The late Mrs。 M'Corkle and I never metwe were personally
unknown to each other。 You may have observed the epithet 'unmet'
in the first line of the first stanza； you will then understand
that the privation of actual contact with this magnetic soul would
naturally impart more difficulty into elegiac expression。〃
〃Then you never really saw the lady you admire？〃 said Hurlstone
vacantly。
〃Never。 The story is a romantic one；〃 said Perkins； with a smile
that was half complacent and yet half embarrassed。 〃May I tell it
to you？ Thanks。 Some three years ago I contributed some verses to
the columns of a Western paper edited by a friend of mine。 The
subject chosen was my favorite one； 'The Liberation of Mankind；' in
which I may possibly have expressed myself with some poetic fervor
on a theme so dear to my heart。 I may remark without vanity； that
it received high encomiumsperhaps at some more opportune moment
you may be induced to cast your eyes over a copy I still retain
but no praise touched me as deeply as a tribute in verse in another
journal from a gifted unknown； who signed herself 'Euphemia。' The
subject of the poem； which was dedicated to myself； was on the
liberation of womenfromerI may say certain domestic shackles；
treated perhaps vaguely； but with grace and vigor。 I replied a
week later in a larger poem； recording more fully my theories and
aspirations regarding a struggling Central American confederacy；
addressed to 'Euphemia。' She rejoined with equal elaboration and
detail； referring to a more definite form of tyranny in the
relations of marriage； and alluding with some feeling to
uncongenial experiences of her own。 An instinct of natural
delicacy； veiled under the hyperbole of 'want of space；' prevented
my editorial friend from encouraging the repetition of this
charming interchange of thought and feeling。 But I procured the
fair stranger's address； we began a correspondence； at once
imaginative and sympathetic in expression； if not always poetical
in form。 I was called to South America by the Macedonian cry of
'Quinquinambo！' I still corresponded with her。 When I returned to
Quinquinambo I received letters from her； dated from San Francisco。
I feel that my words could only fail； my dear Hurlstone； to convey
to you the strength and support I derived from those impassioned
breathings of aid and sympathy at that time。 Enough for me to
confess that it was mainly due to the deep womanly interest that
SHE took in the fortunes of the passengers of the Excelsior that I
gave the Mexican authorities early notice of their whereabouts。
But； pardon me；〃he stopped hesitatingly； with a slight flush； as
he noticed the utterly inattentive face and attitude of Hurlstone；
〃I am boring you。 I am forgetting that this is only important to
myself；〃 he added； with a sigh。 〃I only intended to ask your
advice in regard to the disposition of certain manuscripts and
effects of hers； which are unconnected with our acquaintance。 I
thought； perhaps； I might entrust them to your delicacy and
consideration。 They are here； if you choose to look them over； and
here is also what I believe to be a daguerreotype of the lady
herself； but in which I fail to recognize her soul and genius。〃
He laid a bundle of letters and a morocco case on the table with a
carelessness that was intended to hide a slight shade of
disappointment in his faceand rose。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Hurlstone； in confused and remorseful
apology； 〃but I frankly confess that my thoughts WERE preoccupied。
Pray forgive me。 If you will leave these papers with me； I promise
to devote myself to them another time。〃
〃As you please；〃 said the Senor； with a slight return of his old
affability。 〃But don't bore yourself now。 Let us go on deck。〃
He passed out of the cabin as Hurlstone glanced； half mechanically；
at the package before him。 Suddenly his cheek reddened； he
stopped； looked hurriedly at the retreating form of Perkins； and
picked up a manuscript from the packet。 It was in his wife's
handwriting。 A sudden idea flashed across his mind； and seemed to
illuminate the obscure monotony of the story he had just heard。 He
turned hurriedly to the morocco case； and opened it with trembling
fingers。 It was a daguerreotype； faded and silvered； but the
features were those of his wife！
CHAPTER VIII。
HOSTAGE。
The revolution of Todos Santos had to all appearances been effected
as peacefully as the gentle Liberator of Quinquinambo could have
wished。 Two pronunciamientos； rudely printed and posted in the
Plaza； and saluted by the fickle garrison of one hundred men； who
had； however； immediately reappointed their old commander as
Generalissimo under the new regime； seemed to leave nothing to be
desired。 A surging mob of vacant and wondering peons； bearing a
singular resemblance to the wild cattle and horses which
inte