Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-04-12

ing, schoOl-bOy hand to "Mr. Erie" 1t
| contained these words
SIR:-The Fair Island is not good for
your Health, and your Presence is not de-
sired. You may take ten Days TO make
your Arrangements for Departure: but il
after the Expiration Of that Time you are
stu here, you are as certain as you are
living to meet with a serious if not fatal
Accident.
"A PRESENT FRIEND BUT A POTENTIAL
FOE"
''Pleasantr' 1 thought after reading this
precious missive over a second and third
time. "The queen refuses to let me go;
and II | stay | am to be murderedp'
CHAPTER XXI.-A DANCING LESSON.
I hate anonymous letters. You can
never tell what to make of them-whether
they are Jest or earnest, whether the writer
really means what he says, or is merely
amusing himself at your expense. The
letter had just received looked like a
grim joke; for who could suppose that it
was possible for me to get away in ten
days, even though the queen and the Coun-
Gil of Nine were as willing TO let me go, as
they were VIGOROUSLY unwilling It was
hardly conceivable that | had made an
enemy already, and l could think of no.
body who had an interest in fastening my
departure.
Yes, ii must be a joke; and yeti felt
that there might be something in it, after
all. But if the rascally writer Of the letter
thought TO brighten me, he was mistaken.
His threat should not force me to leave the
island a day sooner than suited my con-
Yenience, even though were at full liberty
TO leave. and the means of leaving were at
my disposal.
Had | merely consulted my inclinations,
and been able TO inform my mother of my
whereabouts and safety, | should have
been quite content to make a long stay in
she island. Queen Nab and her piebald
people interested me much, and | wanted
to see more Of them. But the Diana"
was long past due at MontevideO; unless
she was soon heard of, the owners and I'M
derwriters must needs conclude that she
was lost, with all on board and my moth
er, who had only me, would be well-nigh
heart-brOken 1t was moreover, my duty
to inform poor Mrs Peyton, and the other
friends of those who had persisted, so soon
rs might be, of the fate that had befallen
them; and could not forget that the long
er | was absent from Liverpool the more
difficult should find it to obtain a situa-
ton when got back. Out of sight is out
of mind; and if people began to think me
dead. they would forget me altogether.
Yet what could ! do? 1t seemed that
without the queens help could do moth
ing. For aught ! knew, the nearest port
whore it would be possible to obtain
pas "a &c for Europe or the West Indies
might be hundreds of miles away. An
other VOYAGE in the DIANA" was out of
the question; but if Nab could be persuade
ed to give me an idea of the latitude and
longitude of the island, and lend me the
"Sunfower' and her crew, the thing
might be done. 1t would be asking great
deal, since, apart from her own wishes, she
could not send her yacht on a distant vOy-
age without running counter TO the pre-
JUDGES Of her people and the injunctions
of that remarkable ancestor of hers whose
will, though he had been dead Il century,
seemed to be still their law Yet it was
my only chance, and if went on as had
begun, and continued to please her, |
might eventually win her consent to my
project.
On the other hand, felt that 1t would
be II mistake to hurry matters, to weary
her by Importantly, or appear over-eager
to get away. | must wait for n favorable
opportunity to prOffer my request, and it
would be well, if could, to insure her
help by placing her under an obligation.
My cue. in short, was patience and polite
ness.
Should | say anything to her-or any
body else-about the anonymous letter.
On the whole, | thought not If it were
hoax, should only by so doing expose my
self to ridiculc; while if an enemy were the
writer | should be putting him on his
guard and making him think that | was
afraid. Better keep my own counsel and
watch and wait.
As the note had come through the post
q did not know before that the island pos
sesscd post, had no clew to the identity
Of the sender. 1t was n mystery, and, for
the present must remain Il mystery.
My next concern was us to how | should
attire myself for the queens ball. The
evening-drcss of Europe was not the even
ing-dress of Fair Island. The latter was a
modification Of the costume in vogue in
the time of George II. and Sir Robert Wal
pole; and as the islanders had a weakness
for bright Colors, | did not take kindly to
the idea Of appearing Mt festive enter
tainment in a suit of black, n color which
they reserved exclusively for mourning.
In this dilemma consulted Field.
"A black coat and of that peculiar shape,
too, would certainly make you sadly con-
spicuous-I might almost say ridiculous"
he said, when showed him my swallow
tail, land the queen might think you had
mistaken her dance for a funeral Have
you nothing a little less somber-a uni
form, for instanccH
81 have my uniform as captain in a vol
untecr rifle corps" (Mypoor mother made
me bring it, rather against my own wish.
Officers in foreign countries always wear
their uniforms she said. and might find
mine useful; SO brought it,
where is it?"
"In one of the boxes which came up
from the DIANA an hour ago"
Wear il, by all MEANS" advised my
host, when he had seen the uniform.
Nothing could be better; and the queen,
who has never seen an English uniform,
will take it aS n com Aliment. She takes
great interest in everything that concerns
the old country, and that rel coat will
match well with your-chcstnut hair"
The point being settled we went to the
cock-hght. which look place In a public pit
not far from Mr.. Fields house. A number
Of mains were fought, and many birds
killed. At the outset | was rather dis
gusted, but after awhile | became as ex-
cited rs the rest. had never seen n main
fought before, and | understood for the
first time why the sport had been so at
tractive for our ancestors, and its suppress
sion so iiflicultto enforce. Nobody showed
more excitement or followed the fortunes
OF the various fights with keener enjoy
meut than Queen Nab.
"A fine old English sportr' she observed
to me, when the tournament came to an
end. Il hope YOU have enjoyed it."
at was an English sport once, but now,
like bull and bear-bailing, it is obsolete
and illegal-fOrbdden by law"
Forbidden by law But why' What
can there be wrong in it' Not having bulls
and bears, we can bait neither the one nor
the other. But cock-fEhtinCl You sur
prise me- Mr.. Erie. What is England COM
ing to'"
"That is what a good many people used
TO ask when the sport was abolished 1t
was considered that we had no right to
make the lower animals destroy each other
for our amusement"
Excuse me. sir, but that is surely a very
drivelinC argument You kill the lower
animals to satisfy your appettes. yet You
will not let them fight to make YOU diver
sion. Besides. the birds like il; would not
you. If you were game-cock, rather die
fighting than have your neck wrung and
be put in potf'
Certainly. But there were other OBJ