Telegram-herald., 1890-01-25

The Neat Way in Which Madge
Captured the Robbers

Aafr bA IeNt7--tf t4T 4 4 - a. lA l--Art 50
J suppose I must b. of, bat I wish 20
goodness yoI had let rae chuck tbe
whole thing over when I spoke about u
thts morning; hate leaving YOU all by
yourself Well, az any rate, shan't be
late"
50 spoks BERTHE Hepbura. TIA owner
% tho yacht Cormoraut. ss smart 4
schooner as ever few the white ensign.
- his wife, who was standing rather
disconsolately a. the door OF the main
cabin, while her husband struggled into
a huge ollskln-coat, preparatory 10 60
inz ashore.
Il was a Wild night, dark as pitch. tho
rain Was falling in torrents, and an icy
wind, blowing straight from the
Apennines, did not make matters more
comfortable. The COrmorant had been
weather-boInd IN the haroor OF Port
Ercole, an unimportant town about
eighty miles north of Civita Necchis,
for nearly week; there was absolutely
nothing 70 be seen there. but the harbor
Was good one, and tina weather outside
vas decidedly dirty
They had been cruising for about
three months in ths Mediterranean, and
meant % prolong the cruise till spring
BERTHE Hepburn vas man who. happy,
and contented everywhere. was never so
happy as on board his own yacht. and
he was more fortunate than many yacht
owners in ono respect. inasmuch as his
wife, pretty. charming Madge Hepburn,
vas as devoted 20 seafaring lie as he
was himself.
She had not even grumbled over their
forced detention at Fort Ercole. as so
many women would have done, and IL
was she who had insisted on BERTHE
keeping his engagement % dine with
the Fice-COnsul on Christmas Eve. That
unfortunate gentleman, whose life,
passed among a people with whom he
had nothing in common, was one round
o' dun routine, was delighted to well
come tina owner OF any stray Yacht
driven by stress OF weather into the
snug haven OF Port Ercole, and, on tho
arrival OF tho Cormorant, had come on
board in state 20 bid them to a dinner
az tho shabby house dignifed by the
name OF Her Britannia Majesty's Vice
Consulate. Madge had sent an excuse,
a perfectly true one, that bad cold
prevented her coming ashore in such
weather, but she would not hear OF her
husband also throwing over his en-
gagement.
Il shall bs all right, BERTHE" she
said. Il have no end OF letters to write,
and you won't be late" There was an
utter absence OF joviality about the
meal, and she got through it as quickly
as possible. much TO the secret Joy OF
the steward. who had his own plans for
HIS evenings amusement on hand.
IF you please. ma'sm," said he, as he
cleared tie things away, Il should like
20 60 ashore this evening, II you have
no objection
"Oh. no, certainly you are welcome 70
60"
II you please. ua'am," s1id her maid
FIVE minutes afte-ward. "the captain
says there are great doings IN the ca
thedral tonight, and he viii take mo
ashore % have : look at them IL you
don't want me-
NO, you can 60 by al means, Dunno"
said her mistress; "but I'm afraid you'll
get very wet landing
Their departure in the dinghey fve
minutes after seemed 20 leave tho yacht
wonderfully quiet. There was not
sound TO be heard but the drip Of the
rain on deck and tho moaning OF tho
wind I'm the rigging. The sailors were
al snug IN the foc sie, but TO sound ot
voices came frou thence. and the good
ship Cornorant m iEht have been dere-
lict as FAR ss any lfe on board was con-
cerncd.
Madve Hepburn. Who WAS both i'm
questionable and Imaginative. was I'm
pressed by the stiffness in spite ~ her
self I've must keep each other COM
panv. Cheviot. " said she 20 Tho big black
and IAN sbeep-dog who lay asleep on tho
cabin foor. b1t no refused absolutely %
enter irto co0ve-sation; his manner
showed decidedly that he did not wish
% 10 Disturbed. and. an h,s mistress
would not 3o~s,. IA got up sulkilT,
stretched himself half a dozen times.
s-i slowly and hoaviiy la7chod ont q
'ho cabin. anf ND the companion. while
a fhnuo overhead , minute la+e- toif
W-s Hepburn ho preferred the cold a7d
wet on der < to hor sos'etv. Tho s'ili-
ness seemed uo-e remarkable now
Cha~iot hsd a't her and sha had nos
noticed before haw r-i y tre cabin 3 "A
T-ap-n. bad re steDari been on board
sr0 u,-r 8 hare had che stove rai iEh .'3.
bus she dI5 r1t care 90 .4ro Tho sail
r--. So could zas - Toth ns.
t-, rrttr-e wee noe -o 1e