Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-08-24


May Riley Smith in Wide Awake.
QUELLING A MUTINY.
"Am fond of yachting? Well, no,
can't say that I am, although 1 once
owned as pretty craft as ever flew
pennant. l made but one cruise, and
the experience of that trip was of such
nature that bade farewell to salt water
and pleasure craft for good and all.
lost my heart, however, before 1 got
through with it; and as it has been a mat
ter of considerable speculation among
my friends as to just how won the best
woman OH Garth, l don't mind telling
you the story, if you are all so inclined"
1t was at the Hoffman, in the cele-
brated 'pink room," that the popular
and genial Harry Lacy was entertaining
member of his club friends and old as
sociates. He had lately returned from
Europe, where he had been absent two
years or more; and upon his return to
the shores of his native land had brought
with him, to the no small astonishment
of his intimate acquaintance, "a bride pos
sessing both beauty and rare accomplish
ments, to share his love and the ample
fortune that he had inherited.
Settling back into the depths of his
luxurious chair, and lighting fresh
cigar, the host, amid general chorus of
eager assent, began his story:
l was beginning to weary Of Paris,
and had lost all interest i'll the gay city,
when it was proposed one evening to
drop into De Morcerf's, q fashionable
gambling resort, where one was almost
certain of meeting the leading celebrities
of the gay city.
1t was late when we arrived; the rooms
were crowded with tables running, sur
rounded by jostling throng intent upon
the turn of IL card OF the twirling of Il
ball.
The center of attraction, however,
clustered around a young Irish noble
man who had been going at a rapid pace
for some time, and whose escapades had
been the talk of Paris for the past month.
Poor fellow! | shall never forget the
pale and haggard expression his hand
some features bore that night. 1t had
been whispered that he had about az
rived at the end of his resources, and the
crash could not be much longer averted.
He was the owner of yacht possessing
great speed, unrivaled for sea qualities,
while tho cabins and appointments We're
reputed to be something more than lux
urious and ornate. The stakes had been
large, the bank had been winning, and
the gamblers eyes glittered with excite
ment. His hand trembled as he made
bet after bet, only to see the gold raked
over to the care of the imperturbable
croupier.
Pushing his chair back, he wiped the
perspiration from his brow as he hoarsely
lnuttered:
"My yacht is worth G10,G00, and is a
bargain at that figure. She is lying at
Cowes, fitted out complete for a years
cruise. l will pledge her against the
amount named"
The proprietor never hesita ted, and
while tapping IL gold snuffbox bearing
the medallion of Louis XIV podded
gravely to his antagonist. A hushed,
almost painful, stiffness settled upon
that immediate circle, and with breath
less interest the result was looked for.
1t was not long deferred. The bank
won, and the desperate CANISTER arose
from the table Il ruined man. Five min
utes later a pistol shot rang out, alarm
ing the patrons of the place: the gen
darmes filed III, and the corpse of the
nob1eman was taken to the morguc.
The affair made tremendous stir,
with public sentiment running high
against the proprietor of the gilded den,
so much SO that the polite Frenchlnan
gladly disposed of the yacht to me for
ridtculously small sum, glad to rid him.
self of the elephant at almost any figure.
proceeded at once to Cowes to take
possession Of my new purchase, ana to
my great disappointment found thai
the crew had dispersed. No one vas
on board but the steward who had l0.l2
been In the employ of his late unfortu-
nate master
l was fortunate i'll running across 4
bright young fellow at the American
consuls, whom l engaged at once a>
master. He had been left behind, sick
in the hospital, and was looking for Il
chance as mate when | appeared upon
the scene. His name was CroWell-Frcd
Crowell-and. like most OF his nalue-
sakes, was Il thorough seaman, and IL
man every inch Of him. We struck a
bargain at once, and leaving all the de-
tails in Crowell'a hands to get every
thing ready for IL cruise up the Mediter-
ranean, | departed for Paris to arrange
a pleasant party to accompany me on
the trip.
One of my friends. who was COM
PEELED to back out at the last moment
on account OF urgent business, made a
strong appeal i'll behalf of relative
an old gentleman, u widower, having no
one to care for OF caress him but his
daughter, Isabel Raymond, a beautiful
girl, whose rare devotion and lovely
traits of character impressed me at
once.
I must confess that did not view
favorably my friends proposition, for l
had no intention Of receiving ladies on
board, but as he put it urgently on the
basis OF personal favor, finally con-
sented, not without a shade of annoy
ance in my manner.
All were delighted with the yacht, and
everything was pronounced perfect on
board, from the azure silken hangings
and upholstery in the cabins to the ma
hogany carriages and brass howitzers
ornamenting the snow white deck of the
handsome craft.
The yacht had been out, think, about
four days, and all of us We're beginning
to get our sea legs on, when Captain
Crowell knocked at my stateroom door,
just after breakfast, and requested a
private interview. His usually bright