The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-16

y
abaft of midships. There were no lives
lost. because the water was calm AMI
there were plenty of boats; but by the
time that Maddox had beached the
"Teya" Gust before she sunk) tho
cruisers mast-trucks had disappeared
for good beneath the blue ripples of the
Carribean sea. And all that the English
papers ever heard of the matter was
that a Spanish war-vessel had been
sunk by accidental collision.
Now, whether the authorities under-
stood the true inwardness of the mat.
ter, or whether they did not, it was
obvious that nothing could be gained
by making n row about il. The rebels
who were at the bottom Of it all were
under life-forfeit already, whenever
they could be caught, for the sin ot
rebellion; and as for the pestileftial
Eritishers who had been their agents.
they came of an awkward race to hang,
Their obnoxious government always in'
sists on such n lot OF money and time
being spent first in weary law proceed
ings. Besides, even IL (after some two
years of wrangling with London) the
three were strung up with oil cere'
mony, that wouldn't bring back the
cruiser; and the old ruin of steamer
which had done the mischief land
which wasn't worth couple of hun.
dred pounds) had been formally handed
over in recompense already. So THAI
on the whole, the authorities were very
glad to let the offenders-or the parti.
sans of the patriotic party, whichever
y ou please to term them-slip informal.
ly away, and they heartily hoped that
the islands of Cuba would never see the
shadow Of them again. Which view
suited the partners exactly. They had
got the money, and they were most
anxious to be back with 1t in New.
castle.
"well," said Fletcher, the evening
before they sailed, you'll get your
girl now, Mr.. Crackenthorpc; that's o
certain thing. / wonder" he added,
with n sigh, whether the skipper or
mes the one TO have luck with ouS
widow"
81 wonder" said Maddox.
The little man locked sympathetic-
ally Mt the pair of them. II am so sor
ry, you fellows" ne said. "You know
i like you both awfully, and ii seems
such beastly hard lines to think that
only one of you can get the woman you
want. Well, l suppose 1t can't be
helped, and the enc that gets left a
bachelor will have to come and stop
with Mrs. Plate and me when we're
married, and we'll try and cheer him
up"
The captain stared at his passenger
with goggling eyes. Fletcher stared
too, but Fletcher was the first to pull
himself together again. IL beg your
pardon he said, in dry voice, ''but
what did you say was the name of the
lady?"
"a Mrs. Plate, she is; / thought Id
mentioned it before. Lives down ut
,Cullercoats. Her first husband was
a purser in the merchant service; a
most business-like man. She's great
notion of a second husband who means
to get on In the world, and / think she II
help me TO do IL. needed" he added,
plaintively, business capacity. It's
been most awfully kind of you fellows
to say that have it."
Again there was silence, and again
Fletcher broke Il. His voice was by
no means natural. but he said steadily
what be had to say, md Maddox agreed
with him in labored mods. "Yes," he
said, "those characters we wrote were
true, and, as you seem SO set on them,
I'd like to write word or two more
to tell this-this Mrs. Plate that she'll
get no better man IL she wits till
Doomsday. I'm sorry Maddox and me
won't be at your wedding. but we've
concluded TO wait till our willow de-
cides to say which of us she wants.
We've don't want to sort of-er--
crowd her, you understand, SO we're not
going home at all just yet We're go
ing to run across by that Dago boat
TO Key West, and put in a bit of time
hunting and fishing till she's made up
her mind"
"But you won't drop out of sight.
will you?" said Craclsenthorpe, anx-
iously. you'll les me hear from
you?"
"You shall hear when either of us Is
fixed up with the widow" said Flctch-
er. Good night"
''Good night. old fellow. Good
night, Cappie," said the little man, with
O big handshake. Now remember,
that's a promise"
THE END.
Mra r.. Deyoupr. Middisbure. Ia. writes: