Evening star., 1897-06-12

gardens they leaned their elbows upon the
parapet and talked. while the glow from
the street below family lit their faces, and
the fref1ies winked behind tEeir backs.
thank you. captain. for your offer. -
she said. at length. and accept it as free
~ as 1t was given. I have had proposals of
similar service before, but they came from
the wrong sort 1 wanted a man, and
found out that you were that before you
had been at the dinner table five minutes -
Capt. Kettle bowed to the compliment.
But" said he. IF am that, 1 have all of
q mans failings"
Il like them better" said the lady, "than
half mans virtues. And as a proof Of
fer you command of my navy"
Your navy, miss"
1T has yet to be formed" said Donna
CIot1lde. "and you must form 1t. But once
we make the nucleus. other ships Of the
existing force will desert to US, and with
those we must fight and beat the rest
Once we have the navy, we can lombard
the ports into submission till the country
thrusts out President Quijarra of its own
accord and sets me up In his place.
"Oh." said Kettle. Il didn't understand.
Then you want to be queen of ChiIe?'
PRESIDENT
But president is a man. isn't her.
WI by? Answer me that"
been. miss
Because men up to now have always
taken the best things to themselves Well.
captain, all that is changing; the world is
way In and taking their proper place. You
say that no state has yet had a woman
president? You are quite right. I shall be
the first
Capt. Kettle puckered his brow and look
ed thoughtfully down into the lighted street
beneath. But presently he made up his
mind, and spoke again: I'll accept your
oHer. miss, 10 command the navy, and III
Although l say it myself, you'd find it hard
10 get better man. l know the kind of
brutes one has to ship as seamen along this
South American coast. and I'm the sort CT
Drute I 70 handle them By James. yes. and
you shall see me make them do most
Things. snort Of miracles. But there's one
other thing, miss. l ought to saw. and 7
must apologize for mentioning It, seeing
sa snat you're not business person. 1 must
nave my f12 month. and all found. I
know It's lot. and know you'll tell me
wages are down just now. But I couldn't
90 IT for less. miss. Commanding a nayy's
q strons order, and. besides. there's con-
s'derable risk to be counted in as we'll
Donna Clotilde took his hand in both
hers. Il thank you, captain" she said
Tor your offer. and begin to see success
ahead from this moment. You need have
no FEAR on rhe question of Remuneration. +"
Il hope you didn't mind my mentioning
II, said Kettle nervously. 'I know IT'S
not thing generally spoken of to ladies,
s' snI' you see, miss. I'm a poor man, and
feel the need of money sometimes. Of
course. f12 month is high, but"
My dear captain" the lady broke in
what you ask is moderation itself: and
believe me. | respect you for 1t, and will
not forget. Knowing who 1 am. no other
man in Chile would have hesitated to ask
-sne had on her tongue to say-"a hundred
times as much,' but suppressed that and
SAD more. But In the meantime" said
she. will you accept this f1OO note for any
current expenses which may occur to
you?'
A little. old. ereen-painted bark lay hove
to under sail. disseminating the scont of
enano through the sweet tropical day. Un-
der her square counter the name Ell Almi-
rante Cochrane appeared in clean white
lettering. The long south Pacific swells
lifted her lazily from hill to valley of the
blue water. to the accompaniment of
squealins gear and a certain groanina of
fabric The Chilean coast lay afar off as a
white feathery line against one fragment
of the sea rim.
The green-painted bark was old. For
many weary year had she carried ptano
from rainless Chilean islands to the ports
OF Europe; and though none Of that un.
savory cargo at present festered beneath
her matches. though, indeed, she was in
shingle ballast and had her holds scrubbed
down and fitted with hunks for men. the
aroma OF it had entered into the very soul
of her fabric. and not all the washings of
the sea could remove 1t.
A white whale boat lay astcrn, riding to
grass rope painter. and Senior Carlos
Silva, whom the whale boat had brouaa,t
on from the Chilean beach. sat In the
bark's deckhouse talking to Captain Ket-
tie.
The senorita viii be very disappointed. %
said Silva.
II can imagine her disappointment" re-
turned the sailor. II can measure 1t By
my own. I can tell you. sir. when saw
this fll-smelling old wind jammer wait
ing for me in Callao could have sat down
right where I was and cried. I'd got my
men together. and I guess I'd talked big
about FL Alm4rante Cochrane, the fine new
armored cruiser we were to do wonders in.
The only thing knew about her was the
Name. but Miss La Touche had promised
me the finest ship that could be got. and !
only described what thought Q really fine
ship would be. And then when the AGENT
stuck out his finger and pointed out thie
foul old violet bed tell you that It was q
bit Of q let-doWn."
There's been some desperate robbery
somewhere" said Silva.
1T didn't take me long to Ruess that s.
said Kettle. "and concluded the arent
was the thief, and started IN to take
out OF him without further talk. He hadn'i
Il q pistol. OulY liaAd INV he n1a ~.