The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-13
Copyright, 1897. by s s Mcclure Coz


I think it may be taken as one of the
most remarkable attributes of Captain
Owen Kettle that, whatever circum-
stances might betide, he was always
neat and trim in his personal appear
ance. Even in the most affiuent hours
he had never been able to afford an
expensive tailor; indeed it is much to
be doubted if during all his life he ever
bought a scrap of raiment anywhere
exceput at a ready made establishment,
but in spite of this, his clothes were al
ways conspicuously well fitted, carried
the creases in exactly the right place,
and seemed TO the critical onlooker to
be capable of improvement in no one
point whatsoever. He looked spruce
even in oilslKins and thigh boots
OF course, being a sailor, he was
handy with his needle. l have seen
him take a white drill jacket, torn TO
ribbons in a rough and tumble with
mutinous members of his crew, ana
fine-draw the rents so wonderfully that
all traces of the disaster were com
pletely lost. l believe, too, he was cap
able of taking a roll of material and
cutting it out with a knife upon the
dock planks, and fabricating garments
alb initio, and though l never actually
saw him do this with my own eyes,
did hear that the clothes he appeared
in at Valparaiso were so made, and
marveled at their neatness. 1t was just
after his disastrous adventure in Cuba;
he trOd the streets in state OF utter
pecuniary restitution, his cheeks were
sunk and his eyes were haggard, but
the red torpedo beard was as trim as
ever; his cap was spic and span, the
white drill clothes with their brass but
he ira ole pf nRrfPp-
ton; and even his tiny canvas shoes
had not so much as a smudge upon
their pipe clay. Indeed, in the first in
stance, / think il must have been this
spruceness and nothing else which
made him find favor N the eyes of so
fastidious a person as Clotilde La
TOuche.
But be this as it may, it is a fact that
Donna CIotilde just saw the man from
her carriage as he walked along the
Paseo de Colon. promptly asked his
name, and getting no immediate reply,
dispatched one of her admirers there
and then he made his acquaintance.
The envoy was instructed to find out
who he was, and contrive that Donna
ClOtilde should meet the little sailor at
dinner in the cafe of the Lion d Or
that very evening.
The dinner was given in the patio of
the cafe, where palm-frOnds filtered the
moonbeams, and fire-flies competed
with the electric lights, and at moder-
ate computation the cost of the viands
would have kept Captain Kettle sup
piled with his average rations for ten
months or year. He was quite aware
of this, and appreciated the entertain
ment none the worse in consequence.
Even the champagne, highly sweetened
TO suit the South American palate,
came most pleasantly to him. He liked
champagne according to its lack of
dryness. and this was the sweetest
wine that had ever passed his lips
The conversation during that curious
meal ran in phases. With the hors d
oeuvres came course of ordinary civ
ilities; then for a space there rolled out
an photographed account of some of
Kettles exploits skilfully and painless
~ extracted by Donna Clotilde's naive
questions, and then with the cognac
and cigarettes, spasm of politics
shook the diners like an ague. OF a
sudden one of the men recollected him
self, looked TO this side and that with a
scared face, and raped the table with
his knuckles.
Ladies'" he said imploringly, and
Senores, the heat is great. 1t may be
dangerous.
"Pah," said Donna Clotilde. I'VE are
talking in English"
Which other people besides our
StiNtS uHuciSlduO. even III valparaiso.
Let them listen" said Captain Ket-
tie. Il hold the same opinion on poll
tics as Miss La TOuche here, since she
has explained to me how things really
are, and l don't care who knows that
l think the present government and the
whole system rotten. | am not in the
habit of putting my opinions in words
Mr. Silva. and being heightened of
people hearing them
You" said the cautious man. drily. |
have little to lose here, captain. |
Donna Clothilde has much. l should |
be very sorry to read in my morning |
paper that she had died from apoplexy. !
and the arsenical variety, during the |
course of the preceding night
Pooh" said Kettle, they could |
never do that"
As resident of Chile" returned |
Silva, let me venture to disagree with |
you, captain 1t is a disease to which |
the opponents of Pres Quijarra are sin |
gulaHy addicted whenever they show |
any marked political activity. The |
palm trees in this patio have a reputa- !
ton, too. for being phenOminaly long |
cared. SO if ii pleases you all, suppose
we go out on the.roof? The moon Will |
afford us fine prospect. and the cir
up there is reputed healthy" He picked |
up Donna Clothilde's fan and mantilla |
The other two ladies rose 10 their feet