The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-06-29
6I Il. CONAN DOYLE.

to him, bombarding him with questions
to none of which he could find an an
swer Couldn't even get the tompions
out of his guns" as he explained the
matter to the Doctor that evening.
"Now those are really the points that
we shall lay stress upon at the meet
ing. The free and complete opening Of
the professions, the final abolition of
the zenana I call it, and the franchise
to all women who pay Queens taxes
above a certain sum. Surely there is
nothing unreasonable in that. Nothing
which could offend your principles. We
shall have medicine, law, and the
church all rallying that night for the
protection of woman. Is the navy to
be the one profession absent?'
The Admiral jumped out Of his chair
with an evil word in his throat There,
there, ma am he cried. Drop it for
a time. l have heard enough. You've
turned me a point or two. 1 won't deny
it. But let it stand at that. 1 will think
it over"
Certainly, Admiral. We would not
hurry you in your decision. But we
still hope to see you on our platform. "
She rose and moved about in her loung
ing masculine fashion from one picture
to another, for the walls were thickly
covered with "reminiscences of the Ad
miraPs voyages.
"Hullop' said she. Surely this ship
would have furIed all her lower canvas
and reefed her topsails if she found her
self on a lee shore with the wind on her
quarter"
"Of course she would. The artist was
never past Gravesend, I swear It's the
Penelope as she was on the 18th of
June, 1857, in the throat of the Straits
of Banca, with the Island of Banca on
the starboard bow, and Sumatra on the
port. He painted it from description,
but, of course, as you very sensibly say;
all was snug below and she carried
storm sails and double-reefed topsails,
for it was blowing a cyclone from the
sou'east. I compliment you, ma'am, L
do indeed!'
"Oh, I have done a little sailoring
mySelf-aS much as a woman can as
pire to, you know. This is the Bay of
Funchal. What a lovely frigate!'
Lovely, you say! All, she was love-
ly That is the Andromeda. | was a
mate aboard of Observation-Disclosures they
call it now, though like the old name
best"
what lovely rake her masts have,
and what a curve to her bows! She
must have been a clipper"
The old sailor rubbed his hands and
bis eyes glistened. His old ships Dor
dered close upon his wife and his son
in his affections.
81 know Funchal," said the lady care
lessly. "a couple of years ago l had
seven-ton cutter-rigged yacht, the Ban
shee, and we ran over to Madeira from
Falmouth"
you, ma'am, in a seven-tonner?"
with a couple of Cornish lads for q
crew. oh, it was glorious! A fortnight
right out in the open, with no worries,
no letters, no callers, no petty thoughts,
nothing but the great silent sky. They
talk of riding, indeed, I am fond of
horses, too, but what is there to COM
pare with the swoop of little craft
as she pitches down the long steep side
of a wave, and then the culver and
spring as she is tossed upwards again?
Oh, if our souls could transmigrate I'd
be a seamew above all birds that fly!
But [ keep you, Admiral. Adieu!'
The old sailor was too transported
with sympathy to say word He could
OIlly SIdh6 ll6I DIOdu IluSCuIdE manu-.
She was half way down the garden path
before she heard him calling her, and
saw his grizzled head and weather.
stained face looking out from behind
the curtains.
You may put me down for the plat
FORM he cried, and vanished abashed
behind the curtain of his Times, where
his wife found him at lunch time.
II hear that you have had quite a
long chat with Mrs. Westmacott," said
she.
Yes, and I think that she is one of
the most sensible women that I ever
knew"
Except on the woman's rights ques-
ton of course"
"Oh, I don't know. She had a good
deal to say for herself on that also. In
fact, mother L have taken a platform
ticket for her meeting