Evening star., 1897-06-12

1
a. 1t was. some fragments OF the bark III
upon the after deck as they fell headlong
from the dark night sky above.
bridge and took Capt. Kettle BY the hand.
| this"
And she looked at him with eyes that
cess.
~. II am earning my pay" said Kettle.
"Pah" she said. Don't let money come
| between us. l cannot bear to think Of you
in connection with sordid things like that
put you on higher plane. Captain" she
said. and turned her head away. Il shall
choose man like you for a husband"
Kettle: "but-there may be others like me-
There are not"
Then you must be content with the
nearest you can get"
Donna Clotilde stamped her foot upon
the planking of the bridge.
You are dull" she cried.
No he said. II have my clear sight,
miss. Won't You go below. now, and get
| spell OF sleep? Or will you give me your
| orders f1rst?"
NO" she answered. 'T will not. We
must settle This matter first. You have a
| wife in England, know but that is moth
| ing Divorce is simple here. I have infiu-
ence; you could be set free In a day. Am
| not the woman you would chooseT'
Miss La Touche. you are my employer"
answer my question"
Then. miss, If you will have it. you are
| not
But why? Why? Give me your rea-
sons! You are brave. Surely have shown
courage, too. Surely you must admire
that?
II like men for mems work, miss"
But that is an exploded notion. Women
nave got to take their place. They must
show themselves the equals of men in
everything"
But you see. miss" said Kettle, 81 pre-
fer to be linked to lady who is my su-
rcYfN r
pleases you, we had better end this talk. !"
NO, said Donna CIotide. "it has got to
De settled one way OF the other. You know
wnat want; marry me as soon you are
power. 1 will make you rich: 1 will make
you famous. Chile shall be at our feet:
the world shall bow to u.s."
sigh; - .
Then marry me-"
With due respect, will not" said the
little man.
You know you are speaking to a woman
who Is not accustomed to be thwarted"
Captain Kettle bowed
Then you will either do as l wish or
leave this chip. give you an hour to con-
You will fiEd my second mate the best
navigating officer left" said Kettle and
Donna Clotilde without further words left
the bridge.
He waited for a decent interval and then
sighed ard gave orders. The men on deck
obeyed him with quickness. A pair of
ooat davlts were swung outboard and the
boat pfentifully victualed and its water
breakers filled. The Cancelarios engines
We're stopped. and the tackles screamed as
the boat was lowered to the water and
rode there at the end of its painter. Cap
tain Kettle left the bridge in charge of lis
nrst ofncer and went below. He found the
lady sitting In the commanders cabin, with
head pillowed upon her arms.
lou stiil wish me to go, miss?" he said.
II you will not accept what is offered"
am sorry,' said the little sailor very
sorry. II I'd met you, MISS before 1 Jaw
Mrs Kettle and If you'd been a bit differ
ent: i! believe 1 could have liked YOU But
She leaped to her feet, with eyes that
blazed. Co." she cried. Go, or I will
call upon some of those fellows to shoot
you
They will do 1t cheerfully if you ask
tnem. said Kettle. and DID not bulge.
She sank down on the sofa again with
wall. "Oh, CO." she crIed "if You are a
man, go, and never let me see you again"
Captain Kettle bowed and went out en-
deck. A little later he was alone in the
quarterboat. The Cancelario was drawing
fast away from him into the night. and the
boat danced In the cream of her wake,
"Ah. well.' he said to himself, there's
another good chance gone for good and
always. What cantankerous beggar
ami! And then for q moment his thoughts
went elsewhere, and he got out paper and
stump of pencil and briskly scribblcd an
elegy to some poppies in a cornfeld. The
lines had just fitted gracefully from his
mind, and they seemed far too comely 10
be allowed chance Of escape. 1t was
movement characteristic Of his uueerly
ordered brain. After the more ugly mo-
ways turned to the making Of verse as an
instructive relief