The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-07-22
~ 4. DOYLE

IA mn Will uueStlOIS
10 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 l call 1t, n the franchise
10 all women who pay Queens taxes
above a certain sum. Surely there Is
nothing unreasonable in tnat. Nothing
which could offend your principles. We
shall have medicine, law, and the
church all rallying thot night for the
protection Of woman Is the navy to
be the n professi"N 0<ent?"
The Admiral jump~u 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. l won't deny
1t. But let,it stand at that. l will think
Ii 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-
mirai's voyages.
"Hullo!' said she. Surely this ship
would have furled 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, ! 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, n 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 1t was blowing a cyclone from the
sou'east. l compliment you, ma'am, /
DO indeed!'
"Oh, l 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-
"! That is the Andromeda. / was q
mate aboard Of Observation-Disclosures they
call it now, though l like the old name
best"
What a 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
his eyes %glistened. His old ships bor-
dered close upon his wife and his son
in his affections.
Il know Funchal," said the lady care
lessly. "A couple of years ago I had a
caN-an-tnn ait tlr -riCUal ynpht Tho pnn-
shee, and we ran over to MADEIRA from
Falmouth"
You, ma'am. in n seven-tonner?"
with a couple OF Cornish lads for a
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. / am fond of
horses, too, but what is there to COM
pare with the swoop of a little craft
as h pitches down the long steep side
Of Il wave, and then the CULVER and
spring as she is tossed upwards again?
oh, if our souls could transmigrate I'd
be q eamew above all birds that fly.
But | keep o Admiral. Adieu!"
The old sailor was too transported
with sympathy to say a word. He could
only shake her broad muscular hand.
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.
Il hear that you have had quite a
long chat with Mrs. Westmacott,' said
she.
Yes, and I hin that she is one of
the most sensible women that 1 ever
knew
Except on the woman's rights ques-
ton, of course"
"Oh. l don't know. She had a good
deal to say for herself on that also. In
fact, mother, / have taken a platform
ticket for her meeting"