The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-13

most remarkable attributes of Capt.
Owen Kettle that, whatever clrcum-
stances might betlde, he was always
neat and trim in his personal appearance
Even in most affluent hours he had never
been able to afford an expensive talioi ;
indeed. it is much to be doubted IL uullhs
all his life he ever bought scrap ol rai-
ment anywhere except at reau! n'
establishment, but in spite or lhls' his
clothes were always conspicuously WSii
fitting, carried the creases IN eAactS tue
Mace. and seemed to the critlcal ohlooheF
to be capable of Improvement on no one
noint whatsoever. He looked spruce even
in oilskins and thigh boots
Of course being a sailor, he was handy
with his needle. l have seen him take
n white drill jacket, torn TO ribbons IN a
rouo hand tumble with mutnouS mem
hers of his crew. and tine-draw the rents
So wonderfully that all traces of the dis
aster were completely lost. / believe, too,
no was capable of taking a roll of mate
rial and cutting it out with his knife up
on the deck planks and fabricating gar
ments alb initio, and. though never ac-
tually saw him 40 this with my own eyes,
I did hear that the clothes he appeared
in ut Valparaiso were so made, ana L
marveled Mt their neatness. 1t was Just
after his disastrous adventure IN CUBA;
he trod the streets in state of utter Pc
cuniary 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
tons were the usual miracle of perfec-
ton. and even his tiny canvas shoes
had not SO much as a smudge upon Their
nine CLAW Indeed, ln the first instance,
T think it must have been this spruce
ness and nothing else which made him
find favor in the eyes of so fasudlous
person as Clotilda Ia 1ouche.
But be this as it may, it is fact that
Donna Clotilda 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 to make his acquaintance. The en-
yov was instructed 10 find out who he
was. and contriye that Donna Clotilde
should meet the little sailor at dinner in
the cafe Of the Lion a Or that very EVEN
ing.
The dinner was given in the patio Of
moonbeams, and firefies competed with
the electric lights. and at a moderate
computation of the cost of the ylands
would have kept Capt. Kettle supplied
with HIS average rations for ten months
or wear. He was quite aware of this,
and appreciated the entertainment none
The worse in consequence. Even the cham
pacne. highly sweetened to suit the
South American palate, came most pleas
antly to him. He liked champagne &C
eording to its lack of dryness, and this
was the sweetest wine that had ever
passed his Fps.
The conversation during that curious
meal ran in phases With the hours q
aauvres came a course of ordinary civil
:ties. 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. a spasm of politics shook the
diners like an ague. OF a sudden one OF
the men recollected himself, looked to
this side and that with scared face, and
ranned the table with his knuckles.
Ladies'" he said imploringy, land Sc
nors. the heat is great. 1t may be danger
GUS"
"Pah,' said Donna Clotilde, I'VE are
talking in English
(Which other people besides ourselves
understand even in Valparaiso
Let them isten,'' said Capt. Kettle.
81 hold the same opinion on politics as
Miss La Touche here, since she mas eA.
planned to me how things really are, ana
I don't care who knows that ! think the
present government and the whole sys-
tenn rotten. / am not in the hapit OF
putting my opinions in words, MI. silva
and being frightened Of people hearing
them"
you" said the cautious man drlly
sshaye little to lose here, captain Donna
.Clotilde has much should be very sorry
to read in my morning paper that she mao
died from apoplexy, and the arsemcal va
riety, during the course OF the preceding
night"
.Pooh,'' said Kettle, they could never
do that" e.,
..As a resident of Chile" returned Sill
va. .slet me venture to Disagree with you
.captain. 1t is disease to when ahe op
ponents of Pres Quijerra are singuiaris
addicted whenever they snow any
marked political activity. The palm tree
in this patio nave a Iepu'"o.i' |.
being phenomenally long-eared. 90 II
pleases you all, suppose we go OUT Oh LIZ
roof The moon will afford us fine pros
meet. and the air up there is repute'
healthy He picked up Donna Clotllde
fan and mantilla. The other two iadle
rose to their feet; Donna Clotilde, with
slight frown of reluctance did the same am,
and they all moved off toward the STAR
way. Silva laid OBTAINING fingers upoi
Capt. Kettles arm.
Captain" he said, IF | may give yo'
"a friendly hint, slip away now ana go L
your quarters"
Il fancy, SIR said Capt. Kettle, tina
Miss La Touehe has employment to OF
fer me-"
IF she has" retorted Silva, which
< doubt, it will not be employment yo'
will care about
II am what they call here on tn