The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-09


OF temporary guests
The guests We're just then not at their
best A Jove would cease to be majestic
III ne were suffering from NAL de mer.
But Kettle was taking this into account;
ne was kindness itself in trying to coun-
teract the effect of wobble of sea; and he
had theory that If one keeps the mind
of the sufferer thoroughly interested, the
more material part of him ceases TO feel
lts Ills. And as a consequence ne tried TO
adapt himself to the particular style of
each of his guests.
To N. Camille Legrand he spoke upon
French politics as he himself had observ-
ed them through the light of harbor-side
conversations He did not profess to have
thorough grasp of his subject, and he
talked more as a seeker after knowledge,
than as its pOSsessor. But on the topic of
corruption in politics he was strong; he
gave his views with clearness and detail;
and he wound up a most eloquent diatribe
by telling the bulky deputy that splen-
did opening lay before him.
you get UP in your parliament in Par
IS, sir" said Capt. Kettle land say this
swlndling by public men has got to stop;
ana then you mention their names out
loud and call them dirty thieves, and be-
heVe me- you're a made man. All the
rest Of France will look up TO you.
but the suggestion did not cheer NJ. Lee
grand as much as Kettle had hoped, and
perhaps the fact that he had been merc-
lessly exposed in MOT de Paris that very
week for being himself the chief actor in
this identical offense, had something to do
with his continued depression. So the lit
tie sailor turned to CreVe and approached
the task Of interesting him with lighter
heart He was surer of his ground here;
for were they not both lin a way literary
men, although it was true that his own
poems were for the most part written in
NJ
Kettle had confidence in his powers and
TO show the tunefulness of his verse, he
got down the accordion and sang by way
OF introduction a ballad which went to the
tune of "Greenland's Icy Mountains" and
a little lode TO Spring." which he had set
to pleasing ditty translated from the
music halls He Offered TO go through the
rest of his repertoire, but the journalist
said he could see from the specimens that
they were beautiful; and when the little
shipmaster proposed writing a series of
sonnets in French to be run through the
pages of the Mot de Paris at a ridiculous
ly low rate of pay, NJ. Creve accepted the
offer with alacrity, on the sole condition
that the poet should there and then begin
to write.
Capt. Kettle murmured bashfully, "Any-
thing to oblge" and took up his pen at
once. And he began to have a sincere re-
gard for NJ. Creve from that moment, and
to regret more and more that so discern
ing a man should suffer so acutely from
the torments of ma de mer."
But enamored though the master of the
Sultan of Borneo might be with the gentle
occupation of building stanzas to a poppy,
and sonnets to the eyebrow of some lady
he had met in the Family Herald, he
was not forgetful of the more weghty bus
mess which he had taken in hand. His
steamboat was working up-channel in
sight of the French coast and a dozen
times he went on deck and peered through
the bridge telescope at patches of beach
which lay beyond the frill of surf. But
none Were desolate enough for his pur-
pose, and each time he returned to the
wrestle with the Transplant and the smell
of paint. His manuscript grew with strides.
Never before had he felt so brilliantly in
spired. The difficulties of language were
as nothing. The words came to him trip
ping, as he drummed out the meter with
his fingers on the mahogany of the chart
table, and the tunes seemed to Jingle of
their own accord. 1t was his first chance
of publication, and his heart swelled with
in him al the thought that his opportun-
ity had come at last. He almost wished he
had asked the Mot de Paris a few
francs more for the right of publication.
1t was such good, such brilliant poetry. 1t
was fit to make the fortune of any news
paper.
The ships bell changed out the half-hours
and the watches changed. but the occu-
pants of the chart house did not sleep: the
Frenchmen could not and as for Kettle,
the ecstasies of composition had whirled
him 10 "a region where sleep was a thing
undreamed Of But when midnight had
long passed, and eight bells peaIed out
dimly through the wind, the mate put his
head inside the chart-house door, with
rush of cold salt air. and made an an
nouncement.
Very we'll" said his captain. "Ring off
engines and get the port quarter boat in
the water. and a jacobs ladder shipped.
The second mate and two hands for the
boat; you stay here In charge. We shall be
about an hour gone"
"Ay. aye, sir" said the mate and closed
the door, and shut off the supply of air.
Kettle turned to the table and began to
page and fold his manuscript. Something
that was half-groan, half-voice, addressed
him by name from behind.
Captain"
yes"
Are --going-ashore?"
"Ah, is that you, M. Creve? Glad to see
you pulling round so nicely, sir. In thirty
minutes you'll hear French shingle grit
ting under your feet, and in forty-five wen
have your little affair with NJ. Legrand
fixed up one way or the other. After that
] believe you want to make a practice on
me; and | shall be very much at your SER
vice, ana DeleNe me- sir, L shall feel hon
ored to stand up with gentleman so init
mately connected with literature as your
self"
The journalist groaned in acquiescence.
But there's one thing I've been think
ing of" Kettle went on, that we ought
to fix up before we go any further. You
see. sir. you're going to stand in the way
of a good deal of shot during the next
hour. ana you might-er-you might have
a bit of an accident Now l am sure it
would grieve you TO think that these poems
of mine should not be used through any
misfortune of yours; and so / thought If
you wrote line to your assistant editor
at the office, it would be safer. If YOU like
IN just jot it down for you, and you can
sign it,"
"Oh yes, anything" said Creye and
Kettle with glow of joy wrote the note.
handed a wet pen, and had 1t initiated
with feeble scrawl. Then he put it with
the other papers, sealed and addressed the
envelope. and gently slipped il into the in
ner breast pocket of the Journalists frock
coat.
In case OF accidents he murmured
gently. you'll pardon me, Pm sure. And
now. gentlemen, If you please. here's INV
mate come to tell US the boat is ready.
and well be getting off ashore"
But prayerfully as the two Frenchmen