The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-22

For. in spite of ALL Cannon was as jeal-
OuS as a red-haired man has a right 10
be. He was a young fellow of parts ana
sagacity, but he was very human, ana
Cordelia, like many another woman,
dealt hardly with an affection of whlch
she felt secure. Col Lennard under
stood the various elements of the scene
wonderfully, and smiled from time to
time grilnly enough under his heavy
mustache.
At length lunch and Francois tales of
his own proweSs came to an end. 1t
was still too early in the day to go upon
the roof, and Cordelia proposed am expe-
diton by some sheltered passages to the
fort, where in cool gallery with eln-
brasureS omen to the sea breeze the men
might smoke and saunter for a while.
There was pause. then Col. Lennard
slowly agreed to the proposal. Cannon
demurred a little, but his objection was
overrned and Francois led the way
with Cordelia. his heart beating IN his
throat, as in lima ginati0n he saw himself
pemg decorated for his achievement
Cordelia had put ON a big white hat
that only made n frame to enhance the
beauty Of her face.
What Francois said during that mem
CRADLE hour, his eloquence, his pathos
| cam never be written down, but he cum
ninply led the Fascinated girl hither and
| thither, past endless sentries, who, how
| ever. stood ONLY rigidly stupid as the
| couple paced the length of the fortihca-
F., ton. 1t may be added that Cordelia
| herself was astOniShed at the eXtraordlll-
| airy Number of men ON guard, the fact
| being that Cannon had no idea of allow
| ing her to be for one moment out of ear
| Shot alone with her enamOred companion.
After a time a favorable opportunity
| offered, and Francois made the request
| ne had been working toward since he
arrived in Tcheu bay.
Dear mademoiselle, you will permit
me a recollection?' he said with eager
ness as he produced his camera. Il
| scarcely dare to ask so much, but in the
| lonely moments at sea, when perchance
| the last storm that | am destined to
hear is blowing, l will take one last look
| at that exquisite face. You cannot re-
| fuse me?'
! ITO place with your mother and sis
| ters?" she demanded with what Fran
coils deemed to be a shy delight. That
was as it should be. She had clearly
no suspicion Of his real design.
They were ON one of the bastions. Two
old suntwamed guns, frowned inn0-
Gently out over the cleaning water.
FRANCOIS begged Miss Leonard to place
herself by ONE of these, turning an apt
compliment out of the contract. He
was inclined to be little contemptuous
of the girls blindness, and her facile re-
SpOnses to his hatteTy and advances.
moreover, he largely despised the Brit
ish who could look with complacency
upon these desolate, pieces of artillery, or
remain ignorant of the very pa
tent fact that the whole for
tification would be about their ears
| i'm 10 minutes under the shells of a
| man-of-war against which they must be
entirely helpless, as none of the ancient
| specimens of cast-iron he saw about him
could throw any projectile more than
100 yards-and that crooked. And then
he turned with zest to take look at the
opulent island to the south. one small
corner of which could just be deserted
from the spot where he stood. All, the
future!
He placed Miss Leonard, and, retiring,
got his focus. In many places and in
divers positions he photographed her,
and with her the kprtifcations coveted
by the war office at Paris.
i As his professional outlook frightened.
the more warmly glowed the words of
the inilammable Gaul. At the first pic
ture she was "chere mademoiselle," be-
| fore the last she was-but never mind.
Miss Leonard might read this story, and
then where should | be if l told!