The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-27


months or year. He was quite aware
Of this and appreciated the entertain
ment none the worse in consequence.
The conversation during that curious
meal ran in phases. With the hors
d'9uvres came course of ordinary CT
Whites; then for space there rolled out
an photographed account of some of
Kettles exploits. skillfully and pain
lessly extracted by Donna Clotilde's
naive questions. and then, with the
cognac and cigarettes, spasm of poll
tics shook the diners like an ague. OF
a sudden one of the men recollected
himself. looked to this side and that
with a scared face and raped the
table with his knuckles.
Ladies, he said imploringly, land
seniors, the heat is great. 1t may be
dangerous
,"Pahl' said Donna Clotilde. "We
are talking in English"
(Which other people besides our
selves understand even in Valparaiso
"Let them listen" said Captain Ket-
tie. II hold the came opinion on poll
tics as Miss La Touche here since che
has explained to me how things really
are, and don't care who knows that /
think the present government and the
whole system rotten. am not in the
habit of putting my opinions in words,
Mr.. Silva, and being frightened Of peo-
pie hearing them"
"You," said the cautious man dryly,
"have little to lose here. captain. DON
ma Clotilde has much. l should be very
sorry to read in my morning paper that
she had died from apoplexy, and the
arsenical variety, during the course Of
the preceding night"
"Poohl" said Kettle. "They could
never do that"
"As resident of Chile" returned
Silva, "let me venture to disagree with
you, captain. 1t is disease to which
the opponents Of President Quijarra are
singularly addicted whenever they show
any marked political activity. The
palm trees in this patio have reputa-
ton, too, for being phenomenally long
cared. So, if 1t pleases you all, suppose
we go out on the roof The moon will
afford US fine prospect, and the air up
there is reputed healthy" He picked
up Donna Clotilde's fan and mantilla.
The other two ladies rose to their feet.
Donna Clotilde, with slight frown Of
reluctance, did the same, and they all
moved off toward the stairway. Silva
laid OBTAINING fingers upon Captain
Kettles arm.
Captain" he said, "if l may give
you friendly hint, slip away now and
go to your quarters. -
81 fancy, sir, said Captain Kettle,
"thaJ Miss La Touche has employment
to offer me-"
'Tf she has," retorted Silva, (Which
doubt. it will not be employment you
will care about
81 am what they call here 'on the
beach, said Kettle land l cannot
afford to miss chances am married
man, Mr. Silva. with children to think
about"
"Ah,' the Chilean murmured
thoughtfully. II wonder If she knows
he's marred7 Well captain, if you
will go up, come along, and I'm sure
wish You luck. "
One whispered hint did Mr.. Silva
give to Captain Kettle as they made
their way together up the white stone
steps.
"Do you know who and what our
hostess is2' he asked.
IA very nice young lady" replied
the mariner promptly, with fine
taste in suppers.
"She is all that, said Silva. "But
she also happens to be the richest wo-
man in Chile Her father owned mines
innumerable, and when he came by his
end in our last revolution he left every
dollar he had at Donna Clotilde's entire
disposal By some unfortunate over
sight personal fear has been left ont Of
her composition, and she seems anxious
to add it to the list of her acquire
tnents."
Captain Kettle puckered his brows.
II don't seem to understand you," he
said.
~ say this" Silva murmured, "be-
cause there seems no other way to ex-
plain the keenness with which she
hunts after personal danger. AT pres
ent she is intriguing against President
Quijarra's government. Well, we all
know that Quijarra is brigand, just
as his successor was before him. The
man who succeeds him in the presi-
dency of Chile will be brigand also.
1t is tho custom Of my country. But
interfering with brigandage is tick
lish operation. and Quijarra is always
scrupulous to wiring the neck of any
one whom he thinks at all likely to in
terfere with his peculiar methods.
81 should say that from his point Of
view" said Kettle. she was acting
quite rightly, sir"
II thought you look at 1t seneia,y,'
said Silva "Well captain, here we arc
at the top of the stair. Don't you think
you had better change your mind and
Flip away now, and 30 back to your
quarters7"
"Why, no, sir, said Captain Ket-
tie. "From what You tell me, 1t seems
possible that Miss La Touche may
shortly be seeing trouble, and it would
give me pleasure to be near and ready
to bear hand. She is lady for whom
have got considerable regard. That
supper, sir, which we have just eaten
and the wine are things which will live
in my memory"
He stepped out on TO the roof, and
Donna Clotilde came to meet him. She
linked her fingers upon his arm and led
him apart from the rest. At the farther
angle Of the gardens they leaned their