The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-22
THE HEART OF FORT TCHEU.
ny e. AND II. HERON.

tropical sun, stands an ancient fortiica-
ton. from the summit OF which The Brit
ish flag lags lazily in the stlu air. Away
TO the rim OF sight the shallow swelis
wash among many sprinkled islands where
the dim life of the Far East SIN dreams
on untouched by the centuries. It is a
water junk haunted, and where il slips
up into the mainland through long and
tortuous inlets pirates are said TO dwell In
sun-smitten lagoons. yellow pirates, blue
amethyst seas. black and unhandy sailing
craft, and occasionally the long smoke
trail Of big steamer nearing the end OF
her run toward the rising sun. The site
of the fort had been chosen by some long
forgotten strategist. Its natural powers
OF defense were remarkable. and a good
deal OF modern masonry engrafted upon
these old-world beginnings sim lifted an
uneven yet solid front Stewards.
Such is Fort Tcheu viewed close at
hand
From the home standpoint things look
different. Itps no more than an outlying
post of the empire, about which we worry
very ittle, although feverish Canton cor
respondents invariably mention it in con-
nection with French interests. Yet We
refuse to believe that the French have
coveted Fort Tcheu for at least a decade.
Their gunboats and cruisers nose stealth
fly in and about the little bay under the
fort to reccnnoiter their officers are en-
tertained by Tcheus small garrison. and
afterward long reports as 70 the strength
of the batteries aud outworks somehow
find their way 90 Paris for the edficaton
of the war office there For IL happens
that mile or SO TO the southwest, and
almost out of sight behind the sheltering
ridge an island. rooted in with houses. its
shores fretted with shipping. lives out its
hot, busy life under British rule The
loot Of that island hive serves as a dream
TO the naVies of the world.
During a certain war scare, not yet
grown gray, a French gunboat of 1000
tons, more or less. drew slowly up out of
the shimmering dawn and lay 10 in the
bay; and the rattle of her anchor chains
struck clear across the lonely morning
water.
The French Captain was on the bridge
with his first lieutenant gazing at the
twin hills at the right of one of which the
old fort sat like a broken crown
My friend" said the Captain, a short
legged Gaul with a pointed beard we
must not fail. Presently we go ashore
when you will carry the little camera. Sir
Ronald Brush has given me letter Of in
PRODUCTION TO Col. Leonard They say NJ.
lie Commandant has a daughter" He
grinned significantly at the slender, hand
some young fellow beside him. you, Fran
co.'s, viii engage the attentions of this
young lady, and by some little ruse Of a
tender nature procure for me photographs
of the defenses we have so long desired
To linger with mademoisele on the roof
after dinner-how natural! how delightful
You comprehend"
Lieut.. Francois intimated that he entire
ly understood. He only deprecated the
fact that mademoiselle must inevitably
possess the teeth of Albion--so large, SO
en- evidence.
NJ. he Captaine shrugged his shoulders. II
was not a question Of teeth. but of photo
graphs of the defenses. the strength ana
position of the batteries. For his part,
he had met several beautiful Englishwo-
men-here he laughed in suggestively
reminiscent manner. For the sake Of his
lieutenant he hoped the girl was beautiful;
but, If not he urged upon Francois that
the ugly ones appreciate fiattery all the
more However one would see. To be-
gin with, Col. Lennard would be invited TO
inspect the Loup-garou.
Francois remained on deck while the
dawn changed into orange morning; and
he reflected that after all in China even an
English miss would help to pass the time
besides keeping his hand in for future sue
cesses amongst the most desirable of his
own countrywomen. AS he thought over
these things the chink Of picks from the
direction of the fort Travelled TO his ears
and the watch Of the Loup-garou came aft
with sandstone, buckets and brooms TO
clean the decks in anticipation of an ex-
change of international courtesies.
Meantime the Fort Tcheu garrison awak-
ened to the fact that a gunboat had come
up from the Tonquin station. They had
heard of the Loup-garou and of her com
mander, Capt. Merovnge before. He had
been recently appointed, and was proper
tionateiy full OF zeal and curiosity.
Il know exactly what we shall all be
expected 10 do" Miss Lennard said to
her father over the breakfast table. while
the breeze from the sea famed the pretty
chestnut curls upon her forehead. 60
through the came stupid programme. Two
formal visils-our dinner TO them and
their invitation TO us to visit the ship,
and all the while bowling and compliments
for you and Mr.. Cannon"
None for you. Cordelia? That does not
accord with my experience" Col Lennard
laughed.
80. OF course, a share for me too But
I don't like the French. They are too-too
what shall l can iL?-too French, in fact.
Still, there may be some amusement TO be
got out of it-who can tell?" she ended
thoughtfuliy.
Col Leonard put down his coffee cup
and wrinkled his forehead.
mo amusement for me, at any rate. The
fact Is, Cordelia. the French want some
thing. They never come here without rea-
son. This time they have brought let
ter from Sir Robert. and are 10 have a
run of the bay for a week while they are
waiting TO fill their buukers from the next
collier that comes along. And that T. ,cans
incessant bother. l must send for Can
non"
Now. IL happened that at this period Fart
Tcheu was credited with possessing a
heart for probably the first time during
the variously calculated number of centu-
ries it had frowned from the bare desola
ton of the Wang-Tcheu-Fung ridge. The
explanation is simple, Miss Lennari had
appeared at a few OF the rare festivities
given along the coast, and some British
subaitern il an amorcus moment had spok-
en- OF her as the heart of Fort Tcheu."
The epithet chung as cpl hets WIN ,espe-
eially since, for many reasons It was
considered a peculiarly happy inspt g ton.
Miss Leonard he.ped herself to Cruit
while she listened to the echo of rapid feet