El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-10
CHAPTER I.

Owen Kettle that, whatever circum-
stances might betide, he was always
neat and trim in his personal appear
ance. Il think it must have been this
spruceness and nothing else which
made him find favor in the eyes of so
fastidious person as Clotilde la
.Touche. But, be this as it may, it is
fact that Donna Clotilde just saw the
man from her carriage as he walked
along the Paseo de Colon, promptly
asked his name, and. getting no i'm
mediate reply, dispatched one of her
admirers there and then to make his &C
quaintance The envoy was instructed
to find out who he was and contrive
that Donna Clotilde should meet the
little sailor at dinner in the cafe of the
Lion dor that very evening.
The dinner was given in the patio of
the cafe, where palm fronds filtered the
moonbeams and frefies competed with
the electric lights, and at moderate
computation the cost of the viands
would have kept Captain Kettle sup
piled with his average rations for ten
months or a 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'1uvres 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 scared face and raped the
table with his knuckles.
Ladies, - he said imploringly, "and
senors, 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.
.sLet them listen" said Captain Ket-
tie. 81 hold the same opinion on poll
tics as Miss La Touche here, since she
has explained to me how things really
are, and 1 don't care who knows that 1
think the present government and the
whole system rotten. L 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 I 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.
''Poohp' said Kettle. ''They could
never do that"
GAS a resident of Chile returned
Silva, "let me venture to disagree with |
you, captain. 1t is disease to which |
the opponents of President Quijarra are |
singuIarly 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 it 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, s'if may give
you friendly hint. slip away now and
90 TO your quarters.
81 fancy, sir" said Captain Kettle,
''that Miss La Touche has employment
to offer me-
eff 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, "and I cannot
afford to miss chances. 1 am a married
man. Mr.. Silva, with children to think
about
"Ah, the Chilean murmured
thoughtfully. 81 wonder if she knows
he's married? 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.
"a very nice young lady" replied
the mariner promptly, with a 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
BILE, 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 out Of
her composition. and she seems anxious
to add it to the list of her acquire
nents.
Captain Kettle puckered his brows
II don't seem to understand you" he
aid
.I say this" Silva nnrmured "he-