The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-01

49,
know how you cold-blooded English
work such things, but fortunately some
| delay seems necessary. Still, their
'banns' (whatever those may be- have
| been called out twice"
'|Then, by Jove, Mariquita, you've
| only a weeks law. They evidently funk
you desperately, and are going to get
safely tied together out of harms way.
| There's only one method Of preventing
| it that l can see. Order round your
yacht, kidnap him on board, and once
safely at sea you can afford to wait for
terms"
said this more or less in irony, but
to my disgust she took it up promptly.
Yes, Ghat has good points, though 1t
| is not altogether practical, as my
yacht is at Marseilles, and would take
| too long to get into commission and
bring round. But 1 can improve on it."
She rang the bell and sent for the
manager. The man put in an appear
ance very promptly.
What large yacht is there here
ready for sea?'
Lord Raybury's schooner clears for
| the South Pacific tomorrow, madam"
| "Owner?"
Lord Raybury."
Where does he live?"
He is now staying here, madam"
| Good. Show me to his room"
| 'If madame will follow me?"
The pair of them left me, and in
about ten minutes time she returned.
| She sank into a chair, and laughed.
your English noblemen are very
| funny. / told that one, without any
beating about the bush, that 1 wanted
! to buy his yacht. He asked me if 1
wished to insult him. said, did he
think she was worth $4,000. He re-
marked, frigidly, that as she stood she
represented &15,O0O. Whereupon 1
promptly offered him 100000 and
brought out my check book and filled
him up form. He took it like
lamb Moneys a great thing, isn't it?''
'Huml You have been smart about
it Can I conclude the arrangements
for your"
mo. 1 packed off his icy lordship to
manage that I thought he'd do it bet
ter than you could. Now please tell
me how you intend to kidnap my shy
one on board"
Il, most lmperial?"
Yes, you. My Imperial Highness is
graciously pleased to depute that
trif1ing service to your hands,
But the thing can't be done. It's
against the law. Why it would entail
penal servitude, and 1 don't know what
besides. You amt in your cut throat
South America now, Mariquita."
''Timide!" A pistNchio for your in
sular acknowledgements. You have
promised, amigo, and / hold you to
your word of honor. 1 order; it is for
you to obey"
III.
How that dreadful piece of midnight
man-lifting was accomplished, l blush
even now to recollect. When l broke,
unannounced, into his room the
wretched victim was writing laborious-
ly on his blue foolscap. AT his elbow
was an open book, which he coyly shut
on my approach, slipping it beneath a
newspaper. He was copying out his
sermon for the ensuing Sunday.
put the case to him bluntly, without
throwing in word for it's defense. He
was to come with me there and then
If he came peaceably, so much the bet
ter. If he resisted, l had a powerful
boats crew below who would carry him
off, willy-nilly. [ recommended him to
avoid scandal and uproar, and submit
to the stronger hand. He said he
would. He sought permission to pack
a small black handbag with books
and raiment; but | was too much
, scared to loiter an unnecessary moment
, and carried him off as he was-in bob
? tailed coat ana Shippers, ana the steam
launch set us on board; and the fore
. staysail sheet was let draw; and the
schooner stood off down channel.
, l ushered the poor devil into his state
i room and went TO report to Mariquita
won't you go and see him at once?
, / asked, as she lay back on "A sofa with
a sigh of utter contentment, and
showed no disposition to move.
; NO. The moment for hurrying is
/, past, and Time shall have a chance
! now. I'm very happy as I am, and
can quite afford to wait. The yacht is
, provisioned for three years, and, if
necessary, she shall keep the seas for
all that while"
{ "God heaven! Then you can't expect
, to keep me meandering about in your
train? Why my dear girl it would ut
terly blast all my professional"
She laughed coolly. Pooh! What a
hypocTite you are. Not very many
weeks ago your dream (as you put it,
was to be near me always. You said
you envied my dachshund. And now
that you are offered the chance" She
J.. completed the sentence with an elo-
quent shrug. But don't fret. I'll set
you free tomorrow. Perhaps we shall
never see one another again."
UNLESS. of course you tire of your
present game. and revert, as per agree
ment, TO me-"
: Precisely. When that interesting
< moment arrives I'll let you know. But
mon cher / wouldn't wait for it, IL |
5 were you. You might tire, If you did
b ".