Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

told that spe. without any beating about
the bush. that wanted to buy his yacht.
He asked me If Wished to insult him.
said, did he think she was worth 10000.
He remarked, frigidIy, that as she stood
she represented f15.O00. whefeupon /
promptly offered him 1000 and brought
out my check book and filled him up a
FORM He took 1t Ike lamb. Money Is a
Hum. fou have been smart about It
Can conclude the arrangements for you?"
No. packed Ioff his icy lordship to
manage that. l thought he'd do 1t better
than you COULD Now please tell me how
you intend vto kidnap my shy one on
board
Il, most imperiaf?''
Yes, you. My imperial highness Is gra-
ciously pleased to 'aepute that trifiing ser
vice to your hands"
But the thing can't be done. It's against
the law. Why, it would entail penal servi-
tude. and / don't know what besides. You
aren't in your cut-throat South America
now, Mariquita''
"Timide! A pistachfo for your insular
amigo. and 1 hold you to your word of
honor. l order; it is for you to obey.
III.
How that dreadful piece of midnight man
lifting was accomplished 1 blush even now
to recoilect. When I broke. unannounced,
into his room the wretched victim was
elbow was an open book, which ne coyiy
shut on my approach, slipping 1t beneath
newspaper. He was copying out his ser
mon for the ensuing Sunday.
put the case to him hluntly, without
throwing In a word for it's defense. He
was to come with me there and then II
ne came peaceably, SO much the better IL
he resisted, I had a powerful boats crew
below who would carry him off, willy -nilly.
l recommended him to avoid scandal ard
uproar, and submit to the stronger hand.
He said he would He sought permission
TO pack small black handbag with books
and raiment; but I was too much scared to
lo1ter an unnecessary moment. and carried
him Off as he was-in bob-taied coat and
slippers; and the steam launch set US on
board, and the forestaysail sheet was let
draw, and the schooner stood of down
channel
1 ushered the poor devil into his state
room and went to report to Mariquita
Wont you go and see him at Once?"
asked, as she lay back on sofa with
sign OF utter contentment, and showed no
disposition to move.
NO. The moment for hurryfng 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
Good heavens Then you can't expect
to keep me meandering about in your train?
why, my dear girl, it would utterly blast
all my Professional
She laughed cooIly pooh! What hypo-
critic you are. Not very many weeks ago
your dream Gas you put it, was to be near
me always You said you envied my
dachshund And now that you are offered
the chance. She completed the sentence
with an eloquent shrug- But don't fret.
III set you free tomorrow. Perhaps we
shall never see one another again"
Unless, of course, you tire of your pres
ent game, and revert, as per agreement, to
me-"
Precisely. When that interesting mo-
ment arrives I'll let you know. But, mon
cher l wouldn't wait for it, If I were you.
You might tire if you did
nIv.
The schooner hove to off st. Heliers next
morning, and took a curious farewell of
the captive-who was the very picture of
mute resignation, and a warm one of Mari
quita-who expressed herself as infinitely
obliged to land mi half an hours time
was on the st. Malo boat, getting back to
Paris.
The bright city fairly hummed with this
last freak of hers, but about my share in it
preserved the silence of the dumb, though
happily for my peace of mind I got home
leave directly afterward. Then other things
filled my mind, and studiously forgot that
lawless raid till Mariquita forcibly remind
ed me of it. The news came in an eXtrava-
CANT cablegram from Shanghai, and, con-
densed, informed me that the parson had
relented Cor been coerced), and made her
his bride at the British consulate of that
treaty port don't think 1 was surprised
She wasn't a. woman who ever brooked
contradiction. n rr4s.-.
Eth? What's that? What about the Tilted
sweetheart? Well. 1 didn't intend to tell
you men that, but as I've rambled on so
deeply already you may as well have the
lot. You see, that was the matter which
occupied me when I got back to England
| came across the girl there in country
house, and-well, the fact is, married her
myself / tell you fellows we both feel
awfully indebted to Mariquita