The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-09-11

never DC acceptable TO follower OF
the young Stuart, the intimate associ-
ate Of the young mobiles Of France; but,
primarily, because he saw in 1t renew
ed opportunities to annoy and humiii-
ate the stout Hanoverian whom he and
his people bated and from whom they
had received much harm. and. second
~, because he was 50 mach attracted
by the strong personality of Paul Jones.
So great had become his regard for
this wonderful man that he had even
waived considerations Of rank in favor
Of an American, the gallant Richard
Dale, and had consented to serve as
second lieutenant instead Of first on
the Richard, when that famous ship
and her i'll assorted consorts started
forth upon the memorable cruise.
The tacticians Of the French navy
unfortunately were not given to con-
slider downright hard fighting as the
end and aim Of naval enterprise. Their
maneuvers We're calculated to annoy
and harass the enemy, but their first
thought was not to destroy his ships,
but to protect their own-a fatal mis-
take in policy from which they have
ever suffered.
This was not John Paul Jones' way.
Whatever else he did, he was a ngnter
from the beginning to the end, and
O'Neill found in him a congenial spir-
1t. The lovelorn Irishman had tried
several times to communicate with
Lady Elizabeth by letter and messen-
ger, but without success, for he re-
ceived no reply to his letters, and his
messengers had never returned. There
fore, when he"f6uhd himself in Such
close proximity to her as on this, the
evening Of Tuesday, the 21st of Sep
TENDER, 1719, he was utterly unable to
resist the temptation at least to try to
see her again.
Jones and the ships were not due at
the rendezvous until the day after the
next day; that would be Thursday
morning. There would be ample time
to rejoin them on the next day. Wednes-
day. O'Neill imagined himself perfect
~ safe. He had used no disguise except
to wear the uniform of French naval
officer and as France and England
were nonlinally at peace he persuaded
himself that he was in no danger. 1t
was breach of military propriety, he
admitted, of course, but nothing more,
this failure to return promptly to his
ship, and for that he was willing to
suffer.
With the delightful casuistry of low
ers, he persuaded himself against his
better judgment and failed to see his
action in it's true military significance.
Trusting to audacity, mother wit and
Dan Cupid for protection, he went
bravely on. In fact, he was taking his
life in his hand. His love blinded him.
It is the chief function of the cherubic
god. Without that power most matches
he attempts would fail. Meanwhile,
with beating heart-beating not from
fear, but with anticipation-he rode
slowly down the hill and into the town,
where he left his horse at an inn and
made his way, on foot and supperless,
such his eagerness, toward the castle.
He had no definite plan. There did
not seem to be room for any. He had
one consuming desire-to see, to speak
to, to come in touch again with the
beautiful girl who had been the object
Of his every thought, the end Of his
every desire, the spirit of every dream
in which he had INDUCED since they
had met. He had thought, hope,
that she was still Elizabeth Howard.
There was that in her promise, in her
look, in her word, when she had said,
"Come and see'' on the strand, which
gave him the hope that she would wait
until he did come, be it one year or two,
and. with the sanguine spirit of his
race, he could not prepare himself fer
disappointment.
The moon had risen as he walked
quietly through the town and began to
mount the hill. He did not know how
to gain admittance to the castle when
he approached it. and as i'll luck would