The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-03-11
would conade in you," he added gal

lantly.
THAT key?a
Belongs to my own private desk
where l keep my love letters sail
the captain, lying promptly. Let m
introduce my young brother to you
| countess he continued, as an ex
tremely good looking boy approached
theEa, whose white patch on his colla1
| betokened his rank of nidshipman.
Z shall be delighted! Your brother
1 is an officer on board also? How nice
4 for you both! A lieutenant, I sup
pose39 she said, smiling sweetly al
young 81. Aubyn, who was immensely
f1attered.
! At that moment, however, the count
came up and intimated to his sister
that it was time for them to return to
the shore. He was a handsome man,
clean shaver, and not unlike st. Aubyn
in height and build; indeed, oddly
enough, even his features were SINH
lar.
4 must thank you heartily for a
pleasant morning. he said to the cap
tain i'll excellent English "WilI. you
give me the pleasure of your company
at dinner tomorrow night? We are
staying at the Great Britain.
The officer was about to demur when
he caught sight Of the girls blue eyes
fixed anxiously upon him.
Thank you; / shall be delighted"
he answered quiet1y-"that is, if you
will not mind my coming in uniform,
as / am going to a ball, he added hest
tatingly.
Not in the least" replied the count
heartily. We shall be all the more
complimented-shaH we not, Vera?"
Vera assured the captain that it was
so; and after impressing upon st. Au-
byn the dinner hour at the hotel
brother and sister babe him good-by
and left the cabin with their friend,
the officer who had invited them on
board.
Il don't like that Russian Johnnie,
Phil, . remarked Cecil st. Aubyn, as he
gazed out of a gun embrasure and
watched the guests departure in a
boat.
why not? He seems a pleasant
enough fellow" observed his brother
carelessly.
20, he asked a jolly sight too many
questions for my taste! But he got |
precious little change out of me, you
bet! It's my private opinion the mans |
q spy said the boy, turning and con-
the captain.
What rot you talk" returned st. /
Aubyn irritably Because man is
intelligent and desires to improve his /
mind does it necessarily follow that
he must be a spy? Really, Cecil, {
think | am quite capable Of managing
my own affairs. You had better clear
out if you cannot talk sense, said the
captain stifly, his brow darkening
The following day, having some oc.
2asion to hold official intercourse with
he officer who had invited the visit
5rs off to church, St. Aubyn remarked
See you at the Zullenoffs tonight,
suppose, Smith ?"
The officer in question looked slight
y uncomfortable.
mo, sir" he replied quietly.
why, how's that? It's rather i'll
,red of the man to leave you out of the
We'll, TO tell you the truth, sir, 7
eally know little about the cullen
ifs the lieutenant began, hesitating-
y Perhaps it was indiscreet of me
o invite them here. I met the man
nd his sister at spezzia whe1 was
here last year with the fleet, and I
them again a day or two
go in the strada Rea1e, when the
cunt asked me point blank tc invite
hem off to the ship
We'll, they seem pleasant people"
aid the captain, induIgently. aEspe-
tally the girl he added, as il by an
Yes. especially the girl" reiterated
he lieutenant. respectfully.
That evening the captain Of the Ire
1endous, with his boat cloak thrown
yer his ball uniform, left the ship in
is galley and was landed at the Gus
om house steps. Stepping into one Of
ne small carriages, which were uhi-
uitous, and whose noisy drivers piled |
lcessantly for hire, he was driven
apidly in the direction of the hotel.
Two hours later the officer Of the
atch was surprised at his return to
lie ship in a Maltese waterman's boat
He went to meet the captain at the
anyway, touching his cap as he did
}, and the latter, upon stepping on to
lie quarter deck, returned the salute,
I'D, muttering that he had forgotten c
dived down to his cabin
was dark night, but the officer saw ]
e captains face quite plainly by the $
ash OF a lantern. His peaked cap, I
it'll the gold oak leaves, was drawn a
ell over his forehead, and his face /
as pale and strange. Happening to
lcounter Cecil St. Aubyn few mo- T
ents later the lieutenant Informed I
m of his brothers return. a
That's rummy, sir," said the boy, Y
'ening his eyes wide. He was going
to the gunners' ball after he had Q
ned with some friends I wonder L
hats up?"
''He said he had forgotten some t
ing; but he certainly did not look
ELL Perhaps you had better go be-
W and see if he requires anything
The boy waited no second bidding, n
t ran quickly down the after ladder. g