The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-11-07
A Gorgeous Performance and Thor.
oughIy Appreciated by the
Admiral.
BY Guy Boothby.

BY Guy Boothby.
Rear Admiral Sir Dominic DENLY,
X. G. b., was bachelor, and a
most gallant and polite old gentle
man.
When the fleet had been in Sgd
ney harbor a fortnight or so he
issued cards for an afternoon "at
home" aboard his flagship. Mrs.
De Courcy Fenning and Miss Ethel
wyn Fenning were among those in
vited.
Sir Dominic had met the younger
lady half a dozen times before, and
on each occasion he had become
more and more enamored Of her
beauty and accomplishments.
On the evening of the day upon
which the invitation arrived she
attended the Beeton's cinderella. A
number of the naval men were pres
ent, and among them was a certain
Sub-Lieut. Geo. Hoskyns. He was
nice enough young fellow, very
pink and clean looking, and ire
proachably upholstered. However
impossible thing may seem, it
was case of love at first sight.
To quote the press, the Blum
derbuss Eat home" was a brilliant
success. The harbor looked it's
loveliest, and the arrangements
were beyond reproach. Mrs. and
Miss De Courcy Fenning were
among the first to arrive. and the
rear admiral colored like a school
boy as he stepped forward to re.
ceive them.
By the exercise of considerable
diplomacy he managed to keep her
continually by his side, and allowed
it to be seen that he paid her open
and unmistakeable attention.
Sub-Lieutenant Hoskyns watched
them from a distance. and in con.
sequence his conversation with
pretty Miss Fetterby was disjointed
and fragmentary in the extreme.
When the vice-regal launch was
the guard of honor had
advanced to the gangway to receive
the governor. Hoskyns edged up
alongside Miss Ethelwyn and said
something in low voice. There
he made mistake, for she with.
cred him with a glance, and they
spoke no more throughout the after.
noon.
1t would be hard for an admiral
to hit upon better place to plead
his cause than the bridge of his
own flagship. And Miss Ethelwyn,
remembering certain advice given
her beforehand, turned deadly white
and faltered an assent. He was de-
lighted beyond measure.
Next morning the admiral called
upon Mrs. Fenning and placed mat
tiers upon an eminently satisfactory
basis. When the business inter.
view was ended he went into the
garden to find his fiancee, who, up
on meeting him, thrust a note hur-
riedly into his pocket. Her eyes
were red, and she did not seem best
pleased to see him. But he was a
kind hearted old gentleman, in the
seventh heaven of happiness, and
she found it impossible to be angry
with him for long.
His courteous manner of present.
ing gifts equaled their value. and
Miss Fenning felt that after all the
situation was not quite as horrible
as she had imagined. She told her.
self repeatedly that she could have
endured it well enough if she had
never seen Sub-Lieutenant Hos.
kyns. That little "if."
A farewell dance to the officers
or the fleet was planned. Miss Fen
ming undertook the decoration of
the supper room, and the sub-lieu-
tenant discovered that 1t behooyed
him to assist her. People whom it
did not concern wondered what Sir
Dominic would have said had he
seen them.
1t was really a beautiful little
dance, admirable arranged and car
ried out, yet four people did not
enjoy it one bit.
Miss Ethelwyn Fenning arrived
in feverishly excited state that so
frightened her maternal parent
that she almost forgot she was to
dance the opening lancers with his
eXcellency himself. The young lady
was faultlessly dressed. and her
heightened color, radiant beauty
and dashing carriage electrified
everyone.
She danced tho onop;pc GO. LII