The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-02-10

Those we're troubIOus times in Ven
ezuela when the old brig GemsbOk
was loading eoffee at Puerto CabellO
for MaTsei1les. Revolutions we're
breaking out ike measles in an Or
phan asylum, and it was small wonder
that the Countess COrdOzO, In her
haste to leave such a perturbed cOun-
try, should avail herself OF the one
Z practicable staterOOm on the Gems
box to get away from it. The skip
per, while drinking aguadiente with
the Fed-headed agent, had picked up
some gossip about our passenger, al
though the agent had never laid eyes
on the noble lady. She was an Eng
lish countess who had fallen in love
with Senior COrdOzO, a Venezuelan,
and had accompanied him to his ma
tive land. He promptly mixed himself
mp in one of the revolutions and on
the defeat Of his faction remained in
the interior dangling by the neck to a
tropical tree. His widow then sought
to return to Europe. She might have
waited for a steamer, but that meant
time, and perhaps prudence suggested
leaving Venezuela promptly. At any
rate she engaged the lone spare state
room on the GemsbOk-
She came aboard one Of those hot,
mugy nights for which Puerto Ca
bello can beat the world and vas IN
der convoy Of Tom Dewitt, chief mate.
We got no glimpse OF her face that
night, for We weighed anchor and put
to sea, but we saw it the next morn
ing, and it was worth looking at. A
pair OF true blue eyes danced in the
prettiest face that the Lord ever gave
to a woman, and she was : wonder
in the way she stood the slant of the
deck, for the weather was rough and
the Gemsbok rolled in any sort Of a
swell. Hi bet she can dance" said
Ben, the English sailor. My heyees!
what pair of legs that there coun-
tess as to her to walk like a liable
seaman on SIGH a rollin' hold tub as
thisi"
Lots Of good ltH do you II she
can dance or no. snapped Sam, an
American foremost hand; shes a
whole ways above you, Ben, 50 keep
your jacket buttoned over your heart -
Ho," retorted Ben, no danger O.
my pinin' with love, but the mates
'ard hit-,'
And he was too. Every man for
ward saw that Tom Dewitt had lost
his heart to the countess. He was a
strHpping, good=lOoking seaman, but
then a countess
Dewitt lowered about her like a bee
around a flower. He was shifting her
down after a wrap If the wind had
bit Of an edge 10 it.
E can't marry 'eT even II she'd
ave him" said Ben, positively. 'Ow
would a sailor look q sittin' at one Of
them big dinners IN the countess cas-
tie? Ed fergit hisself sure and sing
bout to the walters, Lay aft here. you
ERIN Quilted sEabs, and pump the
docks glass full o. wine No, hit'd
never do.
An American saiIOr-man's good
enough for any woman % retOrted Sam,
and he'd know how TO behave him
SELF, anywhere
Verbally, We agreed with Sam;
mentally with Ben II shed have
Dewitt it would be an awful bad break
for him, We all felt.
She was sweet, that countess. she
had way Of thanking a fellow for
the smallest thing and then FsmmIng
the thanks home with a glimpse OF
those blue eyes that made q nan
want to shake hands With himself.
and we didn't wonder At Dewitt loving
her.
One evening was cGminE down the
main rigging and had inst reached the
raiI- Davitt started for the cabin To