Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-06

| gigantic rocket. all Of one color. had burst.
and hung suspended there like the planets
of heaven
| 1T reminds me- whispered katherine to
/ Dorothy. eof an overgrown popcorn ball.
at which remark the two girls were frivoi-
/ GUS enough to laugh.
CRASH sounded cannon from an
| American ship. and then the white squad
ron became visible ia blaze of Lightning.
And now all the yachts and other craft on
| the waters Haunted their lines OF fire, and
/ the whole bay was Illuminated Ike lake
| In fairyland.
Now" said Captain Kempt with a
chuckle. watch the Britisher. l think she
going to show us some color and as he
| spoke there appeared, spreading from mast
| to mast. huge sheet of blue, with four
! great stars which pointed the corners OF
| paralielogram, and between the stars shone
| huge white anchor. Cheers rang out from
| the crew of the CONSERVATION, and the
band on board played The Star-Spangied
| Banner
That said Capt. Kempt In explana-
| ton, lis the flag of the United states Sec
/ rotary of the Navy who will be with US to-
| night. The visitors have kept very quiet
| about this bit of illumination, but our lads
| got on to the secret about week ago, ana
| I'll be very much disappointed IL they don
| give 'en tit for tat
When the band on the CONSERVATION
| ceased playing, all lights went out on the
| American squadron. and then on the nag
| ship appeared from mast to mast device
with the Union Jack In the corner, great
| red cross dividing the flag into three white
| squares. AS this illumination flashed out
| the American band struck up the Bftish
national anthem. and the outline lights APP
peared again.
That" said the captain, sis the British
man-o-war's flag"
The Whip-poor-will speedily whisked the
party and others across the sparkling
waters to the foot of the grand stairway,
which had been specially constructed TO
conduct the elect from the tide to the deck
t. 49,. 1N,xt. Ia nG
| ordinary gangway. was carpeted from top
to bottom. and on every step stood a o'ue-
jacket, each as steady as if cast in bronze,
the line forming. as one might say nv
ing handrail rising toward the dark sky.
Capt kernpt and his wife went first, foi-
lowed by Sabina and her young man With
the two girls in their wake.
Aren't those men splendid?" whispered
Katherine to her friend. II wish each held
an old fashioned torch. I do love a sailor
so do L. said Dorothy. then checked her
self. and laughed a little.
II guess we all DO sighed Katherine
On deck the bluff captain of the Conster-
nation in Respondent uniform, stood be-
side Lady Angela Burford Of the British en-
bassy at Washington to receive the guests
of the cruiser Behind these two were
grouped an assemblage of officers ard very
fashionably dressed women, chatting viva
ciously with each other. AS Dorothy looked
at the princess-like Lady Angela 1t seemed
as If she knew her; as IL here were one VINO
had stepped out of an English romance.
Her tail, proudly held figure made the stout
ish captain seem shorter than he actually
was. The natural haughtiness of those
classic features was somewhat modified by q
pro tenn smile Capt. Kempt looked back
over his shoulder and said in a low voice:
Now young ladies, best foot forward.
The Du Maurier woman is TO receive the
Gibson girls
u know I shall laugh, and l fear l shall
yiggIe" said Katherine, but she encountered
glance from her elder sister quite as
naughty as any Lady Angela might have be
| slowed and all thought of meTriment fed
| for the mement: thus the ordeal passed
| conventionally without Katherine either
| laughing or giggling.
Sabina and her young man faded away
| into the crowd. Capt Kempt was nodding
| to this one and that of his numerous ac-
| quaintanccs, and katherine felt Dorothy
| shrink little closer to her as tall, I'M
| known young man deftly threaded his way
| among the people, making directly for the
| captain, whom he seized by the hand in a
| grasp of the most cordial friendship.
Capt Kempt am delighted to meet you
| again. My name is Drummond-Lieut,
| Drummond, and l had the pleasure of being
| introduced to you at dinner d week or two
ago"
THE pleasure was NINE sir, the pleasure
was mine" exclaimed the captain with
cordially equal to that with which he had
been greeted He had not at first the least
recollection of the young man, but the cap
tain was something of an amateur polltlclan,
and possessed all a politicians expertness In
facing the unknown and making the most
of any situation in which he found hlmSeif.
"Oh, yes, lieutenant, l remember very
well that excellent song you
Isn't it a perfect night? gasped the
lieutenant, II think we are to be con-
graduated on our weather.
He still chung to the captains hand, and
shook it again so warmly that the captain
said TO himself:
Il must have made an impression on this
fell hnn q
ooh, we always have good weather this
time of year. You see. the United States
government runs the weather. Didn't you
know that? Yes, our weather bureau is
considered the best in the world.
The lieutenant laughed heartily, although
a hollow note interviewed, for the young
man had got TO the end of his CONVERSE
ton. realized he could not shake hands for
third time, yet did not know what more
to say The suavity of the politician came
to his rescue in just the form of the heu-
tenant had hoped.
Lieut. Drummond, allow me to introduce
my wife to you.
The lady bowed.
And my daughter, Katherine, and Miss
Amhurst friend of ourS-Lieut. Drum
mond of the CONSERVATION.
Il wonder" said the lieutenant as II the
thought had just occurred to him, If the
young ladies would like to go to point
where they can have comprehensive view
of the decorations. II may not be the
best guide, but l am rather well acquainted
with the ship, you know.
Don't ask me- said Capt. Kempt. ASK
the girls. Everything I've had in life has
come to me because l asked, and If l didn't
get it the first time, / asked again
"Of course we want to see the decora-
TONS cried Katherine with enthusiasm,
and so bowling to the captain and Mrs.
Kempt the lieutenant led the young wom-
en- down the deck, until he came to an ele-
waited spot out of the way of all possible
promenaders on which had been placed in
a somewhat secluded position, yet COM
manding q splendid view of the throng q
settee with just room for two, that had
been taken from some ones cabin. A blue
Jacket stood guard over 1t. but at a nod
from the lieutenant he disappeared.
'Hello!' cried Katherine, reserved seats
Ell? How different from theater CHAIR
where you are entitled to your place by
holding colored bit of cardboard. Here a
man with a cutlass stands guard. 1t gives
one a notion of the horrors of war, doesn't
1t, Dorothy?'
The lieutenant laughed q1Ite as heartily
as IL he had not himself hoped to occupy
the position now held by the sprightly
katherine. He was cudgeling his brain
to solve the problem represented by the
adage Two is company, three is none"
no ;rlc