Evening journal., 1906-11-26
Two Scapegraces
Ioriginal.l

q midshipman IN the navy-that
here the midshipman is ashore O
ave. Possibly now that war vessel
i've changed from light wooden struc
lres. riding the waves with WRIT
ings like a bird, to a machine shoi
rlven by steam some Of the romano,
lay have been knocked out of tho
adde's, but fifty years ago, when the
inited States frigate Honeybee sailed
nto Havana harbor. she had as rol-
licking lot Of juniors" as ever We're
.ot together IN a fighting ship.
Bob Merrett and Ned Perry, both
nidshipmen. could get into more mis-.
chief in one day ashore than the resi-
Of the officers would meet in month
No sooner had the Honeybee dropped
her anchor than both lads applied FOR
leave to go ashore.
you can 60" said their commander,
but remember that these spaniards
are n hot. Jealous lot, and II you're not
careful you'n be brought back with
machete sticking In you"
The injunction was unheeded. The
middies went into Havana. hired q
vehicle for a drive and, passing the
plantation Of Don Antonio CORDOBA,
cspied Donna Ysabel Cordoza his
daughter. aged fifteen, playing under
the palms at some distance from the
house.
Now. what followed would have
stricken the girls parents with horror.
They considered Ysabel a child, for
getting that in the tropics girls expand
like the foliage. Tho young rascals
called to Donna Ysabel to ask the road.
chatted with her In bad Spanish and
asked her to drive. She cast q fright
ened glance in the direction Of the
house, climbed the wall. and, taking a
seat between the two middies, away
they went as fast as the bony, half
starved horse could take them. Either
officer made good chaperon, so there
was really no harm In the escapade
except n violation of custom.
The ride finished, the girl was drop
ped safely where she had been taken
up and, during the stay OF the Honey
bee In the port Of Havana, Bob Merrett
made frequent visits to the palm wood,
at last sailing away with Donna Ysa-
bells heart. A year passed before he
saw her again, when bis ship touched
at Havana and he went to the Cardoza
plantation with a proposition for the
girls hand. He was Informed that II
he showed his face there again he
would fird resting place In a neigh
boring cemetery.
Bob went bnck to the ship and told
his sorrow to his friend Perry. The
result Of the interview was that Perry
agreed to go TO the plantation In mufti.
steal away the girl and take her to a
village the two mlddies had passed
through on their way to the planta-
tion. There her lover was 10 meet and
marry her. There were several de
fects IN the plan, not the least OF which
was the fact that they agreed to a
rendezvous In little square In the
center Of the village. rather a public
place for such a meeting.
The next day. both middies having
obtained shore leave, Ned went on
ahead. agreeing to have the girl at the
trysting place. though the hour must
necessarily be indefinite. Bob waited
impatiently in Havana till he could
wait no longer then went to the vii.
lagc and took a seat in the public
square.
After waiting an hour 1t occurred to
him that possibly If Ned had been sue
cessful IN getting the girl they might
not find Il quite safe to rendezvous II
80 conspicuous q place. They might
be hiding In some Of the houses.
Knocking at several Of the doors,
he asked those within If they had seen
a young couple. No one had seen a
young couple. Along came a hawl1er
OF toys. Bob thrust his hand into the
mans basket. drew out a tin horn
and blew the dinner call with q mighty
blast Up went window sash on the
opposite side Of the street, and Ned
Perry's head was thrust out.
II thought that would bring you"
said Bob what luckY'
Come over here and I'll tell you"
Bob crossed the street and was ad
mltted to the house. Inside were O
Spanish woman and a black eyed
maiden just budding into womanhood
But she was not Donna Ysabel. Bot
looked at her disappointed, then at hls
friend for an explanation.
''rve good news for you" said Ned
Donna Ysabel was frantic at your re
pulse and told her father she would
kill herself. SO he has consented to
look up your credentials and II you're
all right he'll consent"
That's good news. sure enough"
said Bob, 'but what are you doing
hereT
Ned frowned at his friend glancine
at the same time at the others; then
bidding them good afternoon, the mid
dies left the house.
"welI. what is III" asked Bob on the
sidewalk.
''Drifted into a cross current and
struck the girl inside there"
"Oh, / seer
The next day Midshipman Merrett
called upon Don Cardoza, renewed his
request for Donna Ysabel and presented
his credentials. There was not much
money In his family, but his progen
itors had been in the navy for nearly
a century and were eminently respect
able. so Don Cardoza yielded, and
Ysabel Cardoza became Ysabel Mer
rett
The other Of these scQpegraces,
after leaving sweetheart IN each OF n