The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-11-29
I wo .Scapegraces

lOriginal.l
There is no other such frisky animal
as a n,idslipNlan in the Lavy-tl,a Is,
where the n,idshipman is ashore ca
leave. Possibly now that war vesseia
have changed from light wooden struc-
lures, riding the waves with white
wings like a bird, TO machine shop
driven By steam some of the romance
may have been knocked out of the
mildics, but fifty years ago, when the
United States frigate Hcneybee sailed
into Havana haIbor, she had as ro!~
licking a lot of Juniors as ever We're
got together in a Fighting ship.
Bob Melrett and Ned Perry, both
midsllipmen. could get into more mis-
chief in one day ashore than the rest
OF the officers would meet in q month.
No sooner had the Honeybee dropped
her anchor than both lads applied for
leave to so ashore.
You can 60" said their commander,
"but remember that these spaniards
are a hot. iealous. lot, and if you're not
careful you'll be brought back with a
machete sticking in YOU
The injunction was unheeded. The
middies went into Havana, hired a
vehicle for drive and, passing the.
plantation of Don Antonio CORDOBA,
espied Donna Ysabel Ccrdoza. his
daughter. aged fifteen, playing under
the palms at some distance from the
house.
Now, what followed would haze
stricken the girls parents with horror
They considered ISABEL a child. for
getting that in the tropics girls expand
like the foliage. The young rasca!s
called to Donna isabel to ask the road,
chatted with her in bad Spanish and
asked her to drive. She cast a 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 a good chaperon, so there
vas really no harm in the escapade
except a 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 his ship touched
at Havana and he went to the Cardoza
plantation with proposition for the
girls hand. He was Informed that if
he showed his face there again he
would find a resting place in a neigh
boring cemetery.
Bob went back 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 mutt.
steal away the girl and take her to a
village the two middies had passed
through on their way to the planta-
ton. There her lover was to meet and
marry her. There We're several de
fects in the plan. not the least of which
was the fact that they agreed to a
rendezvous in a little square in the
center OF the village, rather 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
! lage and took seat in the public
square.
After waiting an hour it occurred tt
| him that possibly If Ned had been sue
cessful in getting the girl they might
not find it quite safe to rendezvous IL
SO conspicuous a place. They nigh
be hiding in some of the houses.
Knocking at several of the doors
he asked those within if they had see,
a young couple No one had seen {
young couple Along came a hawke
of toys. Bob thrust his hand into tn,
mans basket. drew out a tin horn
and blew the dinner call with might.
blast. Up went window sash on tit
q opposite side of the street, and Net
u Perry's head was thrust out.
81 thought that would bring you.
said Bob. What luck?'
Come over here and I'll tell YOU
Bob crossed the street and was I'D
mitted to the house. Inside We're
Spanish woman and black eye
maiden just budding into womanhoo(
But she was not Donna Ysabel. Bo
looked at Ler disappointed, then at h.
friend for an explanation.
I've good Eews for YOU said Nee
Donna YsaLel was frantic at your re
pulse and told her father she woul
kill herself. SO he has consented t
look up your credentials and if your
all right he'll consent"
That's good news, sure enough,
said Bob, but what are you doin
here:"
Ned frowned at his friend. glancn
at the same time at the others; thel
bidding them good afternoon, the mic
J dies left the house.
"Well. what is it?" asked Bob on tn
sidewalk.
"Drifted into cross current an