The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-11
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLINGWOOD
CHAPTER XII.

the door and bid us 10 follow him Lead
Ing us along a cool and rather dark corri-
dor, he conducted us 10 the front part
OF the house and throwing open the door
OF large and very handsomely furnished
apartment. loudly announced us in Span
ish az what took 10 be "the English
hidalgos."
Don Manuel was awaiting us in this
room. and on our entrance rose 10 greet
us with that lofty yet graceful courtesy
which seems peculiar 10 the Spaniard.
Then turning slightly he said:
ALLOW me. gentlemen. TO present TO
you my daughter Antonia. the only mem
ber OF my family remaining TO me- An
tonia. these are two English gentlemen
who. trust. will honor US so far as TO
remain our guests for some time to
come"
We duly bowed In response TO her
graceful curtsey. and her few words OF
welcome. spoken in the most piquant and
charming OF broken English, and then, |
believe. went In TO dinner. say believe
we went In TO dinner on that eventful
evening. because I know II was intended
that we should; but have no recollection
whatever of having partaken OF ths meal
For the rest OF that evening l was con-
scious OF but one thing-the presence OF
Autonia Carnero.
How shall describe her?
She was OF medium height. with
superbly nodded figure. neither too stout
nor too slim: small. well ll-poised head
crowned with an immense quantity OF
very dark. wavy. chestnut hair. hav-
Ing golden CLEAN where the light
fell upon II. but black as night
In its shadows; dark finely arched eve
brows surmounting a pair OF perfectly
glorious. brilliant. dark brown eyes now
sparkling with merriment and anon melt
Ing with deepest tenderness; very long,
thick. dark eyelashes; nose the merest
trifle retrousse; aintly-shaped mouth
with full. ripe, ruddy lips; and a prettiy
rounded chin with a well developed dim
as Il AZ OF bird her complexion was a
clear. pale olive her movements were as
graceful and unrestrained as those of
gaZelle: and she was only eighteen years
or age, though she looked more like tw,
and twc-.ty.
We were a very pleasant party at din
mo- that evening. Don Manuel was siT-
ply perfect as a host courteously and
watchfully attentive TO our slightest
wants. and frsnkness itself I'm his volun-
tlry explanation of the why ard the
self In such an out of the-way place An
tonia, whilst not taking any very proml-
nent part In the conversation. struck in
now and then with a suggestive ex-
that she was both attentive to and inter
ested I'm the conversation. Smelle more
easy and comfortable, both in mind and
body. than he had been for many a day
ahandcnec himself to the pleasant innu
ences OF his surroundings and bore his
part like the cultured English gentleman
he was; his deep. rich. melodious voice.
easy. graceful bearing commanding hg-
ure and handsome face, still pale and wan
from his recent sufferings. evidently
proving immensely attractive 10 Dona
Antonia. much TO my secret disgust. As
for me. ! am afraid I did little more
than sit n silent worshiper at the shrine
OF this sylvan beauty upon whom we
had so unexpectedly stumbled.
Don Manuel Informed us that though
Spaniard by birth. he had spent so
many years in England that all his
tastes and sympathies had become thor
oughly Angliclzed; that his second wife.
DOna Antonia's mother, had been an
Englishwoman; that he was an enthusl.
astic naturalist; and that he had chosen
the banks OF the Congo for his home
principally In order that he might be able
70 study fully and at his leisure the
fauna and fora OF that littlo-known re
gion: adding parenthetically that he had
found the step not only thoroughly
one, by doing a little occasional business
with the whites who frequented the river
on the one hand. and with the natives
ON the other. / thought he looked
trife dIscomposed when Smelle informed
him that we were English naval Officers.
and ] am quite sure he did when he was
further Informed that we had been IN
the hands of the natives. A very per-
ceptible shade OF anxiety ciouded his fea-
lures when Smcllie recounted our adven-
lures from the moment OF our leaving
The Daphne; and once or twice he shook
his head In 2 manner which seemed 20
might perhaps prove To be rather dan
eerous guests. under all the circum-
stances
(To be Continued Tomorrow