Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-07-25
THEY MET ON A
YACHTING PARTY
[Originai.l

steamer Starlight steamed out OF one
Of the inlets Of Florida. She could not
have taken her name from the night
on which she sailed, TO- 1t was ex-
tremely murky. Indeed she could new
er have passed the Federal gunboats
on starlight night unchallenged, and
1t was necessary that she should do so,
for she had on board Antoine Della
barre, native of Louisiana, envoy Of
the Confederate government, on his
way to France for the purpose Of in
ducing Louis Napoleon to interfere In
behalf Of the newly established gov
eminent. Delabarre, though young
man, had already distinguished himself
in diplomacy.
The day before the Starlight was to
sail young woman who gave her
name as Winifred Dove applied for
passage. The application was sur
prise to the captain, Cushion, who had
supposed the intended sailing was a
secret. After comforting with Mr.. De-
labarre he told the girl that she might
go and, taking her to her stateroom,
locked her in, that she might not fur
Their reveal what she knew. The next
morning when out of sight of land she
was released with a trumped up ex-
cuse for the trea tment she had receiv-
ed. The Starlight had escaped without
having been seen by any of Uncle
Sans watching fleet, the weather
cleared aud Captain Cushion pointed
for Gibraltar. His course ran not far
from the American coast, but far
enough to be without the line of the
blockading ships.
Miss Dove being the only woman
aboard the Starlight and the men being
uninteresting, Antoine Delabarre nat
urally turned to her for companionship.
Whether or no the Starlight was well
named, 1t appeared to all that Miss
Dove was very well named. She was
quiescencee itself
He first sounded her patriotism for
the Confederacy, but beyond confess
ing herself secessionist she expressed
little interest in the struggle. The
young diplomat endeavOred to fire her
with more ardor. She listened to him
demurely, but did not evince any inter-
est in his remarks.
Miss Dove was very poor sleeper
She would sit on deck at night with
Mr.. Delabarre till he could keep his
eyes open no longer and remain there
hours after he had sought his state
room. During the day she would usu-
ally not appear till afternoon.
The Starlight flew the United States
flag and, though she passed several
merchantmen with the same ensign at
the peak. was not molested. When night
came on every light was "doused," and
as she was painted gray she was not
easily visible from a distance. Miss
Dove asked Mr. Delabarre why this
was done. He told her that the cap
tain was miser and wished to save
oil. She seemed perfectly satisfied
with this explanation, and her attend
ant remarked to himself that the stu
pidity Of some women was very lovely
He asked her how she knew the ship
was to sail for foreign parts, and she
told him that she had supposed all
ships were made to sail somewhere
and usually to other countries. This
childlike reply only increased his ten
der feelings for her.
At night only the officer Of the deck,
the helmsman and two sailors were ON
duty. Miss Dove was allowed on deck
because she was a woman, a Confeder-
ate and very stupid. One night or.
rather, one mOrning-it was l o'clock
Captain Cushion was on the bridge. a
sailor aft and sailor forward. Miss
Dove was sitting on steamer chair
amidshlps. Suddenly the captain saw
the flash of light on his port bow. 1t
was only for an instant, but 1t told him
that Yankee war craft was playing
the same game as himself while look
ing for contraband ships. He ran aft
and Informed the men ON duty of the
danger and Miss Dove as well, telling
them to keep perfect silence. To the
helmsman he gave an order to sheer
of. Then he ran forward to the bridge.
He was congratulating himself on
the certainty of an escape when he
heard "s-h-h-h-ing" sound amidships
on his own vessel and, turning, saw a
rocket mounting skyward.
There was terrible commotion on
the Starlight. Mr.. Delabarre rushed on
deck In his nightshlrt, and the captain,
who was so beside himself with wrath
that he could not speak, pointed to
Miss Dove. One of the men informed
the diplomat that she had fired rock
ct and Yankee gunboat was coming
down on them. Another took the girl
up and was about to throw her over
board when Delabarre stopped him.
The black hull Of man-Of-war ap-
peared close at hand, followed by
boom and a shot across the Starlight's
bows. Then a boat left the warship,
and In a few minutes an officer was
climbing up the captured vessels side.
He looked very much puzzled, but de-
termined to know what no lights and a
rockst meant. He was still more as
tonished when Miss Dove darted to
him, sought refuge within his arms
and told him that Confederate envoy
was on board.
A prize crew was put on board the
Starlight. and she was taken to For
tress Monroe. On the way Miss Dove
threw or her stupidity and appeared
as fascinating woman, making 1t her
chief business to comfort the much
Ss-f-