The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1907-02-08
THEY MET ON A
YACHTING PARTY
fOriginal.l

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steamer Starlight steamed out of one
II the inlets Of Florida. She could not
have taken her name from the night
on which she sailed, for 1t was ex-
lremely murky. Indeed she could new
er have passed the Federal gunboats
pa a starlight night unchallenged, ana
il was necessary that she should do SO,
for she had on board Antoine Della
barre, u native of Louisiana, envoy Of
the Confederate government, on his
way to France for the purpose OF In
Lucing 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 rs Winifred Dove applied for
The application was q sur
prise to the captain, Cushion, who had
supposed the intended sailing was a
Eecret. After comforting with Mr.. De
labarrc he told the girl that she might
60 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 trumped up ex-
cuse for the treatme she had receiv-
ed. The Starlight had escaped without
having been seen by any of Uncle
Sans watching feet. the weather
cleared and 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
quiescence itself
He first sounded her patriotism for
the Confederacy, but beyond confess
ing herself q 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 ut 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 al
the peak, was not molested. When nigh
came on every light was "doused," anG
as she was painted gray she was mo-
easily visible from distance. Miss
Dove asked Mr.. DelaLS-re why thi.
was done. He told her that the cap
tain was n miser and wished to saw,
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 shil
was to sail for foreign parts, and sh
told him that she had supposed al
ships were made to sail somewher
and usually to other countries. Thi
childlike reply only increased his ten
der feelings for her.
At night only the officer Of the deck
the helmsman and two sailors were o.
duty. Miss Dove was allowed on dec
because she was woman, n Confedel
ate and very stupid. One night OF
rather, one morning-it was ! O'clock
Captain Cushion was on the bridge,
sailor aft and sailor forward. Nils
Dove was sitting on steamer chat
!, amidships. Suddenly the captain sa,
the fash of light on his port bow.
that Yankee war craft was playin
the same game ns himself while lool
Ing for contraband ships. He ran al
and Informed the men on duty of th
danger and Miss Dove as well, tellin
them to keep perfect silence. To th
helmsman he gave IN order to shee
off. Then he ran forward to the bridg
He was congratulating himself o
the certainty Of an escape when b
heard "s-h-h-h-lng" sound amidshiI
on his own vessel and, turning. saw
rocket mounting skyward.
There was terrible commotlon Q
i the Starlight. Mr.. Delabarre rushed 9
9 deck In his nightshirt, and the captain
who was SO beside himself with wrat
? that he could not speak, pointed
. Miss Dove. One Of the men informe
J. the diplomat that she had fred roc
ct and Yankee gunboat was comir
. down on them. Another took the 81
up and was about to throw her owe
:, board when Delabarre stopped biz
: The black hull of man-of-war a
pcarcd close ut hand. followed by
boom and shot across the Starlight
bows. Then Il boat left the warshi
8 and in a few minutes an officer W,
climbing up the captured vessels sid
He looked very much puzzled, but
a termlned to know what no lights and
I rocket meant. He was still more q
! tonished when Miss Dove darted :
S him, sought refuge within his arm
y aud told him that Confederate env,
was on board.
fl A prize crew was put on board Il
s Starlight. and she was taken to Fc
!. tress Monroe. On the way Miss Do
d threw of her stupidity and appear,