The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-01


 Their argument, to the secret relief of both, was disturbed by the necessity of going to dinner in WIchecombe Hall. the ancient manor of the wycher- ly wychscombes. and then held by Sir Wlcherly, the last of his direct line. Among the guests was a young sea lieutenant, Wycherly Wychecombe of Virginia, the son of Sir wycherly's | brother, who had been in the naval service, but had quilted 1t and fled to the colonies after a duel with a su- perior oficer.
 Young Wycherly had been wounded iii an engagement off the French coast
 which had given him enough fame to make both admirals view him with a ] great deal of professional interest. In his turn he viewed another guest i with more than professIonaI interest. This was Mildred. the daughter of MT. and Mrs Dutton.
 The good baronet had begged the l admlrafs permission to have Dutton for guest with them. Sir Gervaise. 1"
 said the ingenious old gentleman. T
 know that the etiquette of the quafter
 deck is 2 very serious matter and not to be trided with. But here is Dutton. as good fellow in his way as lives. | though he was only a sailing master
 In the service and has been reduced to earning living as keepar of the sig nal station on the cliff here. Yet I have always had him at Hny table and ne would be the happiest fellow alive
 T understand you" said Sir Ger vaise. and shall be delighted to have him and his wife and daughter if you
 VIII permit me to suggest guests. Sir
 The kindly old man hastened to in- vite them in high glee, and the two admirals were not sorry when they saw Mildred. Bluewater in particular did not pretend to hide his admiration. but | asked to be seated next to her. and showed her such assiduous attentions that everybody else smiled, though 1t I was quite impossible to mistake bia frank and fatheriyl air for any other | than was suitable for such a sterling character as was that of Dick BIue- water. .
 Mrs. Dutton herself was of a train. ing far superior to that which might be expected in the wife of the keeper of signal station. She had been ed- ueated as governess and had in turn educated her beautiful daughter, so that the two formed strange contrast to their father. who showed clearly the effects of both drink and an early rough service at sea.
 Frank Dutton had been a sea lieu tenant when he married, but his hab. its were such that they. aroused crit. | ieism even then In a service that was accustomed to loose habits. He was soon dismissed. being restored finally through the intercession of his wife, to the humble and almost hopeless rank of master. ,..,r
 The good old baronet had come to love Mildred as a daughter, and 1t de. | lighted him to see the admiration that she awoie in Admiral Bluewater. He beamed around his table and gave free reign to his spirit of hospitality which 1 sequestered part of England.
 Those were the days when gentle. men drank deep. After dinner the ad- mirals. both abstemious men, withdrew to join the ladies, but the baronet l could not forbear drinking a. few more bottles with Dutton to celebrate the 1 honor done to his house A few more bottles became many more bottles. and the result was that Sir Wycherly's dinner was the last one he was ever | to give. He was attacked by apoplexy and died within two days, leaving lieutenant Wychecombe the heir to a very fine piece of property.
 The young sailor had barely time 1 to show his respect for his deceased relative before a cutter came in with the news that the French Admiral. De Vervillin. had come out of port and was then in the Channel with twelve two-deckers and eight frigates, | sloops and luggers.
 Ignoring the matter of assuming his l title. wychecombe eagerly volunteer. ed for service Sir Gervaise having dee cided to put to sea and meet the French without waiting for dispatches from London.
 Calculating that the Frenchman must still be to the eastward, Sir Ger tn h @6f tV succession, his ship going first, leav- ing each vessel in his division to weigh as soon as its predecessor was hull down, thus keeping all the ships with in signalling distance of each other. and yet spreading an immense line that would sweep the Channel
 Rear Admiral Bluewater. under this arrangement, was to come out in the last ship.
 Bluewater smiled. with a touch of sadness. when his friend had reached | this point of the plan. Mature new CT made you for a conspirator, Oakes." l said he T know that you are think ing that if you can simply leave that l fellow Dick Bluewater behind with the rear division he, will never desert you when in front of the enemy. whatever he might do to King George, and so you'll make sure of him by making the matter one of friendship rather than loyaIty.
 Sir Gervaise colored to the temples. Then both laughed.
 "Wel, my orders stand, Dick" said Sir Cervaise. You will hold on till the last with your ships.
 Ordering the captains to assemble in his cabin on the Plantagenet flag | ship, the vice-admiral said:
 We have the tide strong at ebb and | a good six-knot breeze Is coming up at southwest. I shall weigh. with my wards square, and keep them so, until | the ship has drawn well out of the | fleet and then shall lun up on taut bowline and on the starboard tack | bringing the ebb tide well under my | lee bow. This will bring us quite as far as to Wtndward as is desirable | The vessels must keep their seconds, ahead and astern, in plain sight. and | toward sunset the line will shorten up to within a league from vessel to yes | sel. I have told Bluewater to use his
 discretion about coming out with the last ships, though I have requested | him to hold on as long as possible in the hope of receiving an express from
 the Admiralty. Let the man who first sees the enemy make himself heard at | once. And mark me, no cruising to
 windward as if you sailed with rowing commissions. You know I'll not stand 1 that"
 | taIns were still showing of, the yards
 of the Plantagenet began to ascend
 steadily and the sails filled out. With | A stately and measured notion the great
 vessel drew out of the fleet and glided
 Yn sn bour her hun dfpped below the