The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-01

l
 porters."
 i "Nonsensem said Sir Gervaise impa- l tiently but in another moment he threw down a letter addressed to him and cried: "Damn 'em, Dick! You might take d l saint and put him at court and he would come out a thorough blackguard in less ! than a week. Here's a letter telling me that I'll be promoted to an admiral of the blue soon, and promising others favors. I call a man who always thinks of offering a bribe, who has no idea loyalty with out its quid pro quo, scurvy blackguardl ! i I'll not take this commission Everybody knows that I've never taken a commits sion till it was fairly earned in battler'
 Though the two admirals thus suddenly agreed about the Hanoverian court, their united disgust at the attempted bribery did not bring their minds together one jot l the more about the attempt of the Stuarts. Blpewater remained firmly of the opinion 1 that he would join the prince. whom he considered his rightful monarch and Oakes as firmly insisted that his friend was wrong, and that principle and duty both demanded his retention of his con- mand in the navy.
 Their argument to the secret relief of both was disturbed by the necessity of going to dinner in Wychecombe Hall, the ancient manor of the Wycherly Wyche- combes, and then held by Sir Wycherly, the last of his direct line. Among the guests was young sea lieutenant, Wych- erly Wychecombe of Virginia the son of Sir Wicherys brother, who had been in the naval service, but had quilted it and fled to the colonies after a duel with superior officer
 Young Wycherly had been wounded in an engagement off the French coast. which had given him enough fame to make both admirals view him with great deal of professional interest. In his turn he viewed another guest with more than professional interest. This was Mill dred, the daughter of MT and Mrs. Dut- ton.
 The good baronet had begged the ad- mirars permission to have Dutton for guest with them. sir Gervaise," said the ingenious old gentleman, T know that the etiquette of the quarter deck is a with. But here is Dutton, as good fel- low in his way as lives, though he was only sailing master in the service and has been reduced to earning his living as keeper of the signal station on the cliff here Yet I have always had him at my table and he would be the happiest fel- low alive if"
 T understand you," said Sir Gervaise, and I shall be delighted to have him and his wife and daughter, if you will permit me to suggest guests, Sir Wycherly." The kindly old man hastened to invite 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 was quite impossible to mistake his frank and fatherly air for any other than was suitable for such a sterling character as was that of Dick Bluewater.
 Mrs. Dutton herself was of a training far superior to that which might be ex- pected in the wife of a keeper of signal station She had been educated as gov erness and had in turn educated her beautiful daughter, so that the two formed a 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 lieuten- ant when he married, but his habits were such that they aroused criticism even then in a service that was accustomed to loose habits He was soon courtmartialed for drunkenness and dismissed, being re- stored finally, through the intercession of his wife, to the humble and almost hope less rank of master.
 The good old baronet had come to love Mildred as a daughter, and it delighted him to see the admiration that she awoke in Admiral Bluewater. He beamed around his table and gave free rein to his spirit of hospitality which he could not gratify very often in that sequestered part of England.
 Those were the days when gentlemen drank deep. After dinner the admirals, both abstemious men, withdrew to join the ladies, but the baronet could not for beaE drinking a few more bottles with Dutton to celebrate the honor done to his house A few more bottles became many more bottles, and the result was the Sir Wycherly's dinner was the last one he was ever to give He was attacked by apoplexy and died within two days, leav- ing Lieutenant Wychecombe the heir to a very fine piece of property.
 The young sailor had barely time to show his respect for his deceased relative before a cutter came in with the news that the French admiral. De Vervillian, had come out of port and was then in the channel with 12 two-deckers and eight frigates, sloops and luggers.
 Ignoring the matter of assuming his title, Wychecombe eagerly volunteered for service Sir Gervaise having decided to put to sea and meet the French with out waiting for dispatches from London.
 Calculating that the Frenchmen must still be to the eastward, Sir Gervaise de- cided to send his ships out in succession, his ship going first leaving each vessel in his division to weigh as soon as it's predecessor was hull down, thus keeping ail the ships within signalling distance of each other and yet spreading an im- mense line that would sweep the channel.
 Rear Admiral Bluewater, under this ar rangement, was to come out in the last ship.
 Bluewater smiled, with touch of sad ness, when his friend had reached this