The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-29

iase, which was model of neatness. and on
up winding path for nearly mile when a
enatp turn around flank of the mountain
brought us to a large bungalow-the palace of
the queen -
WhAe breakfast was being prepared she
MADE herself more beautiful by changing her
dress OF European style for a native costume
OF moving silk SO becoming that wondered at
ner ever wearing anything else After break
last she looked down at the little town and far
OUT TO sea IN silence for long time and then
told me the story of her life
Her name, she said, was Katherine Crofton:
her father one OF the younger branches Of q
family headed by a baron. Her father was
neutent-commander In the British navy and
~ prevent an accident he disoboyed the order
O. an incompetent and arrogant superior officer
lngpsauarrei that followed, her father knocked
h1sIeSper1or down and otherwise abused him,
+ Ior sch he was contaminated and dis
missed. ~
father was a high-spirfted man. she
cos--hued, and his disgrace embittered him
against England and everything English He
soon lett home, and when we next heard from
MIN he was in Hong Kong. When was about
nIteen, ne wrote mother and me to take P
&c q. ship for Singapore, where we would find
further instructions. When we got there father
was Waltlng Tor us on handsome yacht the
queen. L am still using her. He brought us to
to this island, where he had established a small
settlement and built warehouse and ma
chine shop for repairs. He had taken great
pains to make his rendezvous secure from dis
covery.
When I was not much older than nineteen
father and mother were taken desperately III
and he called me into his room and made
confession. He said that in his hatred of the
British ne had turned pirate and had been for
ali those years preying on ships flying the flag
he despised. He had also, occasionally. waged
war on the native pirates and taken their loot
from them which explained why he had fire.
quently come in with wounded men on board
ana ne made me swear that If he died | would
continue the work he had begun He told mo
could rely on Frank Deverell, his chief officer.
Whom ne said he hoped would some day mar.
y,-this last with just a trace of sarcasm
MY father died the next week and my mother
three months later
That was four years ago. have kept the
oatn, but the fulfillment has brought me in
creas1ng misery. My attacks on the British
nag nave been feW-in fact, have given timely
assistance to many more English ships than
nave robbed, and hundreds of their passengers
and crews owe their lives to me, but | have
preyed on the natural pirates of these waters
as ardently, perhaps, as did my father
AFTER luncheon the queen and set off toward
ne houhla1n-top, nearly one thousand feet
ABOVE u.s. but We did not reach it. for the heat
was Intense
Wei, what do you think of US now?" she
asked on our way down, after I had told her
how had spent the forenoon
think enough of you to devote nv whole
Life to your service!" I quickly replied
WheH came back to dinner she was waiting
Tor me IN her bower AS she came to meet me
ana extended her hand she said, earnestly and
almost sadly: u believe you were honest and
sincere IN what you said this afternoon, but |
can only say Thank YOU What you suggested
Is impossible"
In the three weeks that followed I urged NV
owe upon her with all Of my determination, but
she refused to change her decision and an
paFentiy was firm in It as she was at first,
u was agreed that We should both give ND
piracy, but all of our arguments ended there
'ntH nnally, one afternoon, as we sat looking
'ut over the sea and talking Of the ordinary
'ilalrs OF lie, she said, slowly and emphatic
NY, DeVereH was my fathers right-hand
nan am going to take the next ship for
1hgiand, lay my case before the home secretary
no ASK MIN for a full pardon will confess to
I'M that have taken from the pirates what
ney haa stolen from others. To onset that
Hense have hundreds of written statements
roma people whose lives I have saved from the
1rates | believe can secure pardon, and
do will meet you with a clear conscience
md become your wifes