Evening Star Newspaper, June 12, 1897, Page 16

16 THE AVY AND THE WOMAN, (Copsright, 1807, by SS. McClure Oo.) Written for The Erentng Star. re I think It may be taken as one of the most remarkable attributes of Captain Owen Kettle that, whatever circumstances might betide, he was always neat and trim In his personal appearance. Even in most affluent hours he had never been able to afford an expensive tailor; indeed, it {s much to be doubted if during all his life he ever bought a scrap of raiment any- where except at a ready-made establish- ment, but in spite of this, his clothes were pieuously well fitting, carried in exactly the right place, and seemed to the critical onlooker to be capa- ble of improvemeat in no one point whatso- ever. He lcoked spruce even in ollskins and thigh boots. Of course, being a sallor, he was handy with his needle. I have seen him take a white drill jacket, tern to ribbons in a rcugh and tumble with mutinous mem- bers of his crew, and fine-draw the rents #0 wonderfully that all traces of the dis- aster were completely lost. I believe, .00, he was capable of taking a roll of material ard cutting it out with his knife upon the deck planks and fabricating garments ab Initio, and, though I never actually saw him do this with my own eyes, I did hear that the clothes he appeared ir at Val- paraiso were so made, ard I marveled at their neatress. It was just after his dis- astrous adventure in Cuba: he trod the streets in a state of utter pecuniary des- titution, his cheeks were sunk and his eyes were haggard, but the red torpedo beard was as trim as ever; his-cap was spick and span, the white drill clothes with their brass buttons were the usual miracle of per- fection, and even his tiny canvas shoes had not so much as a smudge upon their pipe clay. Indeed, in the first instance, 1 think it must have heen this spruceness and nothing else which mide him find favor in the eyes of so fastidious a person as Clotilde la Touche. But be this as it may, it is a fact that Donna Clotilde just saw the man from her carriage as he walked along the Paseo de Colon, promptly asked his name, and, getting no immediate reply, dispatched one of her admirers there and then to make his acquaintance. The envoy was Instruct- dont who he was, and contrive that Dorna Clotilde should meet the little sailor at dinner in the cafe of the Lion d’ evening. nner was given in the patio of the ons filtered the moon- with the elec- i moderate computation the ecst of the viands would have kept Captain Kettle supplied with his average rations for ten months or a year. He was quite aware of this, and appreciated the entertainment none the worse in conse- quence. Even the champagne, highly Sweetened to suit the South American pai- ate, came most pleasantly to him. He liked champagne according to its lack of dryness, and this was the sweetest wine that had ever passed his lps. ‘The conversation during that curious meal ran in phascs. With the hors d* oeuvres came a course of ordinary civili- ties: then for a space there rolled out an autobiographical account of some of Ket- tle's exploits, skillfully and painlessly ex- tracted by Donna Clotilde’s naive questions, and then, with the cognac and cigarettes, a spasm of politics shook the diners like an ague. Of a sudden one of the men recol- lected himself, looked to this side and that with a scared face, and rapped the table with his knuckle “Ladies he said, imploringly, “and senor: he, heat is great. It may be dangerous.” “Pah,” said Donna Clotilde, “we are talk- ing in English.” “Which other people besides ourselves understand even in Valparaiso.” “Let them listen,” said Capt. Kettle. “I hold the same opinion on politics as Miss La Touche here, since she has explained to me how things really are, and I don't care who knows that I think the present government and the whole system rotten. I am not in the habit of putting my opi ions in words, Mr. Silva, and being fright- ened of pe hearing them.” You,” the cautious man, drily, to lose here, captain. Donna much. I should be very sorry ave little Clotilde has to read in my morning paper that she had died from apoplexy, and the arsenical during the course of the preceding said Kettle,” they could never “As a resident of Chile,” returned Silva, “let me venture to disagree with you, cap- tain. It ts a disease to which the oppo- nents of Pr addicted whenever they show any marked political activity. The palm trees in this Patio have a reputation, too, for being phenomenally long-eared.' So, if it pleases you ail, suppose we go out on the roof? moon will afford us a fine prospect, 1 the air up there is reputed healthy.” picked up Donna Clatilde’s fan and iNa® The other two ladies rose to feet: Donna Clotilde, with a slight of reluetanee, did the same, and all 1 off toward the stairway. Silva laid ng fingers frown “Captain,” he said, friendly hint, slip away now and go to your quarters.” “I fancy, sir,” said Capt. Kettle, “that Miss La Touche has employment to offer “ae If she has,” retorted Silva, “which I a care . it will not be employment you will about.” a they call here ‘on the beach,’ said Kettle. “and I eannot afford to mi chances. 1 am a married man, Mr. Silva, with chiléren to think about.” OA the Chilean murmured, thought- fully, “I wonder if she knows he’s mar- lent Quijarra are singularly | “I Like Them Better.” ried? Weil, captain, if. you will go up, come along, and I'm sure I wish you luck.” The flat roof of the cafe of the Lion d’Or is set out as a garden, with orange trees growing against ¢he parapeis, and ele- phant’s ears and other tropical follage Plants stood here and there in round green tubs. Around {t are the other roofs of the city, which, with the streets between, look like some white rocky plain cut up by steep canyons. A glow comes from these depths below, and with it the blurred hum of peo- le. But nothing articulate gets up to the Jon d’Or, and in the very mistiness of the \Moise there is something indescribably fas- {einating. Moreover, it is a place, too, where the fireflies of Valparaiso most do ccngregate. Saving for the lamps of heav- en, they have no other lighting on that ;Foof. The owners pride themselves on this; it has made it the natural birthplace of plots above numbering, and it has brought them profit almost beyond belief. ‘Your true plotter, when his ecstasy comes pon him, ts not the man to be niggardly swith the purse. He is alive end glowing ,» then; he may very possibly be dead tomor- row, and in the meanwhile money is use- sless, and the things that money can buy— u the very bes@of.their sort—are most lesirable. One whispered hint did Mr. Silva give to “apt. Kettle as they made their way to- Gether up the white stone steps. “Do you aks who and what our hostess is?” he asked. “A very nice young lady,” replied the meriner promptly, “with a fine taste in woth “She is all that,” said Silva. “But she also ha} is to be_the richest woman in €hile. Her father Gwned mines innumer- able, and when he came by his end in our last revolution, he left every dollar he had at Donna Clotilde’s entire disposal By some unfortunate oversight personal fear kas been left out of her composition, and she seems anxious to add it to the list of her acquirements.” Capt. Kettle puckered his brows. “I don’t seem to understand you,” he said. “T say this,” Silva murmured, “because there seems no other way to explain the keenness with which she hunts after per- senal danger. At present she is intriguing against President Quijarra’s government. Well.we all know that Quijarra ts a brigand, just as his predecessor was before him. The man who succeeds him in the presidency of Chile will be a brigand also. It ts the cus- tom of my country. But interfering with brigandage is a ticklish operation, and Quijarra is always scrupulous to wring the neck of any one whom he thinks at all ae to Interfere with his peculiar meth- ods.” “I should say that from his point of view,” sald Kettle, “he was acting quite rightly, str.” “I thought you'd lock at it sensibly, sald Stlva. “Well, captain, here we are at, the top of the stair. Don’t you think you had better change your mind and slip away now, and go back to your quarters?” “Why, no, sir,” said Capt. Kettle. “From what you tell me, it seems possible that M La Touche may shortly be seeing trouble, and it would give me pleasure to be near and ready to bear a hand. She is a lady for whom I have got considerable Yegard. That supper, sir, which we have Just eaten, and the wine are things which will live in my memory.” He stepped out on to the roof and Donna Clotilde came to meet him. She linked her fingers upon his arm and led him apart from the rest. At the further angle of the gardens they leaned their elbows upon the parapet and talked, while the glow from the street below faintly lit their faces, and the fireflies winked behind their backs. “I thank you, captain, for your offer,” e said, at length, ‘‘and J accept it as free- ly as it was giv I have had proposals of similar service before, but they came from the wrong sort. I wanted a man, and I found out that you were that before you had been at the dinner table five minutes.” Capt. Kettle bowed to the compliment. “But,” sald he, “if I am that, I have all of @ man’s failings.” “I like them better,” sald the lady, “than half a man’s virtues. And as a proof I of- fer you command of my navy.” “Your navy, miss.” “It has yet to be formed,” said Donna Clotilde, “and you must form it. But once we make the nucleus, other ships of the existing force will desert to us, and with those we must fight and beat the rest. Once we have the navy, we can bombard the ports into submission till the country thrusts out President Quijarra of its own accord, and sets me up in his place.” “Oh,” said Kettle. “I didn’t understand. Then you want to be queen of Chile?” “rresident.” “But a president is a man, isn’t he?’ “Why? Answer me that.” “Because; well, because they always have been, miss.’ “Because men up to now have always taken the best things to themselves. Well, captain, all that is changing; the world is moving on, and women are forcing their way in and taking their proper place. You Say that no state has yet had a woman president? You are quite right. I shall be the firs: Capt. Kettle puckered his brow and look- ed thoughtfully down into the lighted street beneath. But presently he made up his mind, and spoke again: “I'll accept your cifer, miss, to command the navy, and I'll do the work well. You may rely’on that. Although I say it myself, you'd find it hard to get a better man. I know the kind of brutes one has to ship as seamen along this Scuth American coast, and I'm the sort cf brute to handle them. By James, yes, and ycu shall sce me make them’ do most things, short of miracles. But there's one other thing, mies, I ought to say, and I Must apologize for mentioning it, seeing that you're not a business person. I must have my £12 a month, and all found. I know it’s a lot, and I know you'll tell me wages are down just now. But I couldn't do tt for less, miss. Commanding a navy's @ strong order, and, besides, there's con- s‘derable risk to be counted in as well.” Donna Clotilde took his hand in both hers. “I thank you, captain,” sho said, “for your offer, and begin to see success ahead from this moment. You need have no fear on the question of remuneration.” “I hope you didn’t mind my mentioning it,” said Kettle nervously. “I know it’s not a thing generally spoken of to ladies. But, you see, miss, I'm @ poor man, and feel the need of money sometimes. Of course, £12 a month high, but—” “My dear captain,” the lady broke in, “what you ask is moderation itself; and. believe me, I respect you for it, and wili not forget. Knowing who I am, no other man in Chile would have hesitated to ask” >she had on her tongue to say—“a hundred times 2s much,” but suppressed that and said “more. But in the meantime,” gaid she, “will you accept this £100 note for any current expenses Ww! may occur to you?" il A little, old, green-painted bark lay hove- to under sail, disseminating the scent of gnano through the sweet tropical day. Un- der her square counter the name El Almi- rante Cochrane appeared in clean white lettering. The long south Pacific swells litted her lazily from hill to valley of the blue water, to the accompaniment of squealing gear and a certain of fabric. The Chilean coast ley afar off, as a white feathery line against one fragment of the sea rim. For The green-painted bark was old. many a weary year had she carried guano from rainless Chilean islands to the ports of Europe; and though none of that un- Savory cargo at present festered beneath her hatches, tl indeed, she was in shingle ballast and hed her holds scrubbed down and fitted with bunks for men, the aroma of it had entered into the very soul of her fabric, and not all the washings of the sea could remove it. iva, the whale boat had off from the Chilean beach, sat the bark’s deckhouse talking Captain Ket- my own. I can tell you, sir, when I sew this fll- old wait- {ng for me in Callao I could have sat down right where I was and t Hag i i : F i THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1897-24 PAGES. but I guess I fingered him enough in throe minutes to stop his dancing for another month. He swore by ali the saints he was Gr other, men, and pernape thet was so. f other men, and perhaps . But he deserved what he got for being in suc! y employ: 7 “Still that didn’t procure you another ship?” ‘Hammering the agent him do an impossibility, sir. There wasn't such @ veagel as I ts all the ports of Peru. Sol was offered, lured my crew al put out cone San Lorenzo island, and got to sea. It’s a bit of a comedown, sir, for @ steamer-sailor like me,” the little man added with a sigh, “to put an old wind- jammer through her gymnastics again. 1 thought I'd done with ‘mainsail haul’ and rawhide chafing gear, and all the White wings nonsense for good and always. “But, captain, what did you come out for? What earthly good can you do wita an old wreck like tris “Way, sir, I shail carry out what was arranged with Miss La Touche.1 shall come up with one of President Quijarra’s gov~ ernment vessels, capture her and ther start in to collar the rest. There's no alteration in the program. It’s orly made more difficult, that’s all.” “I rowed out here to the rendezvous to tell you the Cancelario ts at moorings in Tamplique bay and that the senorita would like to see you make your beginning upon her. But what's the good of that news now? The Cancelario is a fine new warship of 3,000 tons. She's fitted with everything modern in guns and machinery; she's 300 men of a crew; and she lays always with steam up and an armed watch set. To go near ker in this clumsy little bark would be to make yourself a laughing stock. Why, your English Cochrane wouldn’t have done it.” “I know nothing about Lord Cochrane, Mr. Silva. He was dead before my time. But whatever people may have done to him, I can tell any one who cares to hear, that the man who's talking to you now is a Lit of an awkward handful to laugh at. No, sir; I expect there'll be trouble over it, CAPT. KETTLE LIGHTS THE TWENTY-MINUTE FUSE. but you may tell Miss La Touche we shall have the Cancelario if she'll stay in Tam- pique kay till I can drive this old lavender box up to her.” For a minute Silva stared in silent won- der. “Then, captain,” said he, “all I can think is ycu must have enormous trust in your crew.” Captain Kettle bit the end from a fresh cigar. “You should go and look at them for yourself,” said he, ‘and hear their talk, and then you'd know. The beasts are fit to eat me already.” “How did you get them on board?’ “Well, you see, sir, I collected them by Promises—fine pay, fine ship, fine cruise, fine chances and so on—And when I'd only this smelling bottle here to show them they hung back a bit. If there’d been only twenty of them’ I don’t say but what 1 could have trusted them on board with a gun and some ugly words, but sixty were too many to tackle, so I just said to them that El Almirante Cochrane was only a ferry to take us across to a fine war steam- er that was lying out of sight elsewhere, and they swallowed the yarn and stepped in over the side. I can’t say they’ve be- haved like lambs since; the grub's not been to their fancy, and I must say the biscuit was crawling, and it seems that as a bed- room the hold hurt their delicate noses, and between one thing ard another I’ve had to shoot six of them before they un- derstood I was skipper here. You see, sir, they were, most of them, living in Callao before they shipped, because there’s no extradition there, and so they’re rather a toughish crowd to handle.” in at a horrible time you must have ad."* “There has been no kid-glove work for me, sir, since I got to sea with this rose garden, and I must say it-would have knocked the poetry right out of most men. But personally I can’t say it has done that to me. You'd hardly believe it, sir, but once or twice, when the whole lot of the brutes have been raging against me, I've been very nearly happy. And after- ward, when I’ve got a spell of rest, I’ve Picked up pen and paper and knocked off one or two of the prettiest sonnets a man could wish to see in print. If you like, sir, I'll read you a couple before you go back to your whaleboat.” “I thank you, skipper, but _not now. Time is on the move, and Donna Clotilde is wait- ing for me. What am I to tell her?” “Say, of course, that her crders are be- ing carried out, and her pay being earned. “My poor fellow,” said Silva with a sudden gush of remorse, “you are only sacrificing yourself uselessly. What can you, in a small sailing vessel like this, do with your rifles against a spledidly armed vessel like the Cancelario?” “Not much in the shooting line, that’s certain,” said Kettle, cheerfully. ‘That beautiful agent sold us even over the am- munition. There were kegs put on board marked ‘cartridges,’ but when I came to break one or two so as to serve out a Ht- tle ammunition for practice, be hanged if the kegs weren't full of powder! And it Wasn't the stuff for guns even; it was blasting powder, samé as they used in the mines. Oh, sir, that ageat was the holiest kind of a fraud.” Silva wrung his hands. cried, “‘you must not go on with this mad cruise. It would be shi suicide for you to find the Cancelario.” “You shall give me news of it again after I've met her.” said Capt. Kettle. “For the Present, sir, I follow out Miss La Touche's orders, and earn my £12 a month. But if you're my friend, Mr. Silva, and want to do me a good turn, you might hint that if things go well I could :do with a rise to £14 @ month when I’m sailing the Cancelario for her.” “Captain,” he It. The outline of Tampique bay stood out clearly in bright moonshine, and the sea down the path of the moon's rays showed @ canal of silver cut through rolling fields of purple. The green-painted bark was heading into the bay on the port tack, and at moorings before the town in the curve of the shore the grotesque spars of a mod- Fe ale é i E handy my crew would jump Faneeae sharks, and try to reach her In spite of all I could do to stop them. They won't be anxious to fight that Cancelario wien the time comes, if there's any way of wriggling out of it.” “You are quite right, captain, the launch must go, only I do not. I must be your guest here till you éan put me on the Can- celario.”” = : Capt. Kettle frowned. “What's comi is ne job for a woman to be in at, miss.” “You must Jeave me to my own opinion about that. You seé we differ upon what a woman should do, captain. You say a wo- man should not be president of a republic; you think a woman should not be a sharer in a fight; Iam going to show you how a woman can be both.” She leaned her shoulders over the rail and hailed the naph- tha launch with a sharp command. A man in the bows cast off the line with which it towed, the man aft put over his tiller and set the engines a-going; and like a slim gray ghost the launch slid quietly away into the gloom. “You see,” she sajd, “I’m bound to stay with you now.” And she looked upon him with a burning glance. But Kettle replied coldly. “You are my owner, miss, and can do as you wish. It is not for me now to say that you are foolish. Do I understand you still wish me to carry out my original plan?” “Yes,” she said, curtly. . “Very well, miss; then we shall be aboard ot that war steamer fn less than fifteen minutes.” He bade his second mate call aft the crew, but instead of remaining to meet them he took a keen glance at the bark’s canvas, another at her wake, an- other at the moored cruiser ahead, and then, after peering thoughtfully at the clouds that sailed in the sky, he went to the companionway and dived below. The crew trooped aft and stood at the break of the quarter deck waiting for him. And in the meanwhile they feasted their eyes, with many different thoughts, on Donna Clo- tilde la Touche. Presently Capt. Kettle returned to deck, aggressive and cheerful, and faced the men with hands in his jacket pockets. Each pocket bulged with sumething heavy, and the men, who by this time had come to understand Capt. Kettle’s ways, began to Stow quiet and nervous. He came to the point without any showy oratory. “Now, my lads,” said he,- “I told you when you shippeg aboard this lavender box in Callao that she was merely a ferry to carry you to a fine war steamer which was lying elsewhere. Well, there's the steamer just off the starboard bow yonder. Her name’s the Cancelario, and at present she seems to belong to President Quijarra’s government. But Miss La Touche here, who is employing both you and me, just for the present, intends to set up a govern- ment of her own, and as a preliminary she wants that ship. We've got to grab it for her." A Capt. Kettle broke off, and for a full minute there was silence. Then some one amongst the men laughed, and a dozen others joined ip. “That's right,” safd Kettle. “Cackle away, you scum. You'd be singing a dif- ferent tune if you knew what was beneath yeu.” A voice from the voice—answered him: “Don’t be foolish, skipper. We're not go- ing to ram our heads against a brick wail like that. We set some value on our lives.”” » “Do you?” said Kettle. “Then pray that this breeze doesn’t drop (as it seems likely to do), or you'll lose them. Shall I teil you what I was up to below just now? You remember those kegs of blasting pow- der? Well, they're in the lazarette, wheze scme of you stowed them, but they're all of them upheaded,. and one of them car- ries the end of, a fuge. That fuse is cut to burn just twenty minutes, and the end’s lighted. Waitia bit; no use going to try to dowsexit. There's a pistol fixed to the lazarette natch,,and if you try to lift it that pistol wii shoot into the powder, and we'll all go up together without further Palaver. Steady now, there, and hear me out. You can’t lower away boats and get clear that way. The boats’ bottoms will tumble away so soan as you try to hoist them off thecskids. I saw to that last night. And you cam't require any telling to know theré ate too many sharks about to make a swin healthy exercise.” ean tocrustle and talk. “Now, don’t:spoll: your only chance,” said Kettle, ‘by singing out. If on the cruiser yonder they think there’s anything wrong they'll run out a gin or-two and blow us out of the water before we can come near them. I’ve got no arms to give you, but you have your ‘knives, and I guess you shouldn’t want more. Get in the shadow of the rail there, and keep hid till you hear her bump. Then jump on board, knock everybody you see over the side and keep the rest below.” “They'll see us coming,” whimpered @ voice. ‘They'll never let us board.” “They'll hear us,” the captain retorted, “4f you gallows-ornaments bellow like that, and then all we'll have to do will be to sit tight where we are till that powder blows us like a thin kind of spray up against the stars. Now get to cover with you, all hands, and not another sound. It’s your only chance.”” The men crept away, shaking, and Capt. Kettle himself took over the wheel and ap- peared to drowse over it. He gave her half a spoke at a time, and by invisible de- grees the bark fell off till she headed dead on for the cruiser. Save for the faint creaking of her gear no sound came from her, and she slunk on through the night like some patched and tattered phantom. Far down in her lazarette the glowing end of the fuse crept nearer to the powder bar- rels, and in imagination every mind on board was following its race. Nearer and nearer she drew to the Can- celario, and ever nearer. The waiting men felt as though the hearts of them would leap from their breasts. Two of them fainted. Then came a hail from the cruiser: “Bark ahoy! are you all asleep there?” Capt. Kettle drowsed on over the wheel. Denna Clotilde, from the shadow of the house, could see him nodding like a man in a deep sleep. é “Carrajo! you bark there! Put down your helm. You'll be aboard of us in a minute.” Kettle made no reply; his hands sawed automatically at the spokes, and the glow from the binnacle fell upon close-shut. eyes, It _was a fine bit of acting. The Chileans shouted, but they could not Prevent the collision, and when it came there broke out a yell as though the gates of the pit had been suddenly unlocked. The bark’s crew of human refuse, mad with terror, rose up in a flock from behind the bulwarks. As one man they clambered up the cruiser’s side and spread about her decks. Ill-provided with weapons though they might be, the Chileans were. scarcely better armed. A sentry squibbed off his rifle, but that was the only shot fired. Knives did the greater part of the work, knives and belaying pins, and whatever else came to hand. Those of the watch on deck who did not run below were cleared into the sea, the berth deck was stormed and the waking.men surrendered to the pistol nose. A couple of desperate fellows went below aa cowed the fireman and en- gineer on watth. ‘The mooring was slipped, steam was given to the engines, and whilst her former crew were being drafted down into an empty; hold; the Cancelario was standing out af a not speed toward the open sea, und@ fulf command of the raid- gloom—an educated ers, Then them came the roar of an explosi E the spurt of dazzling what they had so narrowly missed. a | as it was, some fragments of the bark upon the after deck as they fell headiong from the dark night sky above. Donna Clotilde went onto the upper bridge and took Capt. Kettle by the hand. “My friend,” said she, “IT shall never forget And she looked at him with eyes that spoke of more than admiration for his suc- cess. am earning my pay,” said Kettle. ‘Pah!” she said. ‘Don’t let money come between us. I cannot bear to think of you in connection with sordid things like that. I put you on a higher plane. Captain,” she said, and turned her head away, “I choose a man like you for a husband. “Heaven mend your taste, miss,” sald Kettle; “‘but—there may be others like me.” “There are not.” “Then you must be content with the Dearest you can get.” Donna Clotilde stamped her foot upon the planking of the bridge. ‘You are dull,” she cried. “No,” he said. “I have my clear sight, miss. Won't you go below, now, and get @ spell of sleep? Or will you give me your orders first?” “No,” she answered, “I will not. We must settle this matter first. You have a wife in England, I know, but that is noth- ing. Divorce is simple here. I have influ- ence; you could be set free In a day. Ami not the woman you would choose?” “Miss La Touche, you are my employer.” nswer my question.’* % en, miss, if you will have it, you are no “But why? sons! Why? Give me your rea- You are brave. Surely I have shown too! Surely you must admire “I Ike men for men’s work, miss.” “But that is an exploded notion. Women have got to take their place. They must show themselves the equals of men in everything.” ‘But you see, miss,” said Kettle, “I pre- fer to be linked to @ lady who is my su- perfor—as I am linked at present. If it pleases you, we had better end this talk.” “No,” said Donna Clotide, “it has got to be settled one way or the other. You know what I want; marry me as soon as you are set free, and there will be no end of your power. I will make you rich; I will make you famous. Chile shall be ‘at our feet; the world shall bow to us.” “It could be done,” said Kettle with a sigh. “Then marry me.” “With due respect, I will not,” said the little man. “You know you are speaking to a woman who is not accustomed to be thwarted.” Captain Kettle bowed. “Then you will either do as I wish or leave this ship. 1 give you an hour to con- sider it in.” “You will fird-my second mate the best navigating officer left,” said Kettle, and Donna Clotildy without further words left the bridge. He walted for a decent interval and then sighed ard gave orders. The men on deck obeyed him with quickness. A pair of boat davits were swung outboard and ihe boat pfentifully victualed and its water breakers filled. The Cancelario’s engines were stopped, and the tackles screamed 28 the boat was lowered to the water and rode there at the end of its painter. Cap- tain Kettle left the bridge in charge of Lis first officer and went below. He found the lady sitting in the commander's cabin, with head pillowed upon her arms. “You still wish me to go, miss?" he said. f you will not accept what is offered.” “I am sorry,” said the little sailor, “very sorry. If I'd met you, miss, ‘before I -aw Mrs. Kettle, and if you'd been a bit differ- ent, I believe I could have liked you. But as it is—” She leaped to her feet, with eyes that blazed. “Go,” she eried. “Go, or I will call upon some of those fellows to shoot you.” “They will do it cheerfully if you ask them,” said Kettle, and dig not budge. She sank down on the sofa again with a wail. “Oh, go,” she cried; “if you are a man, go, and never let me see you again.” Captain Kettle bowed and went out cn deck. A little later he was alone in the quarterboat. The Cancelario was drawii fast away from him into the night, and the boat danced in the cream of her wake. “Ah, well,” he said to himself, “there’s another good chance gone for good and al 3 What a cantankerous beggar I And then for @ moment his thoughts went elsewhere, and he got out paper and @ stump of pencil and briskly scribbled an elegy to some poppies in a corufiell. The lines had just flitted gracefully irom his mind, and they seemed far too comely to be allowed a chance of escape. It was a Movement characteristic of his queerly ordered brain. After the more ugly mo- ments of his life Capt. Owen Kettle al- ways turned to the making of verse as an instructive relief. —— Obsolete Nautical Terms. From the New York Sun. “The introduction of steam was a death- blow to many nautical terms that are dear to the readers of sea stories,” said a naval officer yesterday. “Nautical terms are dangerous things for landsmen to use, any- way. For instance, the marlinspike is now almost a thing of the past. Of what use is it on some of the modern fighting ships? I have just put in a requisition for a dozen monkey wrenches instead of marlinspikes. Monkey wrenches are not nearly so plc- turesque in fiction, but they are much more useful aboard ship now. I remember an effort that the Rev. Dr. Talmage made some years ago in a sermon preached aboard ship to show his familiarity with nautical terms. He described the ship of life sailing through a troubled sea. The tars listened patiently to hear what was going to happen to this ship. ‘She sails along twelve knots an hour,’ continued Dr. Talmage, ‘and suddenly there is a cry, “Man overboard.” The captain ordered the life line of hope thrown overboard. The sinking man grabs it and he is pulled on board, saved.” There were looks of protest from every member of the crew at this statement, and finally one old salt arose and said: ‘No, he wasn’t, not if the ship was going twelve knots an hour, sir. He couldn’t have grabbed the life line, sir. He couldn’t possibly. Reef safl on your ship of life and then that yarn will do to tell.’ Talmage was not pleased, and he brought his sermon to a close. The nautical lit- erature of the future will be very different from that of the past, and men who pro- pose nowadays to use sea terms should get them first hand and not from yellow- backed novels.” ——___+0+____ Would Mave Lost the Chance. From the Boston Post. Leavitt—“You intended to reject this man, and yet you encouraged him?” Millie—“‘Yes, but I couldn’t have carried out my intention unless I had encouraged him.” ——_+-e+____ A Gloomy View. From the Chicago Record. “Won't it be delightful when we all have flying machines?” “I don’t know about that; of course our creditors will all have them, too.” ——_+e+____ “Didn’t Rounder’s marriage surprise ou?” went did, indeed! He’s worse than 1 respect for = From Life. Sreat favor in modern portrait: fivening the picture by a ground which Dr. Bodi oe ik dent. Mrs. oval easel, indy, ART AND ARTISTS The portreit bust of Mr. Gardiner Hub- bard which Signor Trentanove haa been modeling out at “Twin Oaks” Is decidedly the best thing of the kind he has done since he has bee In Washington. It ts lifelike and animated, and the sculptor has ex- Pressed as perfectly as the clay will allow the soft texture of the flesh. The way in which he has handled Mr. Hubbard's flow- ing white beard is masterly, and he has suggested its light, silky quality in so suc- cessful aA manner that one cannot help contrasting it with the heavy wooden masses by which beards are so often rep- resented. In this bust refinement and deli- cacy such as one sees in the modeling of the eyes, with their expressive wrinkles at the corners, go hand in hand with vigor and force. Signor Trentanove always endeav- crs to catch a thoroughly characteristic ex- Pression, and to this end he engages his sitter in conversation, trying to bring him ; to some topic in which he is especiaily in- terested. It is tnen, when the face is alive with interest and full of animation, that the sculptor essays to fix the expression in clay, and the natural lifelike appearance of his busts testifies to the merit of his method. * ** Among the pictures lately loaned for ex- hibition in the Corcoran Art Gallery, the pastel portrait of Misa Deering by the Bel- sian artist, Jacques de Lalaing, at once challenges attention. The dark, rich tones of the seated figure are well brought out by the delicate gray drapery which serves as a background, and the head, with its mass of jet black hair, comes into striking relief against this neutral tinted hanging. The pink roses that lie in studied disorder in her lap, looking as though they had just slipped from her hand, give a bright touch to the portrait, which otherwise might seem somber from the predominance of black in the costume and accessories. Two other canvases that have recently been placed on exhibition in the gallery are Mr. Hinckley’s effective _three-quarter-length Portrait of his wife and a fine landscape by Max Weyl, loaned by Mr. C. C. Glover. On Monday tke immense marine by Schoen- eber, which is to be loaned by Mrs. Hearst for exhibition during the summer, will be placed in the gallery, together with several other paintings from her fine collection. * *** Miss Aline Solomons has egecuted sev- ral flower studies this spring that show a true appreciation of the delicate beauty found in these subjects. Her instinctive love of color is shown in the sumptuous study of red and white peonies, now upon her easel, and the handling of this subject is superb. The flowers are rather gener- alized in treatment, more attention having been paid to the masses of color than to the elaboration of the petals, and conse- quently the study carries well when view- ed from quite a distance. In marked con- trast to the rich coloring of this canvas is the study of azaleas painted a short time ago. In this the drawing of the sprays was necessarily more carefully studied in order to give the character of the flower, and the delicate rose color of the blossoms makes the general color scheme quiet and subdued. Miss Solomons has been working on a number of study heads both in oil and pastel, the most recent of these being a very effective head of a woman with strik- ing eyes and a wealth of bluish black hair. * x * Miss B. E. Perrie, who occupies a joint studio with Miss Solomons, has been work- ing upon a likeness of Mr. William Mc- Pherson, which promises to be an unusu- ally good portrait. It is strong in its veri- vimilitude, and is technicaily a very ac- complished piece of work, possessing good drawiug and modeling, as well as excellent color. Miss Perrie is introducing into her indoor work more and more of the prin- ciples of coloring which she follows in her landscape painting. Her outdoor class in water color was discontinued with the close of the Art Students’ League, and she now has leisure to devote herself more as- siduously to her own work. * ** Miss Solomons and Miss Perrie, were both much encouraged in their work by the words of praise and advice from Auguste Benziger, who visited their studio a short time ago. Mr. Benziger is a portrait painter, with a deservedly high reputation abroad, and has added to his laurels by the fine work which he did in Chicago during the past winter. He stopped in Washing- ton for a couple of days only, in order to complete the arrangements for painting the portraits of several well-known people. gees to Europe this summer, returning in the fall to execute these portraits. * * x Cn Saturday last a bust of Justice Har- lan, by Rudolph Evans, was presented to the Columbian University by the students of the law department. It is one of the best of the portrait busts that the talented young sculptor has made, and shows the Justice in the robes of office, thoughtful and dignified, and yet with the faintest suggestion of a twinkle in his eyes. which indicates the keen sense of humor ready to crop out on occasion. * x * It is seldom that one sees a volume of sketches so replete with interest as the Portfolio which is now at Fischer’s, and the fortunate few who have had an op- Portunily to examine it have found it a rare treat. The book was bequeathe? by Walter Savage Landor to Kate Field, who, as the editor of “Kate Ficld’s Washing- ton," was so weii-kuown kere in Hterary and journalistic circles, and contains sketches by the masters of many countries. Among the sketches pasted upon tbe large pages of this volume are quite a number of water colors by Turner, and several oil studies which the great landscape painter made as preliminary drawings for larger pictures. There is nothing cf his, how- ever, more thoroughly pleasing than twa drawings in sepia, which in their sense of distance and light reveal the hend of the master. There are a number <f sketches by Gainsborough of landscape subjects, and the idyllic scenes of Claude Lorraine and Nicholas Poussin are also in evidence. A sketch of a horse by Leonardo da Vinci attracts the cye when turning over the pages, and one may also discover etudis by many other Italian masters. ‘There are figure studies by Guercino, Guido Reni and Giulio Romano, end bits of land- scape by Salvator Rosa. clever but artificial work of Greuze and Boucher finds @ place here, and the Netherlands are rep- resented by a landscape by Ruysdael and @ gepre study by Teniers. The latter, a veritable gem, is a scene in front of a vil- lage hostelry, and is executed in red-chalk. * ** Mr, Wells M. Sawyer has been doing a little independent black and white illustra- tion, but his time has been mainty oc- thnology. The ume is now about finished, and It promises SS Se ee ee gee ?ie a8 g ry DANGER IN SODA. Serious Results Sometimes Follow Ite Excessive Use. Common soda is all right in its place and tm dispensable in the kitchen and for cooking and Wesbing purposes, but It was never intended for « medicine, and people who use it as such will some day regret it. We refer to the common vee of soda to relieve brerbern Saceee stomach, @ habit which thow- ni practice t “ which is fraught with danger culy gives temporary relict in the end the rd worse, stomach trouble gets worse & mechanical irritant to the ‘The scda_ acts Walls of the stomach and Lowels and cases are on recom where it accumulated in the intestines, causing death by infammat omits, Dr. Harlandson recemue safest and surest cure f excellent ration sold by name of Stuart's Dyspepsia T lets are large 20-grain lozenges, taste ard contain the natural ac digestive elements erential to good dl When token after meals they digest the fectly and promptly Sear and pelson the blood and nervous system. Dr. Wuerth states that he inverialy uses art's Dyspepsia Tablets ta all cases of stoma : ts end fin food per fore It has time to ferment, art and Iver. ended only for and wil be fourd reliable in any stomach trouble except cancer Of the stomach, All druggists sell Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets at 50, etn, pee ze. A little book describing all forms of stomach Weakness and their cure mailed free by addressing the Stuart Co, of Mar:hall, Mich. e012 —s girl) who bolds in her arms a bright-eyed little Skye terrier. Among her other re- cent works in this same medium is a bold study of a man’s head, painted life sive. * * x Mr. William Fuller Curtis’ former suc- cesses in the line of burnt wood decora- tion have been followed up by another piece of work called “The Singers,” which may be seen at Fischer's. The three heads which compose the panel are very beauti- ful types, and the delicate contours of the faces come out in fine relief against the warm brown coloring of the background, it 18, like all the other work of Mr. Curtis, highly decorative, and there is a quaint use of line which slightly suggests the old wood engravings of Albert Durer. * The three-quarter-length view of little Miss Ellen Cox Gritfith which Miss 8. W. Kelly ts working on is the only thing that she has done for some months, but she has now taken up her brushes again in earnest. The texture of the snowy dress is well in- dicated, and the figure is well placed on the canvas. There are several details that remain to be worked up, but the face is about finished, and the likeness is emi nently satisfactory. * x * A number of very good specimens of china decoration have been exhibited at Veerhoff’s by Miss Alice Freeman. The dis- tinguishing feature of her work is the use of a soft glaze, the best example of this being a pitcher and saucer decorated with maple leaves. The body of the two pieces is covered with a dull olive green, and on this background are maple leaves, with full play of autumnal coloring. The seaves have a shiny glaze, and the effect produced is something like that of Cloisonne. On Monday the gallery at Veerhoff's will be filled with a collection of the famous Cop- ley prints, including reproductions of some of the most important mural paintings in the country. * ~* Those who remember the charming water colors of Mr. W. H. Holmes will be giad to learn thet he is again to be a resident of this city. The National Museum is to be reorganized and placed under three di- rectors, and Mr. Holmes will come from Chicago in a month or s0 to take charge of the department of anthropology. Science is the real business of life with him, and art only @ recreation, but the artistic knowledge and taste which he brings to his work is a distinct advantage, as the arrangement of his department in the Field Columbia Mesuem testifies. One who has seen it remarked especially on the thoroughly artistic appearance which it presents, and certainly the National Museum will be the gainer when brought under the same influences. * ** Miss Grace Atwater, the clever water colorist, is to occupy Mr. Andrews’ house for the summer with her father and mother, while Mr. Andrews is in Europe and Mrs. Andrews at Lake George. will have the use of the studio for her classes and private work and will be es- tablished there by the Ist of July. * x * Mr. S. Jerome Uhl has been busy with several portraits, among which are three likenesses that are to go to Denver, those of William B. Burger and his son and Augustus Kountze. A tall, imposing fig- ure which he is now working upon is @ portrait of Judge Ewing of Houston, Texes, and it promises to be an excellent like- ness. He has rarely done a more thor- oughly attractive little figure than the one which he has recently finished of Miss Grace Hardman Robinson. It is a grace- ful figure, clad in black, and the handling is so broad, simple and yet all sufficient that it compels admiration. Mr. Uh! has found time recently to make a quick por- trait sketch of his former pupil, Mr. Walt- man, who has spent much of his time working in Mr. Uhl's studio during his brief stay in the city. It is glowing in color and is a very suggestive Hkeness. Mr. Waltman has returned the compliment by painting a portrait of Mr. Uhl. e figure study, showing the artist leaning indo- lently back upon @ comfortable sofa. There is good study of foreshortening in the crossed legs, and the ertire figure is painted with all the skill thet Mr. Walt- man displays in —— canvases. ‘The Millet, which" was placed on exhibl- tion at Fischer’s on Tuesday ts a re- markably fine example of the great paint- er’s work. It is called “The Gleaners,” and shows three peasant girls bending over at their task in the newly reaped field. The grouping of the figures ts masterly, and Millet has invested the subject with the poetry which he saw in everything, with- out abating one jot the stern reality of labor. The landscape is bathed in the golden light of late afternoon, and the coloring of the picture has a subtle, irrey sistible charm. A large sunset by Inness has also been placed on exhibition, a plo- ture which, while glowing in cplor, is most too intense in hue to be alt pleasing. 8 * Late advices from London are to proval, was recently sold at auction Christie, Manson & Woods, the well-known book and picture auctioneers, for 4 , i i ? i i E R # i ae Es kel PaLE ge a if i ag - i Avda i i E att f ae kk