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INTERNATIONAL PR SS ASSOCIATION.
P Vr
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it n . ' CHAPTER i.
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ffc. \ \ 1
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T was In the sweet
month of Septem
ber , the soft after
noon of a day that
had boon hot even
on the borders of
the North Sea ,
which sends its
breezes flying over
the part of Essex
which is not flat
and marshy , hut
TJch and undulating. and fair
'and pleasant to look upon. In
-London the people were gasp-
ring for breath , but here ,
though the day had been fairly hot , it
was now at six o'clock soft and balmy ,
and by nightfall the air would be
sharp and fresh.
It was such a fair day and such a fail-
view ! Behind on the higher ground
-stood a rambling old house , half hall ,
half farm-house a house with a long
red-brick front , and a sort of terrace-
garden from which you might look
across the fields and the long green
stretches of land over which the bold
sea came and went at ebb and flow of
the tides. It was a quaint old garden ,
v/ith tinf like velvet , and raised beds
-cut in it hero and there , gay with
blazing scarlet geraniums and blue
lobelias , and kept neat and tidy by a
quaint liordering of red tiles set edgV
ways into the ground. There were tail
trees , too , about this domain , which
hid the farm-buildings from sight , and
also helped to shield the house from
the fierce winter blasts , and in front
there lay a rich and verdant meadow
sloping gently down to the high-road ,
where just then a man and a young
girl had stopped for a moment as they
Walked along together.
"Mayn't I come in ? " the man said ,
imploringly.
"No , 1 don't think you must , " the
fiirl answered. "You see , auntie has
gone to Colchester , and she wouldn't
like mo to ask you in when I knew
she wasn't there. No , I don't think
you must come in this time. "
"Perhaps she will be back by this
time , " he urged ; but the girl shook her
head resolutely.
"No : for the train does not get to
Wrabness til twenty-four minutes past
seven it is not as much past six yet , ' '
she said , simply.
"But , " he said , finding that there
was no chance of his effecting an en
trance within the fortress , "are you
Lound to go in just yet ? "
"No , I am not ; but you are bound
to go back to Lady Jane's for your
dog-cart. She knows that you came
with me , and she knows that auntie
la in Colchester. "
"Lady Jane knows too much , " he
said , venedly. "Yes , I suppose I must
go back. But I may carry your racket
as far as the door , eh ? "
"Oh , I think you may do that , " an
swered the girl , demurely.
So together they turned and walked
on. The road took a curve to the right ,
skirting the sloping meadow and ris
ing gradually until they reached the
gates of the old house , with its quaint
red front and its many gables and
dormer windows , and at the gate Dor
othy Strode stopped and held out her
hand for the racket.
"Thank you very much for bringing
one home , " she said , shyly , but with
an upward glance of her blue eyes that
went straight to the man's perhaps
rather susceptible heart ; "it was very
good of you. "
"Yes. but tell me , " he answered , not
letting go his hold of the racket , "the
.aunt has gone to Colchester , you say ? "
"Yes. "
"Does she often go ? "
"Oh , no ; not often. "
"But how often ? Once a week ? "
"Once- week oh , no ; not once a
month. Why do you ask ? "
"Because for the present I live in
Colchestr. I am quartered there , you
know , ana I thought that perhaps
.sometimes wirco. the auntie was com
ing you might be coming , too , and I
might show you round a little the
lions and all that , you know. That
Avas all. "
. "But I don't think , " said Dorothy
.Strode , taking him literally , "that
TURNED AND WALKED ON.
suntie would ever want to be shown
round Colchester , or the lions , or any
thing. You see , she has lived at the
Hall"fcr more than fifty years , and
nrobably knows Colchester a thousand
times as well as you do. "
"True ! I might have thought of
'that , " and he laughed a lit'/Ie at his
< own' mistake , then addsd suddenly :
"Hut don't you think ytw aunt might j
like to come and have afternoon tea
in my quarters ? Old ladies generally
love a bachelor tea. "
" I don't think she would , " said
Dorothy , honestly. "You see , Mr.
Harris , my aunt is rather strict , and
she never does anything unusual ,
and " At that moment she broke off
short as a fairly smart dog-cart driven
by a young man passed them , and
returned the pollute of the occupant ,
who had lifted his hat as soon as he
saw her.
"Who is that ? " asked the soldier ,
father jealously , frowning a little as
he noticed the girl's heightened color.
"That Is Mr. Stevenson , " she an
swered , looking straight in front of
her.
her."Oh
"Oh , Mr. Stevenson. And who is he
when he's at home ? " the soldier de
manded. '
"Very much the same as when he
is not at home , " answered Dorothy ,
with a gay laugh.
He laughed , too. "But tell me , who
is he ? "
"Oh , one of the gentlemen farmers
round about. "
It was evident that she did not want
to talTc about the owner of the dog
cart , but the soldier went on without
heeding : "And you know him well ? "
"I have known him all my life , " she
said , with studied carelessness.
In the face of her evident unwilling
ness to enlarge upon the subject , the
soldier had no choice but to let her
take the racket from him.
"Good-by , " she said , holding out lier
hand to him.
"Good-by , " he answered , holding it
a good dealjjonger than was necessary ;
"but tell me I may come and call ? "
"Yes , I think you might do that. "
"You will tell your aunt that you
met me , and that I am coming to call
tomorrow ? "
"That is a little soon ; ' isn't it ? " she
said , laughing. "Besides , tomorrow
there is a sewing-meeting. "
"And you go ? "
"Always. "
"And you like it ? " incredulously.
"No , candidly I don't ; but in this
world , at least in Graveleigh , one haste
to do a great man } ' things that une
does not like. "
"And you might have to do worse
things than go to a sewing-maeting ,
eh ? " he suggested , for it suddenly
flashed into his mind that there would
be no gentlemen farmers in smart dog
carts at such feminine functions as
sewing-meetings. *
"That is so. Well , gqod-by. "
"But yon haven't said when I may
come , " he cried.
"No ; say one day next week , " with
a gay laugh.
"But which day ? "
"Oh , you must take your chance of
that. Good-by , " and then she passed
in at the wide old gate , and d'sappear-
ed among the bushes and shrubs which
lined the short and crooked carriage-
drive leading to the house.
CHAPTER II.
OR a moment he
stood there looking
after her , then
turned on his Iieei
and retraced the
steps which he had
taken in Dorothy
Strode's company ,
and as he went
along he v/ent
again over all that
sue nau said ,
thought of her beauty , her soft blue
eyes , and fair , wind-tossed hair , of Jhe
grace of her movements , the strength
and skill of her play , the sweet , half-
shy voice , the gentle manner v/ith now
and then just a touch of roguish fun
to relieve its softness. Then he re
called how she had looked up at him ,
and how softly she had spoken his
name , "Mr. Harris , " just as that farm-
er-feliow came along to distract her
attention and bring the bright color
into her cheeks , and , by Jove ! he had
come away and never told her that iiis
name was not Harris at all , but Ayl
mer Richard Aylmer , commonly
known as "Dick , " not only in his regi
ment , but in every place where he was
known at all. Now how , his thoughts
ran , could the little woman have got
hold of an idea that his name was
Harris ? Dick Harris ! "Well , to be
sure , it didn't sound bad , but then it
did noc suit hiin. Dick Aylmer he was
and Dick Aylrner he would be to the
end of the chapter except except , ah ,
well , well , that was a contingency he
need not trouble himself about at pres
ent. It was but a contingency and a
remote one , and he could let it taka
care of itself until the time came for
him to fairly look it in the face , when
probably matters would conveniently
and comfortably arrange themselves.
And then he fell to thinking abont
her again , and what a pretty name
hers was Dorothy Strode ! Such a
pretty name , only Dorothy Aylmer
would leek even prettier Mrs. Richard
Aylmer the prettiest of them all , ex
cept , perhaps , to hear his men friends
calling her "Mrs. Dick. "
And then he pulled himself up with
a laugh to think how fast his thoughts
had been running on why , &e had ac
tually married himself already , after
an hour and a half's-acquaintance and
before even he had begun bis wooing !
And with another laugh he turned iu I
at the gates of Lady Jane's place ,
where he must say his farewells and
get his dog-cart.
Lady Jane was' otill on the lawn , and
welcomed him with a smile ; She was
a stout , motherly woman , still young
enough to be symrAXiictic.
"Ah , you are back , " she said. "Now ,
Is not that a nice girl ? "
"Charming , " returned Dick , sitting
down beside her and answering in his
most conventional manner.
Lady Jane frowned a little , being
quite deceived by the tone. Sha was
fond of Dorothy herself and would
dearly like to make a match for her.
She had seen with joy that Mr. Ayl-
mcr seemed very attentive to her , and
had encouraged him in his offer to
escort her down the road to her aunt's
house and now he had coma back
again with his cold , conventional tones
as if Dorothy was the tenth charming1
girl he had taken home that ortcrnoon ,
and he had not cared much about th *
task.
"I heard you say . little time ag- ?
that you were goiiig away , " he re
marked , after a moment's pause.
"Yes , we are off tonight by the boat
from Harwich , " she answered. "Yes ,
it is rather a long passage twelve
hours but the bonf are big and the
weather is smooth , * nd it is a great
convenience beipg able to drive from
from one's own dM r to the boat itself
one starts so much fresher , you
know. "
"Yes , that must be so , " he replied ,
"though I nev r went over by this
route. And how long do you stay ? "
"All the winter , " Lady Jane an-
swereJ. "We go to Kissingen , though
SITTING DOWN BESIDE HER.
it is a trifle late for the place. Then
on by the Engadine , Italian Lakes ,
and to Marseilles. After that to AJ-
giers for several months. "
"Algiers , " he said in surprise ,
"really ? "
"Yes , I need a v-'arm climate in the
winter , and it givc 5 Mr. Sturt a chance
both of life and of sport , so that he
does not really reel being out of Eng.
land for so long. "
"And you come back next sprin-v ? "
"Yes ; some time next spring , " she
answered.
Dick Alymer got up then and began
to make his adieux.
"Then good-by , Mr. Harris , " said
Lady Jane , with much cordiality , "aat *
I hope to find you still at Colchester
when we come back again. If not , you
must come and see me in London dur
ing the season. "
"Thanks , very many , " he said , "but
"
my
"Oh ! " cried Lady Jane , In dismay ,
"look , look ! the fox-terrier is worry
ing the Persian kitten. Do rescue i ;
somebody , do , do ! "
( To be continued. )
HE'RMIT IN A BIG CITY.
an Old tndy Has Shut Herself Oft
from tha World.
Various , indeed , are the ways in
which eccentric people indulge their
little peculiarities , but a decidedly
original manner has been adopted by
an old lady living here , says a Parib
letter to the London Telegraph. On
one of the grand boulevards stands a
house with closed shutters and fasten
ed door. Scarcely a sign cf life is there
about the placs and the house has re
mained in a similiar state over a quar
ter of a century.
The owner is an old lady , who , on
Sept. 4 , 1870 , the day on which the re
public was proclaimed , resolutely deter
mined that no one affected by republic
an ideas should ever cross the threshold
of her dwelling. To avoid airy sucb
contingency she simply declined
to allow any one inside and has refused
all offers to hire either apartmeiits or
the shop below. The only time she
breaks through her hard and fast rule
is when workmen are permitted to en
ter in order to carry out repairs.
Painters , carpenters , locksmiths and
masons once a year in turn invade her
privacy and make good any damage.
To relatives whose political tendencies
are the same as her own she is partic
ularly grcc'.ous , but at the death of
each one an apartment in the building
is sealed up and now all are closed
barring the very small one at the back
of the house , which the anti-republic
an hermit reserves for her own use and
that of her three servants. This
strange behavior on the part of an old
lady has repeatedly excited comment
and numerous have bean the attempts
of people to gain an entrance by soina
other. All their
ruse or efforts are
foiled by an aged servant , who guards
the front door with dngon-like vigilance -
ance , and the would-be intruder soon
finds the portals slammed in his faca
and himself sens the wiser for his
curiosity.
Similar , bat Different.
Landlord ( to delinquent tenant. ) -
"Well , what do you propose to do
about the rent ? " Tenant ( examining
torn trousers ) "Oh , it's not so bad.
My tailor can fix it all right. "
There is many a slip 'twixt the cap
and the lip , but there is only on
between a man and the sidewalk.
LACK Of DBSTEOYEES.
NAVY IN NEED OF TORPEDO
BOAT WRECKERS.
Spain YToIl Supplied 1'nrcliase- Tupy
from Itruzil In About Ansuroil 1:0-
porlcil S.ilo of ttio Vat eat , iy Italy to
thu I > nM Is Uenlid.
The purchase of the torpedo boat de
stroyer Tupy from the Brazilian gov-
Brnraent is now practically assured.
The Tupy , with two sister craft , is be
ing built at the Armstrong works at
Slswick , England , where the Amazonas
and her counterpart were constructed ,
and not at Kiel , Germany , as previous
ly stated. Much gratification is felt by
the naval administration over the pros
pect of securing the Tupy and others
of her class , for torpedo boat destroy
ers are needed badly. A number of
torpedo boats have been added to the
effective force of the navy , but not one
destroyer has been built or contracted
Has Torpoilo Destroyers.
Spain is fairly well supplied with
these terrible "water witches , which are
dangerous alike to the big battleship
aad the little torpedo-boat. They have
attained a speed of more than thirty
knots. The Spanish llotilla now held
at the Canaries , pending the adjust
ment of the diplomatic question relat
ing to its assignment to waters adja
cent to the United States , includes some
of these destroyers. They are more
feared by naval officers than battle
ships and armored cruisers , and every
energy is being shown to get some of
them ready-made abroad to olfset the
Spanish contingent.
Jfecd of Armored Crullers.
It was pointed out the other day.
that the naval administration wanted
more battleships , armored cruisers , tor
pedo-boat destroyers and torpedo boats.
This was the conclusion reached by
the war board , of which Assistant Sec
retary Roosevelt is chairman. As no
more armor-dads except the Carlo Al
berto , owned by Italy , appear to be
of the unprotected ships now with Ad
miral Sicard. It has been determined
to armor the larger of these vessels
with a band of steel extending around
the sides and near the water line , for
the protection of the vitals , machinery
and magazines to be Improvised. This
armor will consist , of two inches of
nickel steel , and will be four inches
less in thickness than on the armored
cruisers New York and Brooklyn. It
is equal to the protection afforded the
machinery by protective decks on some
cruisers , and would render the vessels
fairly safe from six pounders and light-
lire guns.
Knglnrrr * I'rcrd to Hurry.
Orders have been issued to many of
the army engineers in charge of coast
fortifications to hurry the work now in
progress. Preparations are already un
der way for placing In position the new
coast defense guns purchased in Eng
land. It is expected that they will be
delivered at New York within ten days.
The guns are thirty-two in number ,
and are of the latest rapid-fire pattern.
The new pieces are fully mounted , and
arc provided with about 300 rounds of
ammunition. They are of compara
tively short range , and wi'l be used
in harbors and channels , oi the north
ern coast principally. Contracts were
made by the war department Saturday
for the delivery of a large quantity of
armor piercing and deck piercing steel
projectiles of largo caliber.
Ship * for Auxiliary Fleet.
By order of the secretary of the navy
Lieutenant Commander Heeder , com-
m.-wder of the school ship St. Mary's ,
aim Passed Assistant Engineer Ban-
forth , assigned to duty at the Brooklyn
navy yard , sat the other day as mem
bers of the board of auxiliary cruisers.
These additions were made to the
board because it had been reported to
Secretary Long that the board was not
large enough to do the work expected
of them speedily enough. The steam
ships Orizaba , Seneca , Saratoga and
Yumuri , of the Ward line , were care
fully inspected. Unofficial information
was to the effect that all four of these
vessels would be recommended for
lease as auxiliary cruisers , should an
* JiJS'1 Ti i"i < ir ni r - i.r T ii * * " ' * " "
CRUISER VESUVIUS. THE UGLIEST FIGHTER IN OUR NAVY.
definitely in the market , the war board
is doing all that can be done to secure
torpedo-boat destroyers. Its members
believe that this class of vessel will
augment the vessels now under Ad
miral Sicard to such an extent that no
force Spain can gather would be ef
fective against the American fleet. A
denial is made here of the statement
that Spain has bought the Italian ar
mor-clad Varese. , .T * .
* * iaJ > lt
Fleet at Hampton Roads.
The announcement that the Massa
chusetts and the Texas had been with
drawn from the squadron at Key West
and sent to Hampton Roads was the
subject of an inquiry at the cabinet
meeting , and the most positive assur
ances were given by Secretary Long
that the orders to these ships were not
UUP to any suggestion from Spain.
There was no intention , it was ex
plained , to detach the North Atlantic
squadron from Florida waters to satis
fy Spain's qualms in the pending emer
gency. The establishment c : a second
end division of the North Atlantic
squadron , Secretary Long said , was a
strategical move , and the ? .Iassachu-
setts and the Texas have been de
tached to form part of the force to bo
assembled at Hampton Reads. Cap-
ta-n Philip of the Massachusetts will
couiiuaud the second division for the
li
RAPID FIRE GUN CRUISER CHI
CAGO.
time being. No commanding officer of
the new formation has been selected.
Sicard hi Poor Health.
The condition 'of Admiral Sicard's
health has given the navy department
a great deal of concern , and it ia prob
able that he will be detached from the
command of the North Atlantic squa
dron if hostilities should occur very
soon , as it is believed that he is not
physically able to manage a big fleet in
an engagement. H has been practical
ly decided that Captain William S.
Sampson of the battleship Iowa , the
president of the Maine court of in
quiry , will relieve Admiral Sicard if
the health of the latter does not im
prove. The faith of the administration
in his courage , cool headedness , and
ability is perfect , and he will in ail
probability receive a flag rank if war
is declared.
Protection for Auxiliaries.
Those merchant ships taken by the
navy and equipped as auxiliary cruis
ers , will be well-protected-vessels , and
in fighting efficiency superior to many
emergency require the acquisition of
commerce destroyers. Two schooners
and several yachts , offered by their
owners , were inspected today. Among
them were the Conqueror , owned by
F. W. Vanderbilt ; the Atalanta. by
George Gould , and the Corsair , by I'ier-
pout Morgan. , ,
Contract for 2.OOO Hor-ic-s.
The Black Hills ranges are being
scoured by the United States agents
for horses suitable for the cavalry. A
contract has been made with one large
horse company near Fort Meade to fur
nish 2,000 horses as soon as they can
be brought in from the range. Negoti
ations are also being made by the gov
ernment agent there for several hun
dred more horses from other ranches.
The army officers think these horses
are to be shipped south , and fiom the
hurried orders , and the fact that the
animals are not up to the army stand
ard , that it means war.
l Vessel Dcstroj-er.
M. M. Ormsby of Mapie Park , Kane
county. 111. , claims to have perfected
an invention by which everything
afloat in every port cnuld l-.e destroyed
without the loss of a man. and at a
cost of only 55.000,000. The navy de
partment has written him for details.
WEST IN CONTROL.
Cois rfs- , Can lie Depended I'non.
One of the curious developments in
congress is the way in which the con
trol of affairs relating to war seems
to be gradually drifting into the hands
of western men who represent a senti
ment distinctly different from that in
New England. Of late days money
bills in congress are made the medium
of a vast amount of important legisla
tion , and besides that the voting of
supplies is an essential to the conduct
of war. It is worthy of notice there
fore that the two great appropriations
committees are headed by Senator Alli
son of Iowa and Representative Can
non of Illinois. The direct work of
cquippin ; : the army falls upon the mili
tary committee of the house. a"t the
head of which is General Hull of Iowa ,
while the militia committee in the
same body , which in the case of war
would be almost equally important , is
managed by Colonel Marsh of Illinois.
{ 'astern Influences Sat Upon.
The naval committees of the house
and Ht-aate were exceptions to the se : -
eral rijle , both being in control of old
members from the state of Maine.
Chairman Boutelle on the house side
cet his face with curious persistence
against any preparations for war , and
the result was that the committee ran
away from him , and inserted in the ap
propriations bill a proposition to build
three new battleships and twelve tor
pedo boats. On the senate side the
naval committee has been practically
reorganized owing to the absence of
Mr. Hale , whose policy has been ident-
'
/
leal with that of "Boutcllc , and th < T r -
suit is that Senator Perkins of Califor
nia , a practical ship owner and sallMr ,
has been placed in charge.
Jlawley I.H I'atrlotlc.
The only eastern man at the present
time actively at the head of a commit
tee which has directly to do with war
matters is Senator Hawley of Connec
ticut , who , fortunately for the coun
try , is progressive and patriotic , hav
ing been the first one to take a step to
strengthen the army by providing for
two new artillery regiments. To cap
the climax of western influence in the
present crisis , it is worth noting that
the two committees on foreign affairs
which supervise the diplomatic nego
tiations leading up to hostilities and
which would have direct control of a
proposition to declare war are under
the leadership of Senator Cushman K.
Davis of Minnesota and Representative
llitt of Illinois.
Took General T.coV Advice.
The return of the cruiser Montgom
ery to Key West has caused much spe
culation , which the authorities have
declined to end by giving reasons. The
real reasons are interesting , and show-
how grave the situation is. The accu
racy of this statement cannot be ques
tioned. The Montgomery was ordered
to return from Havana harbor at the
suggestion of Consul General Lee. He
pointed out to the authorities that the
retention of the cruiser in Havana
harbor wan the source of circulation
of rumors , and a menace rather than
a protection in case of an outbreak.
She could not land sufficient force to
be much , if any protection to American
interests , while she was not sufficiently
powerful to cope with the guns of the
forts and the Spanish warships , in case
of a sudden declaration of hostilities.
In view of tliese circumstances General
Lee recommended the withdrawal of.
the Montgomery and the substitution
of the Fern , or some other vessel of
the same character. The Fern can per
form equally good services as the
Montgomery in the event that General
Lee or other Americans have to leave
Havana in a hurry , and the Fern
stands in less danger of being fired on
than would a vessel of war.
IVl-.y tl ? I < M7l > Vfn& Hfclil Hack. - /
General Lee recommended the send
ing of the Iowa to Havana to bring
*
back the court of inquiry. It will be
remembered that a rumor was printed
that the administration had decided to
send the Iowa to Havana to impress
the Spaniards with the power of our
navy. This was at General Lee's sug
gestion. He told the government that
the Spaniards could not be made to be
lieve that we had a formidable navy
unless the'y had an ocular demonstra
tion of the fact. The Spaniards , he re
ported , believed the Maine was the
finest ship in the American navy and
that her destruction made it impossible
for the United States to think about
fighting Spain. To correct this impres
sion General Lee suggested that the
Iowa should go to Havana harbor , take
the court of inquiry on board , and
speed out again , an operation which
would give the Spaniards some mater
ial for sober reflection. When the fact
of this recommendation came to the
knowledge of a very high naval officer ,
y/ho is familiar with every word of .
evidence brought out by the court of
inquiry , he made a vigorous protest ,
and objected most strenuously to the
government's taking any risks in send
ing the finest battleship of the navy
into Havana harbor. He gave reasons
for making this protest , and pointed
out the dangers that might be incurred.
The details would not be proper. It
is only necessary to add that the ar-
buments advanced by this distinguish
ed naval officer were so urgent that
the Iowa was not sent to Havana.
\
Hilarity at ( lie Ilaiiquct.
The brilliantly lighted banquet-room
was a. scene of wild tumult in an in
stant. The joyous cheers of the emo
tional Spanish officers could be heard
far beyond the guard lines , which "held
the approaches to the palace against
uninvited guests for a block on each
side. There were cries : "To.the
memory of Maximilian' Neither Aus
tria nor Si.'ain can forget his fate , and
vHl stand together against these
rgtL'- ' '
t \
Vrm.t - >
THE MINNEAPOLIS ,
whose unjustified threats of interven
tion brought about his cruel and un
timely end. "
The Austrian "jackies" are getting
joyously drunk in the water front ca
fes at the expense of the Spanish fleet.
It is a case of the Russian reception
in the Havre and Calais' again on a r
small scale. The only people who
have no part in tne general joy are
the editors of the Havana papers and
the correspondents of the journals of
Madrid. They were not invited to the
feast , and every effort has been made ,
to keep secret the event of the banquet.
Only young Blanco , correspondent of
El Iniparcial of Madrid , was present.- .
As a member of tiie governor's family
he was there as a matter of courtesy.
The other editors held an icr.ignation
meeting and not one of the papers men
tioned the banquet in any way in their
news columns. Inspired leaders in the
Spanish morning papers insist that
Austria , Germany and France will
stand with Spain in the event of war or
tbe seizure and annexation of Cuba.