North Carolina Newspapers

TUB HEART OF FOOT TCHEU. By E. and H. HERON. (Copyright, 1809, by Ilasketh Fritchard.) Overlooking tlu» him* vvuters of the China sea, and, in its turn, overlooked by a tropical stun, stands fti» ancient fortification, from the summit of which the British flat: lags lazily in the still air. Away to the rim of sight the shal low swells wash among many sprinkled j islands, where tin* dim life of the far east still dreams on untouched try tin* centuries. It is a Witter junk-haunted, 1 amt where it slips up into the mainland , through long and tortuous inlets pi-j rates are said to dwelt in sun-smitten lagomis. Yellow parntes. hhie amethyst seas, ldack ami unhandy sailing eraft. and occasionally the long sinoke-lrnil of a big steamer nearing the end of Iter run toward tin* rising sun. The site of the fort haul Ireen chosen by some long forgotten strategist. Its natural powers ci' defense were remarkable, and a good deal of modern masonry engrafted upon these old-world beginnings still lifted an uneven yet solid front seawards. Such as fort Teheu viewed close iit hand. From the home standpoint things look different. It is no more than an outlying post of the empire, about Which we worry very little, although feverish ("anton eorrospondents invariably men tion it in oonneetion with French, inter ests. Yet we refuse to believe that the, French have coveted Fort Teheu for tit j least a decade. Their gunboats and cruf- I ers nose stealthily in and about the lit tie hay under the fort to reconnoitre, tin ir officers are entertained by Teheu s small garrison, and afterward long re ports as to the strength of the batteries and outworks somehow find their way to i oris for the edification of the war of i.cc there. For it happens that a mile or so to the southwest, and almost out of sight ln'hinil the sheltering ridge, am is land. roofed in with houses, its shores fretted 1 with shipping, lives out its hot, busy life under British rule. The loot of that island hive serves as a dream to the navies of the world. During at certain war scare, not yet grown gray, a French gwnlboat of I.<KH> tons, more or less, drew slowly up out of the shimmering dawn, and lay to in the hay: mid the rattle of her anchor chains struck clear across the lonely morning water. The French captain was on the bridge with his first lieutenant, gazing at the twin hills, at the right of one of which the old fort snt like a broken crown. My friend,” said the Catjrtain.' at short* legged Gaul, with a pointed heard, "we must not fail. Presently we go ashore, whin you will carry the little <-nmora. ■ r Ronald Brusul bias given me a letter of introduction to Col. Lettaard. They say M ie (’onmnattdnnr has a daughter.” i He grinned significantly ait the slender,' handsome young fellow beside him, "You Francois, will engage the attentions of this young lady, and by some little ruse of a tender mature procure for me photo graphs of tin* defenses we have so long desired. To linger with mademoiselle on the roof after dinner —how*, natural! how delightful. You comprehend?” Lieut. Francois intimated that he en tirely understood. He only deprecated the fact that mademoiselle must inevifa- , bly possess the teeth of Albion—so large, so on evidence. M le Captaine shrugged his shoulders. It was not a question of teeth, hut of photographs of the defenses, the strength n,iiid position of the batteries. hor his part, he had mot several beautiful Eng lishwomen—here lie laughed in a sttgges- j; live reminiscent manner. Fur the sake of his lieutenant he hoped the girl was beautiful; but, if not. he urged upon Francois that the ugly ones appreciate flattery till the more. However, one would see. To begin with. Col Lennard would be invited to inJqaect the Loup garou. Francois remained on deck while the dawn changed; into orange morning; and he reflected that, after all in China even, an English miss would help to pass the time, liesides keeping his hand in for future successes amongst the most de- si ruble of his own country-women. As . he thought over these things the chink j of picks from the direction of the fort traveled to liis ears, and the watch of the Loup-garou came aft with sandstone, buckets and brooms to clean the decks in anticipation off an exchange of inter national courtesies. Meantime the Fort Teheu garrison awakened to the fact that at gunboat had come hip from the Tonquin station. They had heard of the Loup-garou and of her commander, Capt. Merovinge, before. He haul been recently appointed, and was proportionately full of zeal and curiosity. "I know exaatly what we shaill all be expected to do.’*’ Miss Leonard said to jier father over the breaks ast table, whde the breeze from the sea fanned the prot tv chestnut curls upon her forehead. "Go through the same stupid program. Two formal visits—our dinner to them and their invitation to ns to visit the sh’p, and all the While bowing and. eompli nients for you and Mr. Cannon. ““None for you. Cordelia i 1 oat does not accord with my experience, Col. Lennard laughed. , »Oh of course, a share for me too. But I don’t like the French. They are too —too —what Shall 1 call it/ the French, in fact. Still there may be some amusement to be got out of it—who can tell?” she ended thoughtfully. Col. Ijennnrd put down his coffee cup and wrinkled his forehead. "No amusement for me, at any rate. The fact is, Cordelia, the French want something. They never come here wtth out reason. This tone tnej have bao.ight a letter from Sir Robert, an 1 are to have a rim of the bay f<>- •» * thev are waiting to fi» their bunkers froin the next collier that comes along And that means incessant bother, must send for Cannon. Now. it happened that at this period Fort Teheu was credited with posse-sing •a heart for probably the first time dut in.r tii* variously <* ; ilcttlatcd ntmvlwr ot ceil turn's it had frowned from the bare desolation of tin* Wang-Trheti-Fung ridge. The explanation is simple. Miss LetiTOird had appeared at a few of tin* rare festivities given along the cijfisr. suid some British subaltern in an amor ous moment had spoken of her as u* heart Os Fort Teheu.” The epithet dung •IS epithets will, especially Since, foi mniiv reasons, it was Considered a ih*<*u liariy happy inspiration. Miss Leninard helped herself to fruit while she listened to the echo of rapid f,.H ascending the long flight of steps behind the veranda. “I hear some one ginning,” she said, as a young man in a White uniform appeared, 'between the whitewashed pillars at the further end of the veranda. He gave her a quick look from his brown eyes as he came up to the table befori he shook hands, j “The Freni h are in the bay, says the ■ Sh.nn Van Vogbt,” the quoted, laughing. “Are the French officers coming ashore * at once?” asked Cordelia with quite un \ necessary interest. "How delightful! You know I like the French.” ' Col. Ijeunarvl stared a little at this, hut 'he had not Ihs ii, the father of at pretty grown-up daughter for the last 10 months without learning that there are tlkiigs in heaven and earth not dream ed **f in male philosopiiieis. “Look at this, Cannon.” Col. Len.uard ha, .ud a letter across the table. "Bra scl says the French are at us again, and that we must humor them in one way or another. There is, it appeal's, a little soreness among them at present, and he thinks if we could give ’em a show in here anihisoothe ’em down at hit it might serve our interests at a moment when some bln mid idiot has been saying that Fort Teheu is being placed on a war footing. How anything has leaked out 1 can’t imagine, but it’s infernally awk ward. 1 really don’t set* how we are to please them.” Cannon raised his alert red head after a moment’s thought. “Faith, I’d show them round, sir. That would gratify them anyway.” The commandant rose abruptly from the table. "Don’t be a fool, Fat,” he said testily. “I rather relied upon you for a sugges tion. 1 fell you it seems to me just one of those stupid dilemmas that a little tact should help one out of. Yet I can’t see my way to it.” ".Just so. sir. I wouldn’t show ’em round all at once. I’d let them see things by degrees*—round the northeast butteries, for instance.” “You don’t mean —. Why, they will see—” "1 can arrange all they will be inter ested in seeing in 4S hours, sir. They'll he off in a week —after that — Lennard suddenly burst into a great laugh as his subaltern’s meaning grew clear to him. "Gad! yes, Fat—show ’em round." Many things fell out as Cotdclia Len uard had foreseen, also some other things, which she had not —openly at least —predicted. The formal visits were exchanged, the formal invitations to the customary dinner were sent out to the Loup-garou by a yellow messenger in a little white “boat. And meantime Fat I Cannon sweated and slaved and swore. ! ami hardly gave himself time to sleep while lie worked continuous gangs of men along . the galleries of the old northeast front. ’The mound for three days was as busy as an anti-hill, al though from the outside it appeared empty and placid enough, and Capt. Merovinge remarked to Francois that nothing was more offensive about the English than their arrogant folly, which allowed them to take matters with so easy an indifference that they were ab solutely doing nothing to strengthen an important station such as Fort Teheu, while the mob in Paris were shouting "Alias Albion!” “Couspuez Albion!” and the papers teemed with hatred and men ace. lie confessed the British fleet to be a sufficiently formidable organization, but the army —what of that? Contempti bly small, broken and fragmentary, al ready dispersed to the four winds of the empire—could not the gallant soldiers of Franc© pick them off’ the face of the earth as a fowl swallowed insects on a rainy day? In these and many more telling similes did Capt. Morotinge in dulge. In fact, had Britain been pre paring herself at all points for war, she would but have given another evidence iof her ancient and inalienable iiertidy; yet, since she seemed to be merely going I about her own business as usual and j with serenity, the imaginary insult Hung j in the faee of France appeared doubly ! bitter and unforgivable hi the eyes of the officers of the Loup-garou. But that is the way of Frenchmen. Ignorance is the mother of a numer ous family of wrongs, thus Pat Can non’s energetic days and nights went by entirely unappreciated l by those who watched and waited in tile bay under the very mouths of the guns which claimed so much of his beauty-sleep. But whatever it might be to the others, there was one person to whom the week was a time of feverish pleasure and ex citement. Francois went ashore with Merovinge and was agreeably disappoint ed in the daughter of the commandant of Fort Teheu. She was blonde, and her teeth were not in evidence except when she smiled, and then—Francois pressed one hand to his heai't and blew* away a kisis with the other when he recalled it. She was distractingly pretty, and pos sessed of a soft frankness of manner which is not to be met with on the southern side of the English channel. Hi* found that liis inclinations and liis duty to France led for once to the same direction. lie paid Condelia the most adorable compliments and admired him self prodigiously in the process. In fine, he did everything to ingratiate himself with Mile. Lennard that could Im* expect ed even from one of his gallant nation. The dinner party ashore was a grand affair for the place and dime. Old wines caane up from the bowels of the fort. Capt. Merovinge spoke wittily of the arts, of Paris, with an airy pointed ness of Cairo, and then passed on with a fine enthusiasm to dwell on the twin services and their affection for each other. While Francois, speaking into a small, shell-like ear, dwelt at length U]K>u the sad beauty of the night, on music, on song, on —well —amatory prob lems. His original desire to ingratiate himself into the good graces of the Eng , lish girl for a time, had by the eonclu ! sion of the evening merged into a re > S( ,lve to win her favor for always. It * matters not at all that a Frenchman’s j “always” is often bounded by the day *’ after tomorrow. j Let it be owned, and at once, that Cordelia behaved outrageously. Col. Len * I nard did not appear to notice —Pat Cnn ■ non, who Inal spent the whole night anil ' part of the day in his shh*t-sh*eves •! working like a navvy with successive I gangs of men behind the northeast face of the fortification, if he disapproved. I did so unobtrusively, and the French i 1 commander beamed propitiously around * him. As for Francois, cobl English can i not convey his sentiments. THE NEWS AND OBSERVER, SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 22, 1899. After dinner they went up to tin* roof, and the young 1* renehnum murmured in the moonlight of loneliness, “Yes. 1 am very lonely—sometimes," admitted Cordelia with a little air of sadness which seemed from the heart. “Speak to me- tell me of your lonely hours, mademoiselle; I can fi*t*l for you. I also have been lonely." Mademoiselle merely smiled divinely. She knew better than to inflict her thoughts on Francois. With a woman’s art she put the next qeiiartion. “How earn you know? You have com panions, friends—’’ “Companions? What are they?" he replied. “Tlu* soul is lonely and full of longing until the hafcpy hour arrives when all the solitude is made up for by the touch of time one adorable sym pathy a man has to dream of!" Cordelia gazed out across the shining water to where the spars of the Loup garou trembled iu shadow on the tide. "La recompense," she said, in a low tone, then, shaking her head slowly she added: "But such meetings are rare." “Rare, yes”—lie ventured to bend to wards her: “but not unknown. Say to me, I implore you, not unknown?" Cordelia allowed him to meet n) flying glance from under her long lashes. "The delight of such at recounter is en hanced by its rarity,” he continued. “Mademoiselle, have you never met with one who could understand you?" Cordelia’s fair face looked preternat urally sad and wistful under the moon as she said in a low tone: “Have yon?” Francois afterward declared that lie could have died of that charming whis per. “Tonight, mademoiselle! lie answered rapturously. And then, all. evil fate! it was time to sav goml night and depart in the captain’s gig. But even separation had its alleviations. He paced the deck of the IxMiiv-garou liis watch, and saw the daylight grow into at pallid circle through the i*ortliole of his cabin while he still dwelt ecstatically not only upon Miss Leiinard’s claims to admiration — her eyes, her hair, her figure, even her pretty, hesitating French —although :it was the French of Montreux and Brus sels —but also Ujsin the, flattering re sponses his attentions had drawn front her. In the morn ng Meroviog# \ook otci sion to congratulate him on his success. "Tbait api wared to go" there Merovinge winked in a highly complimentary man ner), "as the Americans say—on vcels! Francois replied with happy self-ap preciation. adding a warm comment up on Miss Leonard's attractions. "Sin* is lM*amiiful? Ah, yes! Have I not said that there are Englishwomen —all. the most bewitching?" the cap tan sighed ret respectively. "I.' i*s. yes. I know it!" But Francois had little interest to squander upon Merovinge’s past tili uunphs. , f 1 lie back of mademoiselle’s net k." lie went on, "white, innocent, exquisite —one sees its counterpart only in a little child or ill the picture of an angel!" Merovinge came back from liis own tender recollections with some dissatis faction. "Indeed?" he said rather coldly, lie had not obsedved the back id’ niadema seJle’s neck, but In* was prepared to take its charms on trust. Meant inn*. Francois could have all the leave lie found neees sary to fulfil the duty France required of him. The party from the fori that came aboard the Imap-garon for dejeuner in cluded Col. Leonard, ‘hi> daughter, and a pink-faced young subaltern of ma rines. Cordelia was handed up the gangway by the i-nomparaible lieutenant, lie pa raded her about the deck, lie aqnike to her of his hopes and his struggles, of h:s past, of his future.‘of liis ambitions. Hi* was plainly making rapid headway in the girl’s heart, judging from the absorbed attention with which she listened to h s rhapsodies. Klu* plied him with such apt and intelligent questions, slu* realized, with a fullness the affectimts alone can teach, how great win* the dangers In* must face in his career, the tornis, the fevers and the climates! He perceived himself to be the envy of his comrades in arms and glowed with a racial exaltation i .’ spirit. Win n Fat Cannon came aboard later, smart, straight, alert ns usual, with many np >l -for the delay duty had .forced up on him. Francois received him with ef fusion. This kindly feeling was yet fur ther increased when In* observed Con non go up to Miss Lennard and say ft few words to which the young lady gave a short answer and promptly turned her back upon him. "Yon can fetch your adorer and liis monkey'gang along any time tomorrow." Fat Cannon bail said, rather sourly, it must be admitted, ff r Cordelia’s lieuten ant pleased him little. 'She was playing a part, perhaps, but it appeared to him that she entered into the fun—if fun it wo * —-with a quite tauten lied-for amount of zest and enjoyment. Cordelia only replied. "Very well.” in her coldest tones and took tip the running with Francois immediately. Now, Francois had had his own prep arations to make for tile receptii u of his fair guest. Early in the n ruing, after shaving, he had oceupAd himself in liis cabin jby faking down the photographs of the girls of yesterday, his former con quest a. and hiding them l in a book. ri ■was not desirable that the present and the past should meet. Coralie ot t'.r 1 opera Coiniqni*. ami hum.son * Ma’.e Girrol or Marseilles, the girl who lives beyond the market, were deposed. 'Now*, it must be understood that Fran cois in the depth, of Iris con sciolism'ss recognized the fleeting eharacter of his own regard for the English girl, yet he desired above all tilings on earth to leave upon lu r memory a tender recollection of himself that should never Ik* effaced. In the future he would dwell with a delicate pleasure upon the knowledge that far away, Cordelia Leninard still slglnd for liis loss, still treasured his words and looks in her heart. Even when married to some dull, coarse-grained British hus band she would turn back through the years with appreciation of the superib young lover of long ago! Filled with these praiseworthy inden tions, he fluttered about her endeavoring to deepen the impression lie believed him self to have already made. The wind had blown the soft chestnut curls about her brow, her ears, her neck, and she seemed more than ever adorable. Ho took her below to show her where lier lieutenant lived. He fancied slu* would always picture him there, his 'hair wet with the spindrift of the stormy seas and other heroic concomitants. She would make that cabin the home of her romance! As a matter of fact she didn’t. Site merely thought it stuffy, but avus too civil laud interested) to say so. Catarrh is Not Incurable But it can not be cured by sprays washes and inhaling mixtures whicl reach only the surface. The disease it in the blood, and can only be reached through the blood. S. S. S. is the onij remedy which can have any effect upot Catarrh; it cures the disease perma nently and forever rids the system o: every trace of the vile complaint. ■ J°sie Owen, of Montpelier, Ohio writes: “I was as Aided from infancj with Catarrh, and n one can know till suffering it producei better than I. Tin sprays and wash el , prescribed by the doc tors relieved me onlj ‘ temporarily, an! ' though I used them constantly for ten years, the disease had « firmer hold than ever. I tried a number a blood remedies, hut their mineral ingredient! settled in my bones and gave me rheumatism I wti in a lamentable condition, and after ex hausting all treatment, was declared incurable Seeing S. S. S. advertised as a cure for bloot diseases, I decided to try It. As soon as mj ! system was under the effect of the medicine I began to Improve, and after taking it so! two months 1 was cured completely, thi dreadful disease was eradicated from my sys tem, and I have had no return of it.” Many have been taking local treat ment for years, ami find themselves worse now than ever. A trial of S.S.SX Blood will prove it to be the right remedj for Catarrh. It will cure the most ob* stinate case. £ Books mailed free to any address bj Bwift Specific Co., Atlanta, Ga. By an unfortunate mistake she put her hand upon a book that lay upon the table —the hook into which Francois had put the yesterdays. A yesterday fell out. It was a striking photograph of Coralie of the opera. Francois picked it up skilfully. "My beloved mother," he said, “before her marriage to the hero, my father.” "Which?” asked Cordelia innocently. She had caught sight of more than one. “The others are my sisters,” he has tened to add. “You have a great many sisters,” slu* remarked with interest. "llow many?" Now. Francois had no means of know ing the exact number of yesterdays which Miss Luvnanl's sweet blue eyes j had seen, so lie left an easy margin, and ans wered — "Fourteen!’’ "Really? Fourteen? Bo let me set* them.” "Spare me your eyes, your—" “M here are you, fVrilelia. Time's i;p!" tin* colonel’s big voice rolled through the open door from the mess-room. "You are miring ashore tomorrow?” j asked Cordelia timidly. "We —we could go over the fort. Your friends might like to come also?" Francois was . traiistportiHl with his luck. "Alas! dear imndcmoislle." lie replied, "with what joy and dispatch would I come! To sis* the fort naturally affords me precisely the excuse 1 need to bring some of my comrades with me. but that favor is denied to us by your jealous country." < Vnltdia stood for a second Hnfiightful. "Fnintld you really care to come?" she asked demurely at length. Tin* ardor of his reply left nothing to he dc-ired. ■'l inn 1 think 1 can manage it. My iat .ii i always allows me to do as 1 like. \YFv Miion’d we not go over the fort?" Hu* looki d inquiringly at him. •‘But Capt. Cannon? What of him?" Some instinct hold Francois that Can non’s nil head held the aeutest material available at Fort Teheu. Cordelia opened her eyes with a cer tain dignified astonishment. "Ate you not aware that my father is tl**' commandant?" Had Francois belonged to any other race he must have betrayed bis real meaning by some useless denial. As it was lie tried to touch tile lingers that somehow eluded his. while he replied with a fine theatrical earnestness. "1 comprehend that, dear Mademoi selle, hut were 1 M le Captaine Cannon, I should use every artifice to keep other men from worshipping at the shrine of my own devotion." Cordelia colored. “My father is calling me," she answer ed coldly. 1 le followed her on deck trying to soft en her ovidi nt annoyance, but it was only nt the last moment, when she avus already on the gangway, that he ventur ed to whisper, "A domain?” ‘but Cordelia gave no sign. Thus another day passed. Tin* Rebec ca arrived with coal, and the little gun boat was filling ui> her bunkers, when Francois in desperation sent an implor ing note to Miss Lennard. begging her to sic him again. That if it facilitated matters, the whole ship’s company were ready to go ashore with him. For in the interval lie had begun to imagine tb it Cordelia’s invitation to others' bc-idi* hill.-elf meant a natural desire c*i:» Su*r part to veil her real motive, which was n j doubt to secure a tete-a-tete. A couple of hours later an, invitation to luncheon arrived from Col. Lennard for ( apt. Merovinge and the officers of the Loup-garou. Francois was naturally of the party that went ashore in res ponse. He had no manner of doubt that the festivity thail been worked by Corde lia. and was in some shape an answer to his impassioned appeal. At luncheon he surpassed himself. Even Merovinge gave place to him. The others bad' also their orders, mwl were as comparatively silent as it is given to Frenchmen to be. They allowed Fran cois to take tlhe floor, so to sijieak, mind lie aAuiiled himself of the chance in a manner that thrilled his compatriots. He was magnificent. He sunned himself in the smiles of the fair, lie told stories of the duels he had fought and the dan gers he had braved, he dwelt on his ap proaching departure with a jxdnt and a quiver of feeling that avoiii him iroany, compliments later on round the mess table on hoard. All tne time Cordelia's I attention never flagged, she sympathized and looked terrified in the right places, in fact she satisfied even the exigent vanity of her admirer. Francois, however, directed most of his conversation to Fat Cannon. Avbose labored politenesses delighted' Cordelia. I For. in spite of all. Cannon was as jeal ous as a ml-haired man has a right to Ik*. He was a young fellow of iMits and sagacity, but In* aviis very human, and Cordelia, like many another woman, dealt hardly with an affection of which she felt secure. Col. Lennard under stood the various elements of the seem* wonderfully, and smiled from time to time grimly enough under his heavy mustache. At length lunch and Francois’ tales of his own prowess came to an end. It, was still too early in the day to go upon the roof, and Cordelia propped an expe dition by some sheltered passages to the (fort, where in a cool gaMery with em brasures open to the sea breeze the men might smoke and saunter for a while. Then* was a pause, then Col. Ijennnrd slowly agreed to the proposal. Cannon demurred a, little, but his objection was overruled .and Francois led the way with Cordelia, Iris heart 'beating in his throat, as in imagination In* saw himself neiijig decorated for his achievement. Cordelia had put on a big white hat that only made a frame to enhance the beauty of her faee. What Francois said during that mem orable hour, his eloquence, his pathos, can never Im* written down, but he cun ningly led the fascinated girl hither and thither, past endless sentries, who, how ever. stood only rigidly stupid ns the I couple paced the length of the fortifica tion. It may In* added flint Cordelia herself was astonished at the extraordin ary number of men on guard, the fact being that Cannon had no idea of allow ing her to Im* for one moment out of ear shot alone Avitli her enamored companion. After a time a favorable opportunity offered, and Francois made the request he had been working toward since he arrived in Then bay. "Dear mademoiselle, you Avill permit me a recollection?” he said with eager ness as lie produced his camera. "I scarcely dare to ask so much, hut in the lonely moments at, sea, when iM*rchaiiee the last storm that 1 am destined to hear is blowing, I will take one last look at that: exquisite face. You cannot re fuse me?” "To place with your mother awl sis ters?” she demanded xvith what. Fran cois deemed to he a shy delight. That was as it should be. She had clearly no suspicion of his real design. They were on one of the bastions. Two old suns-Ava rmiied guns, frowned innM* ceotiy out over the gleaming Avater. i rancois begged Miss Lennard to place herseSsf by one of these, 'turning an apt compliment out of the contract. lie was inclined to be a little contemptuous of the girl’s blindness, and her facile re sponses to his flattery and advances. ,u ore over, he largely despised the Brit ish. who could look with complacency upon these desolate, pieces of artillery.or remain ignorant of the very pa- I tent fact that the whole for tification would* lie about their ears in 10 minutes under the shells of a man-of-war, against which they must be entirely helpless, as none of the ancient specimens of cast-iron he saw about him could throw any projectile more than 100 yards—-and that crooked. And then j he turned with zest to take a hwnk at the opulent island to tin* south, one small I corner of which could just be descried from the spot where lie stood. Ah, the future! He placed Miss Lennard, and, retiring, got bis focus. In many places and in divers positions he photographed her, and with her the %>rtific*fltions coveted by the war office at Paris. As bis professional outlook brightened, the more warmly glowed the words of the inflammable Gaul. At the first pic ture she was ‘There mademoiselle." be fore the last she was—but never mind. Miss Lennard might read this story, and then when* should I be if 1 told? * * * That evening Merovinge said: “My friend, let me embrace you! You have achieved a suedess! You have achieved an immense service to France and to me! Be tranquil! You AA*ill have your reward!" Francois responded as was expected of ' him. hut his heart was unreasonably j heavy, ami though he tried to persuade ' himself that the great desire he felt to develop liis plates was only the outcome of professional zeal, that it hail nothing whatever to do with the human interest contained in the photographs, he was obliged before long to own that liis mo i dives were not purely patriotic—were in fact a little mixed. ! So tile Ijonp-garou put out to_sea. and 1 Francois, gazing back at the receding i fort-crowned ridge. acknowledged to himself that lie had indeed conquered, but tire conquest hail left a sting iu liis , memory. As the shores of China were 1 growing with every moment more indis- I tinct, there came across the amethyst 1 water a dull, reverberating noise, and j then again, and yet again. It was al most as if blasting were going on. Capt. Merovinge opined that the English were ! probably trying to fire a, salute from "those guns!” On the Tonqtiin station it* is very difficult, almost impossible, to get leave 1 of absence, and so a weary month wore on while Francois yearned to return to China. The photographs and informar tion had been duly sent to the proper au thorities in Paris, and upon their an swer Francois built hopes of securing time to return to Fort Tclien, for that desolate spot he now knew haul an irre mediable hold upon his heart. Judge then of liis feedings when a letter ar riA r ed lor him bearing upon it the unfor | gotten handwriting of mademoiselle. He ' clasped it to his heart and retired to his cabin to read its contents. Goodness only knows what he expected them to be. i What they actually were is given here, together Avith the comments of the gen tleman to Avhom they Avere addressed. "Dear M. Francois —I hope you have ' not quite* forgotten Fort Teheu and our selves. (Nevaire, mademoiselle!) Do you remember those photographs which you * took while you were here? (Francois cast his eyes upon one of them which i hung over the locker.) 1 ami going to ask you a favor. (It is already granted, ina belle!) 1 was very fond of the old /orfideations, but our stupid government had condemned them as effete—(Mon Dion!) I don’t kuow Avhether I mention ed that to you when you wore here? i (What perfidy!) They were destroyed the day you left. There are new ones on the ridge looking toward the island, but | though they may Im* much more useful j they are not nearly so picturesque ns the 1 old, and I should feel very grateful to you if you would leit me have a copy of one or two of the views you took that day. My husband sends his compliments to all on board jthe Loup-garou. And, thanking you beforehand—l remain , yours sincerely. 1 “CORDELIA CANNON.” NO OTHER PIANOS HA EVER EXCELLED THE In that rich, full, sweet tone, which is the vital quality of Piano superiority. A handsome case is a mere matter of expense—tone is the essence of piano worth fulness. You can secure one conveniently. Write for catalogue. W a rerooms —9 N. Liberty Street. Factory, East Lafayette Avoutie, , Aiken and Lanvale streets. North, South and Bouthweat Schedule in Effect December 11th, 1893. Schedule in Effect December 11th. 1895. SOUTHBOUND No. 409 No. 41 Lv Raleigh “ 14 am *3 3« pm Ar Southern Pines 4 211 am 5 58 pm Ar Wilmington B\ L 12 05 am * Ar Monroe “ 8 43 am 9 12 pm Ar Charlotte “ *7 60 am *lO 26 pm Ar Chester “ *8 T 8 am *lO M pin Ar Greenwood 10 35 am 1 07 am Ar Athens 1 13 pm 3 43 am Ar Atlanta 8 50 pm 8 20 am Ar Raleigh *2 16 am 3 34 pm NORTH BOUND No. 402 No. 38 Lv Raleigh *2 09 am 11 13 am Ar Henderson S2B am *l2 56 pm Ar Weldon “ *4 55 am 2 50 pm Ar Portsmouth SAL 7 25 i>m 6 20 pm Ar Richmond ACL 840 am 7 12 pm Ar Washington, Penn RB 12 31 pm 11 10 pm Ar New York * “ *»> 23 pm *0 53 am Ar Ralelga *2 10 am *ll 18 am ♦Daily. „ , . „ Nos. 403 and 402—“ The at'anta Specials. Solid Vestibuled Train of Pullman Sleepers and coaches between Portsmouth and Atlanta, also Pullman Sleepers between Portsmouth and Chester, S. C. Mrs 41 and 48 “The «. A. L Fxnress.” Solid Train, coaches and Pullman Sleepers between Portsmouth anil Atlanta. Company Sleepers between Columbia and Atlanta. Both trains make immediate connections a Atlanta for Montgomery. Mobile, New Orleans, Texas, California, Mexico, Chattanooga, Nash ville, Memphis, Macon, Florida. H. S. LEAKD, G. T. and F. A. Raleigh, N. 0. 59. ST. JOHN, Vice- Frest. and Goa. Manager. H. W. GLOVER, Traffic Manager. V K. McBEE. General Nasal Catarrh CAN RB CURED BY SIMPSON'S Eczema Ointment F>r All itjaiaon a (1 Liva^T' Use SIMPSON’S LIVER PILLS Tho lies* in th« World. HUNT BY MAIL FOR % CKNTS. Simpson’s Pharmacy WILL*AM SIMPSON. •!»**«»'» Wheat & Grass Crops ■l—i it <■ Hi it « * r ALLISON & ADDISON’S High Grade FERTILIZERS. “Star Brand” Guano, “McGarvock” Mixture, “B. P.” Potash Mixture, Acid Phosphate. We especially recommend the “Me- Gavock Mixture.” It is extensively used in Virginia and its us on the crops in North Carolina for the last two years has given great satisfaction. For sale by agents generally through out the State. Send for circulars. ALLISON & ADDISON, Branch Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co.. Richmond. Va. IF IN WANT of a good Wheat Fertilizer Write to S. W. Travers & Co., Branch V. C. C. Co., Richmond, Va. BRANDS: “Beef, Blood and Bone ” “Capital Bone Potash Com pound.” “Champion” Acid Phos phate. 7