A Rock in the Baltic

ng, or not so young, who had received invitations to the ball on board the "Consternation" that

Sabina rather stately in her exaltation; Dorothy quiet and demure; while Katherine, despite her mother's supplications, would not be kept quiet, but swung her g

st put this

I looked in

ne to a

any c

nd form wil

through the gathering darkness of this heavenly summer night for the private pier from which they were privileged, because of Captain Kempt's official standing, to voyage to the cruiser on the little revenue cutter "Whip-poor-will," which was later on to convey the Secretary of the Navy an

her. "It is as if a gigantic racket, all of one color, had

, "of an overgrown pop-corn ball," at which rem

sible in a blaze of lightning. And now all the yachts and other craft on the waters fl

spreading from nest to mast, a huge sheet of blue, with four great stars which pointed the corners of a parallelogram, and between the sta

ll be with us to-night. The visitors have kept very quiet about this bit of illumination, but our lads got

ared from mast to mast a device with the Union Jack in the corner, a great red cross dividing the flag into three white squares.

tain, "is the Britis

ructed to conduct the elect from the tide to the deck. It was more than double as broad as the ordinary gangway, was carpeted from top to bottom, and o

t, followed by Sabina and her young

herine to her friend. "I wish each held an

y, then checked hersel

all do," sig

rs and very fashionably dressed women, chatting vivaciously with each other. As Dorothy looked at the princess-like Lady Angela it seemed as if she knew her; as if here were one who had stepped out of an English romance. Her tall, proud

forward. The Du Maurier woman

r elder sister quite as haughty as any Lady Angela might have bestowed, and all thought of merriment fl

intances, and Katherine felt Dorothy shrink a little closer to her as a tall, unknown young man deftly threaded his way

is Drummond-Lieutenant Drummond, and I had the pleasure of

n greeted. He had not at first the least recollection of the young man, but the Captain was something of an amateur politician,

I remember very well t

the Lieutenant. "I think we are t

and, and shook it again so warmly

ion on this young fellow," t

e United States Government runs the weather. Didn't you know th

end of his conversation, realized he could not shake hands for a third time, yet did not know what mo

, allow me to introd

ady b

s Amhurst, a friend of ours-Lieutena

ladies would like to go to a point where they can have a comprehensive view of the decorati

rything I've had in life has come to me because I asked

until he came to an elevated spot out of the way of all possible promenaders, on which had been placed in a somewhat secluded position, yet commanding a splendid view of

you are entitled to your place by holding a colored bit of cardboard. Here a man with a

rls sat together on the settee and gazed out over the brilliantly lighted, animated throng. People were still pouring up the gangways, and the decks were rapidly becoming crowded with a many-colored, ever-shifting galaxy of humanity. The hum of

therine, "can you

nt, "and we can play his music, in a way to g

sa's band?" rejoined Kathe

n means that your Secretary of the Navy is on the waters, and I must be in my place with the rest of the officers to

jacket on guard over

a very g

ee no sign of fooling in his countenance. He said a sharp word to a blue-jacket, who nimbly sprang to the end of the settee, raised his hand in salut

r what this Johnny would do if we attempt

agreeable person,

ng to have the first dance with him. I'm the eldest. He's bi

nd to dance,"

to speak to. I'll ask the Lieutenant to bring you a man. He'll

if it were the elder sister who spoke, "if you sa

to the guard. I'll have you locke

therine, you must be careful what you s

e elbow, and gave it an af

I wouldn't make you unhappy for the wo

shook

s is all so new and strange to me: these brilliant men and beautiful women-the lights, the music, everything-it is as

, I'm not going to

will, Kather

elfish as to leave

ly wish to talk to any one, but simply to enjoy my dream, with just a little fear at th

ne pinc

re you

iled, stil

, don't you be afraid. I shall prove a perfect model of diffidence. You will be proud of me when you learn with what timidity I pronounce prunes and prism. I think I must languish a little at him. I don't know quite how it's done, but in old English novels the girls always languished, and perhaps an Englishman expects a lit

e settee, so that he might face the two girls, and yet not interrupt their view. The s

e received the Secretary of the Navy: our captain is to dance with h

g people watched the dance

that you have not complimen

but Katherine, whose little foot was tapping the deck to the dance music, tossed her head, and declared nonchalantly that it was al

ave been if it wer

ly, "that we should have been where Moses

iend forgets she was wishing the sailors held torc

torches-Edison t

fond of dancing, and here this complacent young man had p

light upon British electrical engineering leaves us unscathed, because t

the usual tone of her elder sister. "I

eutenant did not take the hint; he merely laughed a

o be Jack Lamont's part

any blacksmith that pleases her, but I don't. I'm taking i

, very beautiful, cultured, everything that a grande dame should be, yet she has given away her huge estate to the peasantry, and works with them in the fie

he young man. "How can Princess Natalia be a sister of Jack Lamont?

montoff when he's at home, but we call him Jack Lamont for shor

ked Katherine. "I don't rem

the Lieutenant, who, too late, remembered that this conversation on Russia had taken place during t

Didn't I mention the prince t

Is he a real, genuine prince? A right dow

. Why, he is just now engaged on a scheme by which he can float houses from the mountains here down to New York. Float them-pipe-line them would perhaps be a better term. You know they have pipe-lines to carry petroleum. Very well; Jack has a solution that dissolves stone as white sugar dissolves in tea, and he believes he can run the f

it, Mi

etroit

s between Michi

from the nozzle of a hose. They tell me this is caused by the rain percolating through the dead leaves on the surface of the ground far above, and thus the water becomes saturated with carbonic acid gas, and so dissolves the limestone until the granite

does he

passed without question. No wonder, for he has scientific degrees from all sorts of German universit

a palace

ond l

few months as soon as I get my leave. When the cruiser reaches England we pay off, and I

Is it taken from his real n

XI did in France two hundred years before, and there came over from Scotland Lamonts, Carmichaels, Buchanans and others, on whom were best

really a S

ay of being a Scotchman myself. Ah, the waltz is ended.

ead, and Katherine fai

of it! A real prince, and my ambition has never risen higher than a paltry

ad appropriated

oud daughter of a captain (retired)

op far, Kate, with so tal

bestow the Lieutenant freely upon you, because I'm going t

dle away,

ord High E

new twenty-dollar gold piece. See that broad ribbon diagonally across him. I wonder what it me

eat those stars out on his anvil. He isn

greeable? I thought from the very first that the Lieutenant was too tall. I

ate. The term would sui

believe you'

r head and laughing, and then "Hush!" she a

o time in begging Katherine to favor him with a dance, to which request the young woman was graciously pleased