The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-08-20

but come, Daisy, you have not yet seen your
palace below, and luncheon will soon be
ready"
We all descended the broad winding stairs
of the cabin companionway, and once again
Daisy's irrepressible cries of delight broke
forth. 1t would have been difficult indeed
for any one to restrain his admiration for
that sumptuous interior. There were state
rooms furnished in delicate shades of color,
decorated with works of art of priceless
value, and fitted with every comfort and
every luxury that the traveller could desire;
there was a dining saloon in which the
stamped leather decorations of the smoking
room on deck were reproduced, but in diff
ferent color. 1t was difficult TO remember
that we were on board a ship. This noble
apartment looked rs though it had been
transferred bodily from some Venetian pal
acc. There was a saloon, spacious airy, e.e-
CANT, n when tie embroidered silk panels
of the walls We'd with the covering OF the
couches, and sumptuous carpets, in the soft
pile of which the foot sank an inch deep; and
there was boudoir in which the beauty and
magnificence of this fairy palace seemed to
have Gu minated. When we reached it |
thought Daisy's face turned pale as though
she were a most frightened by the splendor
of which sho was now the mistress. In my
The more clearly the riches of Mauleverer
were made apparent to me, the greater
seemed to be the gulf by which / was cut off
from him and all belonging to him.
We had not yet seen everything, however,
that was to be seen ON board this wonderful
ship. When We left. the boudoir, a short
gangway, the walls of which were covered
with green plush and glittered with the re-
Elected light OF mirrors, led us to door
which Mr.. Mauleverer discovered was locked.
"What have we here's" he said, turning to
DIR. Branksome.
ooh! there you have the other side of the
picture" was the reply. "You know, per-
haps, that the old duke had been in the navy
in his youth, and that up to the end of his
days he was terribly severe discipinarian.
1t seems that he always insisted upon having
a punishment cell made in his yachts, and
was told that he had evea been known to
confine his own sors when they happened to
offend him."
"And is this the ce'l!" asked Mauleverer,
pointing to the locked door.
at lies beyond it," said the DOCTOR He
produced a small key and opened the door.
1t showed us a continuation of the gangway;
but now the walls of the narrow passage
were utterly without ornament. 1 placed
my hand upon them, and found that they
were lined with sheet-iron. At the end of
the passage was another door, which Drank
some opened. We saw dimly, for we We're
not provided with any lantern, small,
square apartment, furnished in the plainest
fashion, striking contrast to the beauty
and luxury of everything else. The place
was cold and dark; / could feel Daisy, who
was standing near me, shiver as she looked
into the gloomy cell.
~ think must have that dismal hole i'm
proved out of existence" said the million
aire, in his placid tones. We were all glad
to turn our backs upon this specimen of
ducal folly, and to make our way to the
dining saloon, where luncheon in keeping
with the splendors of the apartment was
spread upon the table.
II must, / think, have been the feeling of
oppression that was produced in my mind
by the display of Mauleverers overpower-
ing wealth that prevented my enjoying that
meal, even although it was the first had
ever taken in the company of the girl
loved. There was an additional reason,
think, which contributed, to a certain ex-
tent, to my embarrassment. 1 was seated
opposite to Daisy at the round table which
occupied the middle of the floor Of the cabin.
Again and again tried to catch her eye,
and to win some word from her lips. More
than once she looked up, and l thought l had
succeeded. But if for a moment her eye
seemed to rest ON my face, il wandered al
most simultaneously to that Of my next
neighbor, the doctor, and then it sank once
more upon her plate.
Bran<some himself kept me involved in
bright talk, in which not only the yacht and
its glories, but the gayeties of Scarborough
and the beauties of the Yorkshire scenery
played prominent part. By and by, how
ever. he became confidential.
"You are looking at our friend over
there, l see" he said, indicating the man
whom 1 had heard called Flinter by Mr..
Mauleverer. The truth is, ] was looking at
him because had become conscious of the
fact that he was staring at me with the dis
agreeable intensity of purpose which had
noticed when 1 was speaking to the million
aire in the hotel in the morning. Rather a
rough diamond is he notl But diamond,
nevertheless. He owes everything to our
good host and would go through fire and
water to serve him."
thought 10 myself that the man hardly
looked equal to the character thus given
| him by the doctor, but l had learned to dis
| trust first impressions, and l said nothing.
"Have you never heard of Mr.. Fosdyke
beforef' whispered Branksome in my ear.
81 am surprised. He is one of the very
cleverest attorneys in London. You would
soon hear all about him if you were to liz
quire at Bow street or the Old Bailey"
Fosdylse must have heard his name when
Branlsome whispered it to me. At all
events caught the glitter of his pince-nez
as his eyes were turned upon me, and once
more felt that I was being subjected to q
scrutiny Of unpleasant severity.
How longed, as the well-drilled stewards
passed round dish after dish and replenished
our glasses with the champagne or claret
which ives provided in such profusion, for
the peace of the days that were gone, when
my darling was not set in this frame of
almost regal splendor, but when L was al
lowed to sit beside her with no jealous eye to
keep watch between Us, and no voice to con-
tend with mine for the possession of her ear
Once or twice / caught a look in her face
that seemed to tell me that some thought not
unlike this was passing through her own
mind; but If ever her spirit seemed to be
tagging, and the color begin to fade from
her face, some sally from Branksome, the
briliiancy of whose conversation was in
Il