The Florence daily tribune., 1898-04-22

which another ste,xard copductad ,,a
after which I returned To INV berth
dressed my wound. and. having eelecte,,
clean suit of white ducks attircd
myself and repaired ON deck.
Punctual to the stroke of two hollis II
o'clock was summoned to the after
saloon hy my first messenger. 1 follow.
ed him, and descending the companion
the scantling of which WINS prottily
picked out in white and gold, found
myself in her ladyship's own Quarters.
There was no one present. and 1 must
own was glad of that, for wanted am
opportunity to look about me.
In tho small space can nllot to il, 1t
would be difficult to do adeuunte ius-
tioe to tho cabin in which | found N.Y.
self, but for the better understanding of
my story 1 must endeavor to give you
some description of it. In the first place.
you must understand that the compan.
ion ladder opened directly into the sa-
loon itself This otherwise common
place effect was, however rendered
most artistic by heavy pile of carpet
which covered the steps and by the Cur
tains which draped the entrance and tho
portfolios. More of the same noiseloss
carpet covered the floor, while light
was supplied from ports ON either side
and from a richly decorated skylight in
the deck above. The effect of the thick
butt of the mainmast was entirely taken
away by number of artfully contrivcd
and nodded japanese mirrors, which,
besides fulfilling their original purpose,
gave an additional air of light and ele-
gance to the room. The walls. which
were exquisitely paneled and nodded
in ivory and gold, were loaded with
bric-a-brac of every description, includ-
ing much china and many pictures of
rare value, while deep chairs and
couches, Turkish and Indian divans,
piles of soft cushions and furs were scat
tered about here and there, as If inv.t
ing the cabins occupants to an exister co
of continual repose. A grand piano
stood in one corner, firmly cleated to
the deck; on the bulkhead above it were
an exquisitely inlaid Spanish guitar
and Hungarian either, while abo7e
them again were several fine specimens
OF the old Venetian Lutte. Altogether
more luxurious and beautifully furnish
ed apartment it has never been my good
fortune to behold, and settled myself
down in comfortable chnir prepared to
spend really critical and enjoyable
time. Then daintily bound volume,
open on cushion near where I sat. at
traoted my attention. took it up to
find that it was volume Of Heine
poems in the original.
SO my lady understands German
and reads Heine, too does she?" I said
to myself II must
But was prevented saying what l
would do by the drawing aside Of q cur
tain that covered door at the farther
end OF the saloon and the entrance of
my hostess herself. If she were capable
OF such weakness. my establishment
mnst have fiattered her, for, prepared
as was to SEQ beautiful woman,
had no idea she would provo % lovely
as she looked then. She had discarded
the close fitting white dress she had
worn earlier In the day and was now at
tired IN some soft olinging fabric OF
dark color, which not only brought out
all the lines OF her superb figure, but
rendered her even more attractive than
before. There must have been quanti-
ty OF jet scattered about tho costume,
for was conscious of shimmering
sensation which accompanied her every
movement. She carried herself with
truly regal air, and had better OPP
portunlty permitted me now OF seeing
what beautiful face 1t really was and
now exquisltely her head was set upon
her shoulders. Her hands and feet were
very small, as was her mouth, while
her ears were like shells tucked into
fragrant nests against her head. But
the glory that eolipsed all others was
tho wealth OF golden hair that crowned
her. Such hair l have never seen before
or since. 1t seemed to have caught all
the sunshine OF the world and to be
jealous OF dispensing 1t again.
once more, as II to afford as great
contrast n0Sglh la To mnch lnval-