Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-08

this evening, and l want you, if you
will, to tell me something about her.
Do you know enough to satisfy my
curiosity?'
II won't tell you anything about
her," I answered, with laugh. "You
must wait and judge for yourself. One
caution, however, before you see her
beware how you behave toward her, and
if 1 might venture hint, make good
toilet. She's very particular, and it's
we'll to humor her. My things are at
your disposal, Of course.
He thanked me, and saw no more OF
him or the midshipman until few
minutes before dinner time, when I met
them on deck and accompanied them to
Allies saloon. Having descended the
companion ladder, drew back the cur
tain for them to enter. Prepared as I
was to see him show astonishment, 1
had no idea the lieutenant would be
filled with such amazement as he be-
trayed when we entered the beautiful
cabin have before described. AS good
luck had it, Allie was not present, and
80 we were able to look about us undis-
turbed.
"Why didn't you prepare me for
this?" whispered my companion after
be had glanced round the cabin. II
never saw anything like it before, and
I've been aboard scores Of yachts in my
time"
"There is but one Beautiful White
Devil, I said with serio comic earnest
ness.
"Curios, china, skins, divans, musical
instruments, a grand piano even, and,
by Joye, inlaid with tortoise shell and
lapis lazuli It's wonderful, it's superb!
And now l want to see the woman who
owns it all"
STEADY" I whispered. If mis-.
take not, here she comes. "
As l spoke the curtains at the other
end of the cabin were parted by tiny
hand, and Allie, dressed entirely in
black, stood before us. The color of her
costume showed off the superb beauty
of her complexion and hair, while it's
making exhibited her matohless figure
to perfection. She stood for moment
in the doorway and then advanced to-
ward us with that wonderful floating
grace which always characterized her,
giving me her little hand first and then
turning toward her other guests.
To the lieutenant she bowed and said,
with smile:
"Sir, you must forgive my not hav-
ing personally welcomed you to my
boat, but for reasons which would not
interest you l am not always able to do
as much as l could wish. However, I
hope my officers have taken every care
of you"
She shook hands with the handsome
little midshipman as she spoke, and
while she was doing SO l had time to
steal look at the first lieutenant's face.
The astonishment saw depicted there
almost caused me to laugh. He had been
amazed at the beauty Of the cabin, but
that was nothing compared with the
admiration he betrayed for the Beauti-
full White Devil herself. He murmured
a confused but not altogether inappro-
pirate reply to her last speech, and then
we sat down to dinner. Her companion,
learned on inquiry, was suffering from
a severe headache and had elected to
dine in her own cabin.
The dinner was in the chefs best
style. and its cooking, serving and va.
riety, combined with the beauty and
value of the table decorations, evident
ly completed the effect upon the officer
that the cabin had begun. Allie herself
was in excellent spirits and talked with
the wit and cleverness of woman who
has perfected an originally liberal. edu-
cation by continual and varied study OF
the world and its inhabitants. By the
time the meal was ended and we had
hidden her good night the lieutenant
was in q maze of enchantment.
We wenton deck together, and once
there, out Of earshot of the cabin, his
enthusiasm broke loose. will spare
you, however, recital of all the ex-
travagant things he said. Let it suffice
that gathered enough to feel sure that
when he got back to Hongkong he would
add to rather than detract from the
number of stories already in circulation
about the too famous Beautiful White
Devil. One promise, however, I took
care to extract from both officers, and
| that vras NOT I'm mention nv name in
connection with the yacht on their re-
turn to civilization made the excuse
that if such thing got Alown it might
do me serious harm in the practice OF
my profession, and both men readily gave
me their words that they would not
breathe a syllable on the subject.
Their stay with us, however, was not
to be of as long duration as we had ex-
pected. for early next morning we sight
ed small brigantine, who, on being
hailed, stated that she was bound for
Hongkong Passages for the officers and
their men were soon arranged, and,
within an hour Of picking her up she
had sent boat, we had hidden our naval
visitors goodby and were standing on
our fictitious course again. As soon,
however. as they were out of sight the
helm was put up and we were making q
bee line back to the settlement.
That evening as l was pacing the
deck. smoking my cigar and wondering
when the time would come for me to
| say farewell. heard a light footstep be-