The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-10
CHAPTER II.
The Spell Of Silence.

Vaguely they had fancied some horror,
which would spring at their eyeballs. But
there was no horror in the lighted dining-,1
saloon of this spellbound yacht. -. /
The room was elegantly appointed and
gay with electric lights set starlike in the
pale blue walls and ceiling. Everything
was blue. and white, and gold A table,
with a cover Of fine-drawn linen showing
a CLINT Of gold cloth through the lacework
squares Of it's insertion, was laid for two
persons; and the service was Of gold and
sparkling cut glass. In the center their
rich heads crushed together, and hanging
over the side, q mass of great pinko and
dark red roses were crowded into a
strangely shaped bowl of gold. It would
have seemed that dinner waited for the
yachts maSter-an eccentric millionaire,
perhaps-and the guest, had it not been
that the meal had evidently progressed far
towards its conclusion.
In shallow dish Of gold, huge red
African Strawberries glowed like rubies on
a bed Of their own green leaves. A few
had been removed on to each Of the plates
laid for the diners. Some had been dipped
in, sugar and eaten, for little heaps Of
powdered sugar on the plates were stained
pink. and several green fringed stems lay
scattered beside them. There were heel
taps of wine in the port glasses. Two
serviettes lay on the floor under the table,
as If the persons dining had risen and al
lowed them to slip from their laps. Moth
ing in the saloon was disturbed. Had it
not been for the ominous, brooding silence
everywhere it might have seemed that the
dinner table had been deserted only for a
moment, because Of some interesting sight
for which the diners had been hastily
called on deck a.t*s yEs Il 'z~.a,4r j. 49,
The saloon drawing room further on
was dark, but Knight turned on flood of
electric light, softened to rose tints by
graceful flower lamps. Beside a divan
piled with embroidered cushions and COW
! cred with Persian prayfng-rug colored
like fading rainbow and worth its weight
| in gold, was a low stand holding books
| and papers. On top was a French novel,
| lying open, face downward. Sir Peter
glanced at the mass Of literature. For one
| English illustrated paper, there were three
in French, and there were several Greek
dailies. Nothing yet to give a single clue
to the nationality of the owner; the cush-
ions on the divan were pressed, as if by
a reclining head and shoulders; and a
faint, delicate perfume hung about the en-
broidered silk suggesting the late pres
ence Of a woman.
Now for the cabins said Sir Peter
with suppressed eagerness.
OF these there were six, three which
1 had evidently been unoccupied, as there
were no knicknacks nor clothing about
and two very large and handsome, with
baths adjoining, which looked as II the
occupants had just stepped out after
dressing for dinner. The sixth cabin had
apparently been tenanted by a lady's
maid. y
I The two largest and best Of the siz
cabins were fitted up to make their own.
ers forget as much as possible the fac,
:, that they were on shipboard. There were
no berths, and the clamps which secured
the beds to floors and walls were incon.
: spicuous. One room was simply furn:
{ ished, though the simplicity was costly
] A wardrobe built into the wall hid thu
absent owners larger belongings but OF
the dressing table lay gold repeater
a watch, with a small, plain chain Si
Peter picked it up silently, examined {
lcurious diamond monogram on the bacl