Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11
CHAPTER XXI.

Is.
CHAPTER XXI
r FOUND that place had been allotted to me
l about half way down the Ca ptain S table on the
l. right hand side. My immediate neighbors were
an EngiShman, on his way to the States to buy
some commodity IN which he dealt and very old
woman, quite deaf, in charge of spnster daughter
Neither of them imposed upon the necessity
for conversation. l had therefore, plenty of time
to look around and take note of the people in
whom | interested
They were all seated together at small table
in the far of the saloon At the head of that
table a whom had not yet seen, but whom
| at knew to be de Valentin. He was tall.
rather sallow, with pointed black beard, and he
wore continually eyeglass set in a horn rim
with narrow black ribbon On his right was the
woman to whom Adele had spoken upon the stairs.
She plain but elegant dinner gown OF some
dark material. She was exquisitely coiffured, and
obviously turned out by a perfectly trained maid.
There two girls at the table. whom l judged
to be her daughters, and Adele.
Adele seated that | could only her
profile l noticed however, that she seemed to be
eating little, and to be taking a small part in the
conversation. Once or twice she leaned back in her
chair, and looked round the saloon as though in
search of On the last of these occasions
our eyes met. and she smiled slightly. Mrs Van
Reinberg who was sitting opposite to her leaned
forward and asked question. | Judged that
it concerned me, for Immediately afterward that
herself raised her gold eye glass and favored
me with a somewhat deliberate stare. Then she
leaned forward again and made some remark to
Adele, the purport of which l could not guess.
Dinner lasted long time; but was all the while
interested. l was facing Adele and her friends; SO
| could observe them all the time without being
myself conspicuous. l able to take note of the
somewhat wearied graciousness of de Valentn who
seemed always to be struggling with a profound
boredom; the almost feverish aniabity of Mrs.
Van Reinberg, and, in lesser degree, her daugh-
ters and the undoubted reserve with which Adele
seemed to protect herself from de Valentins atten-
tons. When at last they and left the saloon,
l quickly followed their example.
l put ulster, lit cigar, and went up on
deck. 1 found my chair the sheltered side
of the ship and, wrapping myself in rug, prepared
to spend a comfortable half hour But had scarce
" settled down before little group of people
came along the deck and halted close to A
smooth faced man servant laden with pile of
magnificent rugs struck a match and began to
examine the labels the chairs. Its Pickering
light apparently sufficient for Adele to recog-
nize my features.
So you going to join the fresh air brigade,
Mr.. Courage" she remarked. Il think you very
wise. We found the music nsufferable
Il can you that the smoke is worse.
Miss Van Hoyt' l answered, struggling to my
feet. May find your chair for YOU?
Thanks, the deck steward is bringing it, she
answered. Let me introduce YOU to my friends:
Mrs. Van Reinberg (my stepmother), Miss Van
Reinberg. Miss Sara Van Renberg, Mr.. de
Ealentin-Mr. Hardross Courage
l bowed collectively. De Vaentir greeted me
stitfly, Mrs. Van Renberg and the Misses Van