Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-12-05
A LACE

After seven days at sea we plunged
into summer-the glorious blue. grow
ing summer OF the subtropical Allan.
tic. Tiny white waves Tapped the
sides or the big ship oil day. aud now
that evening was come. aud the avn
ings rolled back for the sake OF the
air. pink. purple. orange and sold
phosphorescence shimmered all about
us.
The evening was too fair to speud
beneath tho glare Of the electric lamps
in tho smoking rooms, so | remained
on deck.
The deck was empty and the lights
lowered everywhere. save In the snnok.
Ing room. which glowered like hugh
jewel through the transparent nieht.
Tho band had ceased playing
unused Idly and started, with eyes that
say nothing. on the cleaning waves
OF opal Gre that leaped In the wake
OF tho ship.
Very gently moved forward. Tho
whole stern of the ship was balhed In
the wilderness OF the moon and looked
as though snow had fallen on the
dack aud touched the taifrail with
long lines OF silver. Behind the ship
the merry seas heaved and plunged. and
against all stood ono flgure.
l caught my breath as first saw
her--tall. svelte. exuuisitely nodded
into high. tightfitting bodice OF q
black silk drese Her Iaco was to.
ward the moon and the sea, but tho
lovely lines OF her shoulders, that
tapered TO tho waist and then spread
again 90 the rounded hips. told me
that was looking upon no woman OF
tho northern country.
The woman raised hand and
throw aside the wisp OF gauze that
had yelled her head. and IN tho white
light her hair cleaned like tho gold
OF the sun and knew that looked on
Creole girl. forced all my will
into my ardent eyes. hoping to make
her turn, but only an elusive perfume
Heated about me and now and then
tho blue smoke OF cigarette hung
about her like a misty cloud. must
Ind out who this gracious being was.
this young thing that stood In the
moonlight. with every supple muscle
throbbing responsive to tho movement
OF the ship.
!. ! moved out OF the shadow into the
light; an absurdly small handkerchief
lay on the deck. My lips parted 10
speak, but she was kecnor OF sense
than !. for she heard me and turned
sharply around. "Ohl My handker.
chief: thank you so much" She pui
out hand as white and qInl, as dim
pied and soft as roseleaf. and I sc
contrived that. as she took the hand
kerchief our fingers met through the
fiimy lace. What q divine night"
murmured, foolishly. while my eyes
devOured tho oval OF hor face. the
langle OF her golden hair, the ripo red.
ness OF her parted mouth.
She drew a cigarette from a gold
case that swung at her side.
Let me give You light" cried,
and then had the ecstasy for one mo-
ment of seeing the smooth grain of
her skin and the long curling iashes
that yelled eyes which guessed must
be violet by daylight, but that now
looked velvet blackness. She spoke
but little while we stood there. but
was content to catch tho lily perfume
from her hair and motto the slender
lines OF the round throat "Tomor.
row. ventured to say. as sho tossed
the burntout cigarette into the waves
Perhaps" she answered, and with
a bow she left me.
For four days and nights of burning
tropical splendor | watched for hcr
coming as the ship plowed on into the
heart OF the sun and the glow Of tho
heat We were nearing the equator;
the staterooms and cabins were un-
bearable. Part Of tho deck was ar.
ranged so that passengers could sleep
In the open. but never passed the
night there or in the forepart of the
vessel, while others sat for hours to
catch the faint breeze made by tho
ship. ] always waited on tho spot
where VIC had first met, and one night
found her there.
After that night OF blue and silver.
our evenings on deck were many. and
The evenings grew TO night. and found
us standing or sitting in tho shadows
and looking at the round red moon
that shone In the blue enameied sky
like a golden guinea. We talked In
whispers, and were too earnest ever
10 laugh. and told each other much OF
many things In the past and more OF
one thing in the future.
Thus many sunsets passed to dawn.
when we kissed and parted many
times. and stole quietly away TO our