The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-03-04
III 151]@A
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This. I figured. was probably the berth
of the first officer: the captains room
would naturally be the one farthest
astern.
The upright piano. with the high
backed cushioned chairs surrounding
it, blocked my view aft, but on round
ing these l observed a closed door,
which apparently led into a room
extending the entire width of the
cabin. Never ~suspecting that it might
be occupied, l grasped the brass knob,
n stepped within. Instantly | came
to a full stop, dazed by establishment,
my teeth clenChed in quica. effort at
~self-control. The entire scene burst
in upon my consciousness with that
first surprised survey-the draped
portfolios opening out upon the gray
fog bank. the brass bed screwed to
the deck, the chairs upholstered in
green plush, the polished table with a
vase of flowers topping it, the glisten-
ing front of a bookcase in the corner,
the tiger rug into which my feet sank.
All these things l perceived, scarcely
realizing that l did SO, for my one
true impression concentrated itself
upon the living occupants.
There were WI present. At a low
dressing table, her back toward me,
fronting a mirror, yet with yes
fastened upon an open book lying in
her lap, sat a woman. The lowered
head yielded me only an indistinct out
line of her features, yet the full throat
and rounded cheek gave pledge Of
both youth and beauty. Standing al
most directly behind her chair, with
short, curly locks. crowned by a smart
white cap, her hands busted amid her
mistresseS' treSseS, was a maid. petite,
roguish, fiuttering about like a hum
ming bird. The latter saw me at once,
pausing in her work. with eyes wide
open in surprise, but the pre%occupied
mistress did not even glance up. She
must have heard the sound of the
door, however, for she spoke care
lessly:
y thought you were never coming.
What caused you to sail SO suddenly? ?"
J These unexpected words, uttered so
naturally, served partially to u
me from the dull torpor of surprise. l
clenched my hands, wondering If l
was really awake, and stared back into
the frightened eyes of the maid, who
appeared equally incapable of articula.
ton. Suddenly she found voice.
1t is not re one, madame she
cried, shrinking back. Non, non it
is I'm homme stranger"
What is that you say Celeste!"
and the other arose swiftly to her
feet. the open book dropping to the
floor as she turned to face me. In
stantly l recognized her, in spite of
the long hair trailing unconfined FIR
elo her waist-recognized her with
a sudden leap upward of my heart into
my thoat. There was no semblance Of
fear, only un~disguised amazement, in
the dark gray eyes that met mine.
"What-what is the meaning Of this
strange intrusion? Are you a member
OF the crew."
Instantly m cap came of, the
thought occurring to me of what a
rough figure | must be making in my
soaked jacket, with the g%listening
peak of my cap shadowing my face.
NO, madame" and bowed before
her II am not one of our crew. Ny
my entrance here was entirely a
mistake"
She leaned forward, one white hand
grasping the back of her chair, the ex-
preston in her yes changing as she
read my face, perplexity merging into
faint recollection.
Il do not quite comprehend" she
confessed at last, changing her speech
to a slightly broken Spanish. You
you are Senior Estevan?"