The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1917-12-15
CHAPTER |.

In her maiden season the Alsata,
"lsrpest steamship in the world" or
her day and generation, was advertised
TO leave Liverpool for New York via
Queenstown. promptly at five O'Clock
IN the afternoon of every third Satur-
day.
AT about one o'clock Of Saturday
lote in September one forehanded pas
senger found her way by dint OF per-
sistence through the pandemonium In
the pier.shade to the Alsatia's first
cabin gangway.
This was young woman not far
beyond her twentieth year, with a tall
and slender body, face of uncommon
distinction, and at the time somewhat
pale, and striking abundance Of hair
the color Of raw, red gold. Dressed
simply in dark travelling costume, with
hat in excellent accord, she carried, In
addition to light wrap and tightly
rolled umbrella, conspicuously new
Oxford bag lettered in black, Il. c.
New York" Behind her porter stag
gered beneath her only other piece of
luggage battered blacklcather
trunk of great age, which, curiously
enough, bore the legend in letters of
white, half obliterated, IL. C.-Lon-
don,"
Tipping and dismissing the man, the
girl confidently assembled the gangway
to the saloon deck Of the Alsatia, and
asked steward to conduct her to her
stateroom, displaying at the same time
ticket emitting Lucy Carteret, Spin
ster," to berth In Room Is, Deck b.
Once alone in her room, she bolted
the door. fingered before a full-length
mirror to remove her hat, eying her
reflection with shadowy, puzzling
smile. and turned away to review the
cubicle, one-half of which she was en-
Titled to call her own for the next six
days. The other half had been engaged
BY woman of whom she knew moth
Ing whatever, not even SO much as her
name,
1t was a stateroom unusual in mr.
rangement and luxurious in appoint
ment. Twin brass bedsteads stood end
10 END against the inner wQll. The
other furniture comprised 4 capacious
cnest OF drawers, a comfortable sofa,
ana two wicker armchairs. At one
end narrow doors admitted to
cramped but adequate lavatory and a
roomy clothes-press. The woodwork
was enameled creamy white, and the
walls boosted panels Of golden bro
caoe-a color scheme conveying an ef-
iect at once Of warmth, airiness and
scrupulous cleanliness.
Win grave little nod, the girl ap-
proved. II eXpensive-and it was hOr-
iiOiy expensive for her slender purse
.n'S stateroom was well worth all it
nac cost her. There ran in her blood
'ne instinct for luxury, though now her
purse. upon examination, yielded but
4our golden sovereigns, half-sover-
s'sn' half-crown, a shilling, and q
-" ponderous copper pennies, barely
s.ough for the inevitable tips ut the end
=, ue voyage. She would land in New
."k practically penniless. But that
Souio De on day the seventh distant:
'1nneient unto it its potential mischief.
one was very tired: the last few
:. mad brought her little sleep,
~ hanks to the excitement engendered
- con'emplation Of step whose bold
: - was unprecedented in her history.
~ now. with that step successfully
s ..Aen' excitement yielded place to IA
, ssse' Unlocking and in part unpack-
~ ootn bag and trunk. she appropri-
.'eu q fair half Of the wardrobe &C
>odadons, then wrapped herself in