Potted green palms stood everywhere at the sides. The
orchestra in the gallery was nearly concealed behind a fringe of green.
The air was sweetly odorous with the fragrance of southern blossoms.
Scores of young women in all varieties of handsome evening dress
enlivened the appearance of the scene. Their gems cast glitter and
enchantment. There were men enough, too, for partners in the dance,
the men behind expanses of white shirt-front and clad in the black of
evening dress.
Just a few of the men, however, lent additional color to the scene.
These were officers and midshipmen from the "Waverly," who came attired
in the handsome blue, gold-braided dress uniforms of the service.
Among the guests of the hotel who attended the dance were Jacob Farnum
and his two young submarine experts; Jack Benson and Hal Hastings. The
shipbuilder had come ashore with his young friends, registering at the
Clayton and taking rooms there.
"It's time for you youngsters to get ashore and have a little gaiety,"
Farnum had declared. "If you don't mix with lively people once in a
while, you'll rust even while you keep the 'Benson's' machinery bright."
Jack and Hal had agreed to this. Eph, however, had expressed himself
decidedly as preferring to remain on board the submarine for the time.
Pages:
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43