The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-21
EVENING STORY
The Girl From Cuba.
(By Earl Reed SilverS- }


sively select small college in the east,
he entered the brokerage firm of
Simms, Simms & Simms, in Wall
street, and was given a desk in one of
the inner offices. Every morning at
10 o'clock he walked into the office,
opened the desk, smoked a cigarette,
looked out of the window for while
and then went home. For this ardu-
Gus labor, he received a salary of S1O,-
900 IL year. If any of the trio of
Simms could have followed his in
clination, he would have told Mr.. Grif-
fiths, gently but firmly, that as far as
business was concerned, he was an eX-
cellent golf player, but as Halls father
had placed several hundred thousand
dollars in the firm, Hal was left to his
own peaceful pursuits.
These pursuits concerned chiefly
golf in the summer and dancing in the
winter. Hal had a handicap of plus
four in golf, and in the ballroom he
could have given any young man of
his acquaintance a handicap of plus
fourteen and could have romped un-
der the wire winner by ten yards.
For he possessed that indefinable
something which, for want of a bet
ter word, we call personality. Every
body liked him and was glad to have
him around. He knew an endless sup
ply of good stories, he was well sup
piled with small talk, and when oc-
casion demanded, he could be as seri-
Gus as even the most serious minded
girl would have him. And SO, pos
sessed of many friends and much
money, he was constantly in demand
Occasionally these calls upon his
time were rather irritating. He was
one of those lovabIy laundering per
sons who did not know how to refuse
an invitation, and so, when Charlotte
Taylor suggested, with the hint of
faa in har- h
when she LETT Tor Cuba, he assented
smilingly, but unhappily, and ordered
two dozen roses to be sent to her state
room. Charlotte was the one girl of
all whom he would rather not have
seen off to Cuba. Not that he was
rather have had her boat sail away
while he sat peacefully in his office
smoking a cigarette.
Charlotte was that kind of girl who
takes a man unto herself and consid-
ers him forever more as her especial
property. She was an attractive little
wisp of a thing, with big blue eyes and
a purring voice. Hal had rather liked
her at first and had asked her to two
dances in succession at the Country
club. And after that he found that she
always managed to have him ask her
to other dances until, before the win
ter was half over, it had become the
experience with the clinging vine type,
and when Charlotte told him that she
was going to Havana for the remain
der of the season the weight that had
been bearing him rapidly toward
state of dependency suddenly lifted
The only thing that remained was the
farewell on the boat, and then he
would be free.
On the morning of Charlotte's de-
parture he waited in his office as long
as he dared, and then took taxi for
the dock Charlotte was waiting for
him. and together they inspected the
boat.
"I am going to sit here and think of
you during the long evenings, she
told him. indicating a shelter on the
after deck, land wonder if you will
be thinking of me-
I'll think of you every minute you
are in my mind" he answered alb
sently.
Then he stopped short Passing
across his line of vision was the pref
test girl he had ever seen. She wore
a blue suit, white hat and white fox
furs. but if you had asked Hal about
it he wouldn't have been able to tell
YOU single thing. All he noticed was
the general effect. And then his glance
shifted to her face, and his eyes
opened wonderingly. Brown hair
which curled around her temples, a
nose which turned up, lips which so
nearly smiled that he wanted to smile
in return. and two of the blacklist
ewes he had ever seen, was the way
he would have described it.
"Gobdness!'' he exclaimed involun-
tarily. Who in the world is that
girl?"
Charlotte's piduant face became
suddenly resentful.
I'm sure I don't know" she an
swered shortly. Some Spaniard
probably"
"Spaniard nothing; she's an Amer
ican.''
Hal continued to gaze at the strange
girl, who, obvious to his ardent
glance was looking thoughtfully in the
direction of the two. The suggestion
of a smile bordered her lips, and then
she looked away and walked toward
the front of the boat.
Let's walk forward" Hal suggest
ed, but Charlotte suddenly remem-
bered that she had not as yet taken
care of her trunk. and so they made
their way to the lower deck.
"If it weren't for the fact that Char
lotte was making the trip Hal
thought to himself as his companion
instructed porter regarding her need,
I'd take this boat to Cuba myself"
Upon returning to the upper deck,
he looked anxiously for the girl with
the black eyes, but she was nowhere
to be seen.
1T seems to me I've seen that girl
with the white furs before some
where" he said to Charlotte. IF you
happen to meet her, ask her if she
knows me, will you?"
The blast of the "All ashore." whis-
tie prevented an answer. Hal said
goodbye just as quickly as he could,
and made his way to the gangplank.
He stood on the pier and watched as
the boat turned out into the river.
AItho he waved conscientiously to
Charlotte, his gaze searched the ship
for sight of the other girl. And just
as he had given up hope. she appeared.
The picture of her as she stood beside
the rail, her face framed in the circle
of hat and furs, was stamped indelibly
in his memory. Hat off. and waving
his handkerchief foolishly. he waited
on the dock until she became indistin-