The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-06-28
the GIRL FROM CUBA
By EARL REED s,LvERs.

~ eAHe REED 6IlvEHS. &
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After Hal Griffiths had graduated
without honors from the most exclu-
.ively 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 ten
o'clock he walked into the Office,
opened the desk, smoked cigarette,
looked out Of the window for awhile
and then went home. For this arduous
abor he received salary Of $4,000 q
year. If any Of the trio of Simms could
nave followed his inclination he would
ave told Mr.. Griffiths, gently but firm
", that as far as business was con-
cerned, he was an excellent golf player,
out as Halls father had placed several
hundred thousand dollars in the firm,
Hal was left to his own peaceful pur-
suits.
These pursuits concerned chiefly golf
In the summer and dancing in the win
ter. And so, possessed 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 lovably laundering persons
who did not know how to refuse an in
vitation, and SO, when Charlotte Taylor
suggested, with the hint of tears in her
eyes, that he see her of when she left
for Cuba, he assented smilingly but
unhappily, and ordered two dozen
roses to be sent to her stateroom.
On the morning Of Charlotte's depar.
ture Hal 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.
II am going to sit here and think Of
you during the long evenings" she told
him, indicating shelter on the after
deck. "and wonder If you will be think.
ing of me-"
"rll think Of you every minute you
are in my mind" he answered absently.
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.
"Goodness!" he exclaimed involun.
tarily. 'Who In the world is that girl?"
Charlotte's piquant face became sud-
denly resentful.
"rm sure don't know" she an.
swered shortly. "Some Spaniard,
probably"
"Spaniard nothing; she's an Ameri-
can"
The blast of the "All ashore!" whis.
tie came. Hal said good-by 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. Although 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 on his memory.
The winter wore on, the same old
endless round Of social duties. But,
somehow, Hal seemed to have lost in.
terest; he even remained at the Office
all day and gave some attention to
business, until the elder Simms' brother
remarked to the younger one that may
be Harold Griffiths might be Of some
use to the firm, after all. Regularly,
Hal received six-page letter from
Charlotte telling of the wonders of the
climate. And then, Just before the date
when Charlotte was to sail for north
ern climes, Halls telephone rang, and
the softest voice he had ever heard
asked him If Mr.. Harold Grifiths was
in. And having been assured that he
was, the owner Of the soft voice pro-
ceeded to tell him that she had just
returned from Cuba. where she had
the pleasure Of meeting Miss Charlotte
Taylor.
charlotte asked me to telephone you
as soon as reached New York." the
stranger continued. "and to tell you
that she was having lovely time and
will be home on the first of May"
'That's mighty nice of you," Hal an.
swered pleasantly. ibid you see much
Of Charlotte?"
"Oh, yes" the voice answered. 1--WE
went down on the same boat and
stayed at the same hotel"
Halls heart missed a beat. He
asked abruptly: "Where are you
now?
"At the Plaza"
do you mind If I drop up to see you
for few minutes? I am terribly in
terested in Cuba"
For moment there was silence, and
then the voice answered: mo, don't
mind If you do"
So Hal rushed out of the Office and
hailed a passing taxi. AS he rushed
into the lobby Of the Plaza, the girl
with the white furs arose to meet him.
And then time f1ew m fast that II yvaa