The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-18

your
tie prevented an answer. 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. Al
though 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 of and waving
his handkerchief foolishly. he waited
on the dock until she became indistin.
guishable. Then, with sigh, he turn
ed and made his way back to the Of
flee. -,
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 broth.
er remarked TO the younger one that
maybe Harold Griffiths might be OF
some use to the firm, after all Regu-
larly, Hay received a six.page letter
from Charlotte telling of the wonders
Of the climate, the warmness OF the
ocean and the wealth OF the tourists.
And Hal scanned her letters eagerly
for a word concerning the girl with
! the white furs, but not once did Char
lotto mention her.
And then, just before the date wheI
Charlotte was to sail for northern
climes, Halls telephone rang, and TIT
softest voice he had ever heard asked
| HIM ii Mr.. Harold Griffiths was IN.
And having been assured that he was,
! the owner OF the soft voice proceeded
| to tell him that she had just return ed
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. Did you see much
of Charlotte"
"Oh, yes" the voice answered. we
went down on the same boat and stay
ed at the same hotel"
Halls heart missed beat at this
juncture. The girl at the other end OF
the wire showed an inclination 10 draw
the conversation to close and Hal,
desperately racking his mind for some
means Of continuing it, asked abrupt
ly: Where are you now?"
"At the Plaza"
DO you mind if l drop up to see you
for few minutes? arr terribly int;
ested in Cuba"
For a moment there was silence, and
then the voice answered.:
| mo, l 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 flew so fast that it was
1880 before either OF them realized it;
so they took lunch together and each
TOLD the other the history of his and
| neT lie. Auu dlteI LlIe SII Will VIZ
white furs had found out that Hal was
not engaged to Charlotte or to any one
else, she told him that he might come
/ to see her the next evening.
So Hal, with feigned interest in Cuba
and unfeigned interest in at least one
Cuban tourist, accepted the invita-
tor and talked, not about the winter in
Cuba, but about the summer in the
United States. Tho subject was Of sucL
engrcssing Importance that it was con-
tinued in the discussion the next ever
ing, and so on through long success.
sion of evenings until the summer it.
self rolled around.
| And then, tucked away in the society
columns of the New York papers, there
appeared one morning the following
notice: "The engagement is announced
Of Harold Grifftths to Miss Lois Brown.
ing"-which was the name Of the girl
from Cuba.