The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-27
EVENING STORY
Hawaii Versus America.
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

in that thought that thrilled Jack
Wells thru and thru. There he was at
his own little fireplace, smelling his
own breakfast being prepared by his
own Chinese servant That was the
lffei
With a yawn he sat back in his
chair to find. contentment, but he
couldn't find it. He was not sure
whether he was pleased at coming
home or not He had been home a
month. but this was the first time he
had had a chance to think it over.
Hawaii was wonderful country-next
to America. 1t would have been easy
to have stayed there if it hadn't been
for Juanita. 1t was to get away from
her that he had left the sunny island.
What a wretched being she would
think he wasi He had shown her he
had thought lot of her, too, and she
seemed to think lot of him. She
would have made q much better wife
than many American girls he knew.
even If she was foreigner. Why had
he been silly enough to let the ideas
he left America with prejudice him
against her? Perhaps it was because
those ideas had been imbedded in his
mind by the wager he had made with
Dick Meadows.
you'll fall in love with an Ha-
waiian princess" Dick had told him
the night before his departure. "Ha-
waiian girls always manage to land
Americans"
Catch me falling in love with a
dark skin!" Jack had sneered. IT am
going to that country to get dope for
popular songs, not to fall in love. The
only love I will make will be set to
music"
Then the wager had been made.
Jack promised to confess If he did
make love to an Hawaiian girl. but he
equally as sure that he would bring
back an Hawaiian wife.
It had taken Jack about a month to
get enthusiastic over Honolulu. His
typewriter just seemed to make up
words that fitted right into the old ma
tive music. The natives he found par
ticu1arly interesting. They were far
more civilized than he had been led to
believe back in America. The girls
were attractive, but he scoffed at the
idea of falling in love with one of
hem. Then he had met Juanita. She
was so different from the rest-so like
al American, and yet so unlike one.
She appeared educated and refined.
When Jack realized that he was really
falling in love with her, he was panic
stricken. Recollections of the fate of
the hero of 1.-The Bird of Paradise"
and other Hawaiian plays swarmed
into his brain and caused him to cut
short his stay. Juanita was all right
in Hawaii, but she would be out of
place in America, he had sense enough
to see that.
But as Jack sat Illuminating over it.
he wondered if he had been wise. 1t
was not fair to Juanita to come away
as he had. He had been in America
for month, but had been so busy on
his songs he hadn't had an opportun-
Oyva hafo t.
hard on her if she thought anything of
him. After all she was a woman in
herf heart just the same as any Amer
lean girl was. Perhaps she was break
ing her heart at the very minute. The
thought of those big, laughing ewes
dimmed with tears made Jack miser-
able. He was on his feet in an in
slant. Il am going back to Honolulu"
ne called out to his servant. Find
out about the steamer"
1t was an excited Jack that bound
ed in on Dick Meadows.
Dick" he yelled, 1--WE been a
cheat. You really won that wager and
I've just found it out. 1 am in love
with an Hawaiian girl and I'm going
to marry her.
sit down like sensible man." Dick
ordered. you are not really in love,
you Just thing you are"
Ihat was the wrong way to take
Jack. I'm not. eh?" he grunted. II
tell you I am. She's the finest girl in
the world-Hawaiian or no Hawaiian.
fouH have to admit it when I bring
mel back here as my wife"
surely you wouldn't marry a wo-
man with dark skim" there was gem
uine horror in Dicks tone.
Dark skin, nothing" Jack flashed.
Her skin is no darker than yours.
you" 49,
That doesn't make Hawaiian an
American. She will be a foreigner."
What If she is. America is crazy
over Hawaii. Every fellow will envy
They'll think it a huge Joke Ha-
waiian girls are all right in PLAYS and
movies, but they don't fit into every
day life as American wives. You know
| that as well as do
know nothing of the kind. There
IS very little difference between her
ana an American girl. She speaks
English as fluently as either of us. and
the only accent she has Is just like tiny
notes OF music attached to every word
She is wonderful GIRL
IL took you mighty long time to
discover 1t. What did you come back
here for without her?" There was a
smile on Dicks face that Jack couldn't
quite understand
Because didn't have sense" he
answered. The climate down there
iHdkes IeiIoW a tr1fle nonsensicaL 1t
| TOOK little of the real country to
bring me to my senses. 1 have been
a bachelor too long,
Wouldn't an American girl satisfy
you ?" Dick asked.
American girl nothing. There is
only one girl for me. and I'd marry her
II she was an African" Jack was quite
decided.
You have never met my sister"
DICK said, as II struck by a sudden
| thought. 'Nita, Nita," he called.
Mia was not very far away
Did you call, Dick?" There was
something in the voice that glued