The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-22
-EOening Story
A Caribbean Courtship.
By BEVERLEY BELL.

salon.
Marjorie Brainard had spent most
of her time on deck with her aunt.
She was a good sailor; her aunt a
poor one. Which is another way of
saying that by the third day out Mar
jorie was wishing fervently for some
roughish weather-the little rogue.
The tall, dark, handsome young Span
lard who sat at the captains table,
and whose eyes were forever meeting
hers, holding them for just a moment
with such a soulful look. had not yet
been introduced to her. She felt sure
he would be, If her aunt were to leave
her alone on the deck for just one lit
tie half hour.
AS the Santurce slowly steamed up
the ten-mile harbor of San Juan, pas
sengers all ready to disenabark, bag
gage piled high on the main deck, the
tall Spaniard passed Marjorie and her
aunt, and he looked very intently at
Marjorie. At the same time a touch
of red came to his brown cheeks; his
eyes shone with an indefinable long
ing.
She was fascinated. She could not
seem to drop her own eyes.
The young mans companion was an
American.
AS they came to a stop few feet
from Marjorie, she heard the Ameri-
can say, "Alvarado, tonight we shall
be eating some of your superb grape
fruit and oranges. What a fine rest
am 10 nave! WnaL WONDERFUL air.
And that sunset across the Caribbean
I've never aeen its equal"
Yes replied Alvarado, 1--WE shall
endeavor to give you good time
this in perfect English-.'but you will
have to excuse me tomorrow. shall
have to run into San Juan. There is
a lady must meet" And he turned
deliberately and looked again at Mar
jorie.
Somehow she understood that she
was the lady in question.
Her pretty bushes and confusion
were heightened not little blythe
further remark of the American,
why, you sly dog! And all those
four years at college we couldn't get
you to look at a girl. So you have a
fiancee here, eh?"
To which Alvarado replied simply.
mo; this is an American lady whom
I wanted to meet, and I shall arrange
to do SO tomorrow" ana the tone in
dicated that he wished the subject
dropped.
Next morning Vicente Alvarado pre-
sented himself, dressed in immaculate
flannels, at the desk of the Condado
hotel. He asked the clerk to send his
card to Mrs. William Mortimer. On
it was written the request that he
might see her for a moment.
Marjorie'S aunt was in gracious
mood. She came down to the palm
decorated lobby with the messenger.
Very briefly. in the essence of true
Spanish politeness, he stated that he
sought an introduction to her niece.
On shipboard there was no one to
country, she could satisfy herself of
his standing. Would she please con-
suit the American governor, the sec
rotary of the house of delegates, the
resident manager of the great winter
resort hotel, if she wished.
Tnnnnrr0U with her permission. he
would call with his car for her niece
and herself and drive them to his
fathers famous fruit farm across the
bay at Miramar.
Marjories aunt was surprised, and
rather pleased.
This was not quite an American
proceeding, but then she was in a
Latin country.
the fruit farm. They were delighted.
They brought back great native bas-
kets of grapefruit. bananas and
oranges.
AS Marjorie and her aunt stepped
from the car Alvarado asked Marjorie
to swim in the ocean with him next
day, inviting her aunt to accompany
them to the beach.
Next morning at Marjorie's place at
the breakfast table was huge vase
of jasmine, and there ware roses for
her aunt.
Promptly at 10 Alvarado presented
himself. E
Marjorie pleaded dissemination to
varado walk along the lovely beach
and help her over the rocks and up to
the abandoned fortress walls? And
with a sly look at her aunt, she said
"Auntie, dear. you can
watch us all the day. It's only half
a mile, and you can see clearly"
Slowly the two walked along the
smooth, white sand. occasionally a
wave would send it's ripples almost to
their feet, and Alvarado would hastily
actually picked her up, his own feet
being wet to the ankles.
Then they clambered over the
rocks to the old fort
gun platform, waved hand
k erchiefs to Mrs. Mortimer.
When they sat down it seemed as
tho they were not on land, but on a
steamer far at sea, with waves break
ing about the PROV.
Vicente Alvarado had never until
the past few days imagined he could
love any woman but his mother At
that moment he was consumed with
the desire to declare his love for the
rarely beautiful girl at his side. to
whom he had been so tantalizingly
near for five days on the steamer, yet
without being able to speak to her.
The Latin blood OF the boy was
Ieaping to his brain with the sugges-
ton, Speak to her."
The four years of study and ath- |
etics in an American college were
holding him back. His face showed |
plainly the signs of the battle raging |
in his heart.
'eWhy-why, you're unhappy about |
something. aren't you, Senior Ava |
RADIO, aren't you, really?" said Mar |
jorie, noticing how quiet he was and |
glancing at his troubled face, even |
nandsonner than usual in his distress. |
He started. "On the contrary, my |
dear lady, am happy, very happy
to be with you alone.;~ just in the |
privilege of knowing you; being able !
to speak to you. I wanted so much to |
ak with you on the steamer. We |
could not seem to be introduced You
talked with no one. The captain de-