White County record. [volume] (Judsonia, Ark.) 1922-200?, 1922-08-24

AS Marjorie and her aunt stepped
from the car Alvarado asked Marjorie
| to swim in the ocean with attn aeXt
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 were roses for
her aunt.
Promptly at 10 Alvarado presented
himself.
Marjorie pleaded Discrimination to
swim that morning-would Senior Al
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
teasingly, "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
wave would send its riplets almost to
their feet, and Alvarado would hastily
lead Marjorie away from it. Once he
actually picked her up, his own feet
being wet to the ankles.
Then they clambored over the ichen-
covered rocks to the old fortress, and
standing on the bed of a dismantled
gun platform, waved handkerchiefs
to Mrs. Mortimer.
When they sat down 1t seemed as
though they were not on land, but
on a steamer far at sea, with waves
hraakinp 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 leap
ing to his brain with the suggestion,
Speak to her."
The four years of study and ath-
letics in an American college were
holding him back. His face showed
plainly the signs of the battle raging
in his heart.
"Why-why, you're unhappy about
something, aren't you. Senior Alvarado,
aren't you, really?" said Marjorie.
noticing how quiet he was and glanc-
ing at his troubled face, even hand
somer than usual in his distress.
He started, "On sthe contrary, my
dear lady, 1 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 talk to you on the steamer. We
could not seem to be introduced. You
talked with no one. The captain de-
clined to make the introduction. l
was desperate" And he went on and
on as If to make up lost time.
AT last he stopped. There seemed
little else to voice except the one
great sentiment that Marjorie could
not help seeing was overpowering him.
81 too, wished that l might speak
to YOU" she said simply.
81 am so happy" he returned, and
then In q flash he took her soft white
hand in his strong bronzed one, and
looking with all the intensity of q
long line of Castilian Spanish Arvara-
dos he said: Miss Brainard-Mar-
jorie-must l go and bring your aunt.
or take you to her, or may l say 1t
here to you, while we are alone-just
we two; speak, dear one, speak to
me; you know what l would sayY'
Marjorie had not removed her hand
from his. 1t trembled. Perhaps her
fingers frightened just little.
"What do you wish to tell me?''
she said slyly laughing up into his
eyes, for in their, emotion they had
risen and were standing on the edge
of great rock projecting over. the
waves Of the blue Caribbean.
THAT | love you; love you; love
you. dearest girl! ~
Then he caught himself with
mighty effort, and in a moment con-
tinued "but l love you as a Spanish
gentleman loves; honorably and with
all regard for everything that is due
you and to the rights, for instance, of
your aunt who has trusted us to come
up here alone. Let us return to her
anu L VIII III her presence
No one in the whole island of Porto
Rico could possibly have had a greater
surprise that day than fell to the lot
of Vicente Alvarado when Marjory
said: There Is no need for that, Senior
Alvarado. When we returned to the
hotel yesterday I told my aunt that
II you ever said you loved me
should tell you that l. too, loved you,
and she replied, I wouldn't blame YOU.
dear. | could love him myself You
see auntie ran away from boarding
school and married her tutor. They
came here eighteen years ago on their
honeymoon. He died three years after.
This Is her first visit since.
when she saw you on the boat
she said, There is true Spanish gen.
tleman.' When | said would like
to meet YOU. she said, No. wait: we
ChDt1 +hot IL,