Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-12-30
The Sands Of
...'-;kiki
! = w.
u ~~N ga a u n o 49,
By LOUIS RAYBeIh

married and unDetrotned. Inere na0
been men--oh, yes, several, but they
had worn the lean and hungry look OF
fortune hunters and she had resolved
TO remain single rather than to wed
for any other reason than love on
both sides.
OF course, in addition to these
dismissed suitors, there was always
George Stanley, who could never be
called fortune hunter because or
the fact that he was the owner Of the
second largest sugar plantation In
Hawaii. 1t was as member OF his
party that Anne was now staying at
Waikiki although 1t was rather
through friendship for Georges sister
than for George himself that she had
| consented to come, not wishing to
raise false hopes In Georges ample
BOSOM To wed George would be TO
Danish the last hope Of romance for
ever. For George was forty ana
looked fifty.
Anne sat this morning on the beach,
lifting the shining sand In handfuls
and letting it sift through her fingers
Not fer from her party Of bathers
had thrown themselves down. and
Anne watched thec. Idly. A couple Of
middle-aged women, sitD Drowned
girl, and a clean-limbed, nice look
ing young fellow-all Americans from
the States, Judging by their converse
ton, much Of which drifted unavoid-
ably to Anne.
Suddenly she saw one of the wom-
en- nudge the other, and both looked,
as casually SIS possible, In her direc-
ton.
On, yes, Anne knew exactly what
they were saying. "My dear, that's
old Lawton's daughter. Her picture
was in the photogravure section Sun
day.
Anne could see that the young PEG
pie weren't especially interested, but
the women continued to nudge each
other and whisper.
Anne met that evening the most
interesting member Of that party. The
young ensign from the visiting war
ship In Pearl harbor with whom she
had been dancing at the hotel hop
brought him up and introduced him.
Later Anne danced with him three
times in succession, and once again
before the hop was over, and when
they parted he suggested that she
call him "Jerry" instead of "Mr. Oar
lington."
Now two things Anne instinctively
recognized. First, that the boy was
not the fortune hunting type. Some
thing honest and true shone in his
gray eyes. Secondly, that he took her
for girl somewhere around his own
age, which she judged might be around
the middle twentieS.
He represented to her her dream
of a fairy prince come true, and when
he asked If he might call upon her
she gladly permitted him. After that
she drove with him to the Pail for
the superb view and to Diamond Head
for tea at wayside inn.
One afternoon they had come in
themselves on the warm sands. Sud
denly Jerry frowned. "Joan ought to
know better" he said, than to swim
out so far"
lis Joan your sister, asked Anne.
"Why, no, what made you think
that? Our mothers are old friends
That's ALL" Then his face cleared.
"There she comes now. 'Fraid I'd have
to go after her"
The episode set Anne thinking. Was
it possible that she had broken up a
love affair between the two? Then she
shrugged her slender shoulders. Let
the other girl hold Jerry, II she could.
If she couldn't, that was her own
particular misfortune.
For Anne knew that a proposal
lowered on Jerry's lips. And she had
already decided upon her answer.
Never again, she knew, would youth
lay it's heart at her feet.
Anne was going to yacht club
dance that night with Jerry. 1t was
during intermission that he led her
out to little balcony hidden from
people and sweet with the perfumed
Hawaiian night.
"lAnne, darling" he began at once,
"Anne, darling. love yeu. If yOu--if
Won don't think I'm too much of a
kid
Anne shivered suddenly. Did Jerry
know her age? You're dear. any
how" she said noncommittally.
'I've always maintained" he went
on naively, that people aren't happy |
where the discrepancy in their ages is.
too great. And If you're really as
much as twenty-five, or even twenty |
four, must seem frightfully young.
Yet I'm almost twenty"
Twenty thirty f1ve!" Anne mental
ly made the dreadful calculation. 1t
wasn't fair-to feel 80 yeung and be
so old It wasn't fair!
"PoOr Jerry" she murmared |
weighed down with years!" Then
lightly she took fortunes gift and
flung it to another I couldn't posi-
bly, marry you, dear child. II you
think I've led you Oh, hate me, 60
back TO Joan and let her comfort
you"
Next morning she led the amiable
George, lter host, down to the beach.
isn't sand wonderful" she said, let.
ting 1t sift shiningly through her
slender fingers. TITS so ageless that
age means nothing to it. Nothing
And now" she became brisk and bust.
nesslike. IF your many offers still
hold good, just when would you like
SlR to marry your"