The Indianapolis times., 1928-12-22

don" EngllShmen always said they
were sorry. She liked it. 1t seemed
more sincere.
He had pipe in one hand. Ash
toreth could see the tobacco glow
ing in the bowl. And his hat was
in bis hand. The moon had scuttled
behind fleeting cloud. And the
deck was black as ink.
II am sorry" he repeated. "I hope
didn't hurt you. Did I frighten
you?"
"a little" she admitted.
She liked his voice in the dark.
And she liked his coat. 1t was tweed
some course stuff-and Smelled of
tobacco. She had brushed her face
against it when he caught her in
his arms.
you'd better let me take care
of you," he told her. cor some
other brute will be walking all over
you"
He said it diffidently, and asked,
do you mind if I walk around
with you? I'll promise to keep off
your feet"
"I'd like to have you," she said.
''It'S sort of scarey out here all
alone. 1 thought I was the only
person up"
"A BELL rang, and the watch
L a changed. An officer came
down from the bridge, swinging his
arms to keep warm. And sailors
passed each other on the deck.
1.-THE bar closes at 12," the Eng
lishman remarked. "We'll have
time to take turn around, and
have a drink if you like"
He took Ashtoreth's arm, and
they turned to face the moon that
shone palely across the midnight
waters.
I'D like walk" she told him,
"but don't care about drink"
"You dont!" he exclaimed. why,
I thought all American girls drank. :"
II knew you were English" she
retorted. "It's dreadful the things
an Englishman thinks about Ameri-
cans. We've so many Anglomaniacs
in our country, too. 1t doesn't seem
quite fair"
He laughed, and pressed her arm.
well, I'm sort of Yankee
maniac myself" he assured her, "sc
that eVenS things up. Seriously.
though. I had supposed all jeune
files Yankees spent the great par
of their time quaf1ng the forbiddeA
nectar. It's joke in England, you
know"
you don't live in American" she
asked.
I've been at school there" he
told her. "At Harvard Law, be-
cause. 1 expect to practice in your
country. Advocates in England d
not earn so much as in America
We're dreadfully poor since the war
don't you know"
She wondered, then, how it hap
pened that he was taking a cruise
if he were dreadfully poor And
how he left school in the middle Of
a semester.
1.-The governor has sugar plan
tation at Antigua" he told her
"And we're afraid the hurricane
just about wiped us out. He went
home to Surrey last year, and died
on his holiday. I'm going down to
see how things look, and put new
manager in if I can.
"I'll try to get this same boat back
to New York. I'll have about week
from the time she puts in on her
way down until she stops again on
the way home.
"You know"-he ctuckled- I'm
really glad that I am such an
awkward fellow Else 1 should not
have bumped into you. Now I shall
know you the entire trip. Five
days to Antigua. And five days
home again. And we'll have full
moon before we reach the islands"
When" she asked him, shiver-
ing a little, docs it begin to get
warm?"
"Day aftel tomorrow" he told
her, "the offi3erS will have on their
whites. And the sailors will be
putting up the awnings. And we'll
dance on deck under tropical stars.
Is this your first trip to the IndieS?"
TITS my first trip anywhere" she
confessed.
you're not alone?" he asked.
II
A SHTORETH felt that an Eng
IA lishman would doubtless con-
slider it very bad form. English
people are so tiresomely conven-
tional.
quite alone" she told him.
But I've roommate. A very
fancy lady You surely noticed her
at dinner. She wore gown of cloth