New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-06-25
M /! !. :, {. g., A!!GiG!:I!. k !!!e YES

| She vas very busy that morning.
consclentiously trying to be faith
| full to her duties. AS so many OF
! her guests" were under the in
| fluence of NAL de mer she devoted
| most of her time to visiting the
staterooms and ordering Clipped
| beef and crackers with ginger ale.
or champagne for those who pre-
/ ferred it.
| The deck steward came to her ia
! organize a shuffloboard tourname nj
| and the swimming pool attendants
wanted ideas for the races they
we're scheduled to arrange.
| A group of hardy husbands
| thought she ought TO be around
when the 10 o'clock bouillon was
! served on deck, and the dining
| room steward wanted her help With
the flowers,
Every steward and stenardess OF
the ship turned to her for instruc-
| tons whether or not 1t lay in her
| line OF duty to advise and assist
| them
They were all under orders and
a promise of bonus to make the
| cruise a memorable one and they
knew Virginia Bre~ster's back
ground and that she represented
the standard of hospitality the Blue
Capella wished to establish on the
Agena.
There was lltII time for Nir-
1 sinia to think of her own troubles
! For as she began to make &C.
quaintances among the passengers
she found that not few Of them
/ expected to make her a repository
for tales of woe that they consid-
cred very dreadful but which caused
Virginia to smile.
| Trouble with servants. Trouble
with obesity. Trouble with the
sources of supply and what vile
stuff 1t was when you got it.
Virginia listened politely but al.
ways got away as soon as she
could. She was grateful at these
times for her many and varied
duties tht afforded her pretexts
for eXcusing herself.
BY the time they reached Cuba
and steamed into the historic har-
| Dor of Havana she had recoN cred
! from the first pain OF Nathanlefs
failure to bid her bon voyage. Hell
chief EN- otion nov was one OF
agonized suspense. Would she find
oddly" Leigh? And If she did
would he help her?
/ 1t set her frantic when some OF
the passengers remarked that they
wished the Agena would stay in the
| harbor few days longer than the
| itinerary called for and spoke OF
asking the captain to make the
change.
Haiti would be their next stop.
Any unnecessary delay in getting
there would be unbearable for Nir-
ginia Her limit Of endurance was
already reached by the extra de-
mands made upon her time and
strength while they were IN
Havana.
On the last night in port there
was a roof dinner given to the
captain. The guest Of honor
showed a decided disposition Il
monopolize the attentions OF the
ships hostess and SO Virginia
found herself compelled to dance
with an old seadog whose steps
might have been perfect on heav-
ing deck but impossible to follow
on a dance floor.
She was sure 1t pleased certain
Of the wives to see her SO disposed
of and accordingly made no effort
to induce him to choose another
partner. 1t was his night and he
knew il.
But it filled her heart With sad
ness to be whirling around in hi:
arms under the low hung moon and
brilliant stars of land that was
fas hioned for romance.
If only she could close her eyes
and imagine she was dancing with
Mel, But when She tried it She
promptly got her toes stepped or
and the illusion, if it had existed
VAS instantly dispclled.
II was a very gay crowd. except
for those who had walked too much
in the tropical sun and drunk toe
much beer at the Tropical Gar.
dens.
The roof vas a garden Of palm:
and flow ers and the dclicatels col
ored buildings Of the city below
stretched out TO a moons himmerini
sea like a water color painting.
The beautiful evening dresser
that women wore and the whit
dress suits the men had donnet
we're in perfect harmony with th'
scene, but Virginia wished sh'
could stand a moment at tn,
parapet and he alone with the spri
Of beauty that o,ered over tn,
city.
There vas laughter; there Uer
toasts. stories aud music
, And far away, under COLI
northern sky, a man tramped 70
miles and miles in great city
} midtown park and thought of
ship AZ sea With a girl whose hear
was land down in worship at til
, feet OF Mamnon.
And It VAS all 90 futilr, r
| thought. For nhat could she bu