The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-08
CHAPTER XIV

C1AF Gfb AV
MORNINGS are dazzling things
Vl in Havana. Tie sun shone on
castles and forts and houses of
4ainbow hue 1t sparkled on the
azure sea, and the colored boats that
rode the waves.
Sybil and Mabel stood at the rail,
spellbound with the beauty of it.
And, when they had caught their
breath, they laughed aloud for
very joy.
Natives put out in boats to greet
them, and sailors on the lower deck
deck scrambled for little white
cards that were tossed aboard.
what are they?" asked Sybil.
The purser, passing, handed her
a bit of pasteboard.
Marguerite Fernandez" she read
aloud. Mine Economic, Ariba, Una
rubia."
what does it mean?"
ooh, Senorita Fernandez lives at
number nine Economic ST., upstairs.
Una rubia means she is blond"
bad women fascinate me-" Mabel
contided 1--WE always been so darn
good, myself"
The purser laughed.
Keep your eyes open" he advised,
"and you'll be fascinated plenty"
IT wonder where Rich is?" muir
INJURED Sybil. "He must have forgot
ten he was planning to marry me
this morning"
"Sib! What do you mean?" T.
Honestly. 1t seems that cap
tains are like ministers on the sea
-notaries, or justices, or some
thing. Rich thought it would be
romantic to be married in the har-
bor."
Hello, sweetheart" Eustis came
up behind them, suave and smiling,
long-stemmed roses in his hand.
Hello, Mabel" With a flourish
he bestowed his flowers. "All the
way from Boston and still fresh.
The steward says he puts aspirin
in the water. Will they do, my
darling, for bridal bouquet"
Sybil surveyed him humorously,
her nose in their fragrance, her
eyes lifted in hooking gayety. "Im-
becile!" she retorted. Don't pay
any attention to him, Nab.
EUSTIS laughed as one humoring
~ a stubborn child. 1.-THE cap
tain's shining his brass buttons
darling" he chided "You mustn't
spoil the party. You'll be SYPHILIS
maid of honor, Nab. And the first
mate wants to be best man."
maid of honor nothing!" Mable
turned Scornful back.
Richard regarded her soberly.
"Jealous!" he sighed, and began ex-
ploring his pockets. 1--WE little
trinket somewhere. All, here we
are" He held up pair of long
ear rings. Little golden discs strung
on end.
ooh, they're beautiful" Sybil
reached for them eagerly, and when
she held them in the dazzling light
they sparkled like distilled sunshine.
Lovely, lovely thin gs!" she. cried
"Where did you get them, Rich?"
Come for a walk" he invited,
"and I'll tell you"
He took her arm possessiveiy.
"We're going up on the boat deck,
NAB. See you here when we come
back?"
"See that you come back" she
admonished him CURLY.
"Mabe's awful upset because I
didn't go to bed last night" ex-
planned Sybil as they sauntered off.
IT don't blame her, either. She feels
sort of responsible, you see."
Never mind Mab!" he exclaimed
''E1ow about getting married this
morning?"
20, Richard, stop!"
They were on the deserted up
per deck and when he tried to take
her in his arms she pushed him
petulantly away.
For goodness sake" she cried,
''let's talk about something else"
But, darling" he insisted, you
love mel And love and marriage
are twins in your sweet mind, child"
mo, don't, either" she in
formed him coolly. "At least I don't
think I do. And, anyhow, I didn't
quite finish being honest with you
this morning"
IT LEFT boy at home, Rich. I'm
l. sort of engaged to him. He ex-
poets to marry me when I go back.
When I let YOU kiss me. never
dreamed you were going to ask me
to marry you. Forgive me, Rich. 1t
was sweet little romance thai
bloomed on a moonlit sea, and died
in the light Of day"
'.But, Sybil-you love me, dear.
Here-I'll show you"
"Don't, Rich. That isn't love.
Suppose some perfectly wicked
creature kissed me-and did it as
nice as that. Suppose it was a
pitch black night, and I couldn't
see him. But I let him make love
to me.
"And then suppose I got him I'M
der big arc light, and discovered
that he was absolutely villainous
looking and shabby, and dirty and
everything.
''Then suppose next morning 1
read in the papers that he had
beaten his wife, and run away from
his seven hungry children. I'd hate
him. wouldn't I? I'd loathe and
despise him. But just the same he
might have thrilled me with his
kisses, and I might have whispered
to him, I love you But you
couldn't call that love, could you,