Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1931-11-25
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP


READING To WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
"She Finds Romance With a Cap
ital "R", an Interesting Story
Written by I'll. Louis RayboId
CARRIE JONES sat in a golden
~ oak rocker in her dull little bed
room and stared at the sum total of
her savings neatly set down in her
bank book. The account was nei-
ther appalling for its size, nor yet
was it meager. 1t ran into three
figures.
"That" said Carrie to herself,
with considerable bitterness, repre-
sents the years of my youth. I've
scrimped and saved-for what? To
lay aside something for my old age
in which I've no interest. It's right
now, this very minute, that l could
appreciate spending it while l have
some energy left in my old bones ="
Carrie was not so old as her words
Implied. In fact. she wasn't much
beyond thirty which, with every
generation, become less of dread
landmark, but she could foresee
the approach of middle age and she
had never had a fling. Fifteen years
of typewriting letters dealing with
the coal business don't offer much
inspiration, or opportunity for
filings"
Il have a good mind" went on
Carrie thoughtfully, ito resign my
position and go on a spree. AS
long as my money holds out. Then
I'll get another job and there'll still
be time to save for decrepitude.
Now | wonder just where is the
most romantic spot in the world,
for that is where | am goingr'
/. By chance, her eyes rested on
the little ;helf of canned goods
which she kept on hand to supple
ment her dairy lunch meals, and a
very gay label caught her attention
Hawaiian Sliced Pineapples."
Il the Tidewater Anthracite and
Bituminous Coal company felt any
pangs at losing Carrie they sue
cessfully concealed them, paid her
salary to date, and sent up to the
business college for a successor.
Carrie, when their doors closed be
hind her, forgot them as thoroughly
as they did her.
Two weeks later she stood in the
bow of the Matsonia watching the
rising headlands of Diamond Head,
and Of all those who hung over the
rail as the boat locked none was
more prepared to be thrilled than
Carrie Jones, and no one was more
cruelty disappointed.
Why, Honolulu was exactly like
any city of the States.
After allowing herself to be TAXED
to what she judged a reasonably
priced hotel, she found herself In a
room equipped with furniture from
Grand Rapids, large painting of
Niagara in Winter and two win
| dOws which looked down upon a
replica Of any large city's Broad
way" and across at a building dis
playing numerous doctors and
dentists signs. She unpacked her
crushable clothes. went down to
meal in which the only unfamiliar
food was Algaroba pears.
But it is only fair to say that as
the days passed Carrie found some
Of the things she had hoped for.
True, what she had pictured as
golden beaches did in some cases
turn out to be sands as black, If
cleaner, than the anthracite of her
old office samples. and the thunder
of the surf soon grew to be merely
a mOnotonous thudding that lulled
her to sleep. Daily. however, she
marveled at the wealth of foliage.
Yet she never quite got over the
feeling that she had not found ro-
nance with a capital r.
She determined finally on a trip
on the little inter-island steamer,
cherishing faint and daring hopes
of possible shipwreck with a gall
liant rescue or even temporary
NARROWING on a not too deserted
island. Without mishap, however,
she landed at Hilo with a little
group of tourist school teachers and
with them planned an automobile
trip to Kilauea.
1t was as she stood at the end of
the road and watched the encroach-
ing lava that she heard some one
at her side, and turning, looked up
into a pair Of pleasant eyes belong
ing to q. sandy-haired young man
she had casually noticed on the
steamer.
Il don't suppose" he said with a
smile, "that even on the brink of