The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-08-19
SenOrita
from
Chicago
sr VIDA HURST

company. Many Of the passengers
On board were sailing only as far
as Rio. Among the others there
was no one in whom she was par
ticularly interested.
Several older couples. a profess
scr and his wife who read aloud
To each other and the usual as
sortment of men and women who
spent most Of their time in the
bar.
sheila fit In with none of these
and since Jim seemed under the
spell OF the blonde from Milwau-
kee she remained in her room or
lay In her deck chair staring out
TO sea.
She slept for hours. Slept like
one drugged while her tired soul
and body were renewed. And as
she regained her lost weight the
color came back into her cheeks
and the sparkle into her blue eyes.
Wealthy Man
One day as she was lying in her
chair with an open book on her
lap. = man sat down beside her
and began a casual conversation.
He had been sitting at the cap
tain's table and Sheila had heard
In the subterranean fashion that
one hears everything on ship
hoard that he owned a coffee plan
tation and was extremely wealthy.
His dark face bronzed by the
sun was pleasant and his manner
had all the polish she had once
found so desirable.
Are you always so solitary ,"
he inquired with his flashing smile.
I've been resting" she adj
mitted. Il was terribly tired when
I came abroad"
you look as fresh as a rose"
he said softly. More radiant
every day. I've been admiring you
If you don't object to my saying
so You are very beautiful
sheila smiled but not a pulse
beat quickened.
That's very nice of you" she
replied with her eyes on Jim and
his blonde companion.
You Jock at her" he said fol-
lowing her glance, But she has
none of your charms. She is the
typical American woman, striding
about the deck in Stacks which are
the most unbecoming clothes a
woman can wear. But you are diff
ferent.
You are what we call SYM
patiea."
Sheila sighed remembering how
many times she had heard this
during the past three months.
And now you are going to tell
me that only the men of your
country speak the language of the
flowers ?"
"The flowers ?" he repeated puz-
zled then he smiled. "Ah, yes, it
is a joke you make but it is true.
Only the men of my country un-
derstand that women are like deli
cate flowers and must be treated
tenderly."
Is Appreciated
Once Sheila would have dis
cussed this eagerly, flattered at
his interest, thrilled to think that
this attractive man appreciated
her. But now she would rather
hear Jim Davis say, "You are
spoiled brat but love you" than
any compliment any other man
could pay.
Nevertheless there was so lit
tie amusement to be found at
the moment that she did not al
together discourage his attentions
and that night after dinner when
he asked her to go topside and
look at the stars she did not re-
fuse.
They were standing side by side
when Jim and Harriet johnson
came up. sheila's companion
shrugged.
"One has no privacy on this
ship" he complained but the 9TH
er couple pretended not to hear
him and remained. carrying on
low voiced conversation inter-
rupted by ripples of laughter
until sheila suggested that they
themselves should leave.
Competition
Jim certainly acted as if he
were falling for this cool-looking
blonde with her faultless express
sionless features. A widow. the
stewardess had said, travelling on
her late husbands insurance.
Widows were the worst compe-
tition any girl could have Sheila
decided recalling the smoothly
sophisticated manner with which
the lady had taken possession of
Jim.
So far as Sheila was concerned
she would have preferred Olive but
of course it was none of her bust
ness. Just the same she was tired
of being forced to witness their
romance.
When they reached Santos Mrs.
johnson announced that Jimmy
was taking her to Sau Paulo and
she did not invite Sheils TO ac-
company them.
The coffee king suggested that
she go for a drive with him but
Sheila refused pleading letters
which must be written and sent
back TO Buenos Aires.
She did write one to Olive but
most of the time she sat in the
lounge slipped a cold drink or stood