The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-07-17
SenOrita
from
Chicago
BY VIDA HURST
Continued from Page 81

y
the door into the lounge.
The next day she learned that
he was one Of the most famous
pianists in Brazil. Mario Muller
was of German descent. Not
drop Of black blood in his veins.
he boasted. Temperamentsl, fss-
tidious. sensitive, he spoke five
languages but only a little Eng
lish.
When he was bored. which he
was often. he pretended 10 speak
none. he sdmitted-adding naively
that with Sheila he could never be
bored Sheila reminded him Of a
delicate, rare flower. Just to look
at her with her fair hair and lovely
skin was an inspiration. He wished
there was piano on board so that
he might play for her but alone,
no one else must intrude or he
would spoil it.
just a Line
81 should like TO compose a lit
tie song for you" he murmured.
Il shall call it TO White Orchid"
Sheila. at first embarrassed by
the intensity of his gaze. found her
self enjoying 1t. OF course it was
just line, she told herself, but at
least it was different. Imagine
an American man saying such a
thing. She spent the morning talk
ing with him and the day after
when they reached Santos refused
Jims invitation to go ashore
I'm going to the orchid farm
with Mr.. Muller" Sheila said.
Jim grinned.
Fast work, kid, I didn't know
he could speak English well enough
to ask you"
He can speak English we'll
enough when he wants to-" Sheila
assured him.
She thought it was unkind of
him to take Olive to the orchid
farm at the exact time when she
had said she was going.
But there they were, apparently
admiring the flowers but in reality
spying on Sheila and her compan-
ion. She knew they were by the
assumed innocence of their express
sions and the way they smiled
when Mario purchased 10 orchedas
one for each finger of her little
hands"
Mario, who had a single track
mind, ignored them but by the
time they returned to the ship
Sheila was exhausted. The effort
to understand his English inter-
spersed with French and Spanish
was too much for her. Mario had
explained that although in Brazil .
Portuguese was the national Ian
guage. it was considered an insult =
to be called anything but a Brazil
ian. He also told her that when .
ever he left his native country for :
a tour of the states he became :
homesick.
Where are you going now ?"
Sheila asked.
Now only to Montevideo. But
in a month or so l shall be coming
to Buenos Aires viii you tell me
where you will be staying so that 4
l may see you?"
She gave him the name Of her
hotel adding, II should like to hear
you play"
81 have played in the Teatro
Colon Mario said proudly. But
this time when l 60 it will be TO
play on radio concert"
Sheila was flattered but she did
not like him as we'll as she had
Richard. She suspected that Mario
was as selfish as he was artistic.
He absolutely refused to appear
for boat drill remaining in his
room regardless of orders for ev-
eryone to go on deck. He sat for
almost an hour after every one
else had finished slipping his small
cup of black coffee. And, when
ever anyone said anything which
did not amuse him. which was
often, he retired into his shell.
NaNHnFfhalncr l.
journey more interesting to have
him beside her as the ship sailed
past the sullen British battleships
outside the harbor of Montevideo.