The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-07-24
CHAPTER TWELVE

1
That dinner with Raoul's family
was the beginning of series of
enchanting experiences. Some
times Sheila told herself she was
just a blank sheet of paper on
which the enthusiastic Argentine
was writing his own impressions
of his city.
Sleeping her in historical anec-
dotes and traditions, taking her
from art exhibits and museums to
public buildings, through parks to
cemeteries-those elaborate viii
lagos of the dead where the cas-
kets of the beloved were in full
view and could be visited at any
time.
These shrines with their flow
er decked affairs and lighted cam
dies made Sheila realize that in
this country the dead never real
ly died. When one loved in Ar
gentina it was forever. Neither
death nor divorce could separate
you.
They were also more progress
sive than she had imagined. Raoul
showed her the country club where
for five pesos a month. little more
than an American dollar, hundreds
of young people working for small
salaries could have every possible
sport and diversion.
1t was supported. he explained,
by the unclaimed lottery prizes
and contained not only swimming
pools, tennis courts and dancing
space but all kinds of gymnastic
equipment.
On another occasion they WIS.,
tied the clinic owned and oper-
ated by the largest newspaper in
Buenos Aires where anyone who
asked for it could receive free
medical attention.
They had tea at San Isidro,
danced at the exclusive Jockey
club, spent long lazy Sunday in a
boat on the Tigre and another
making a pilgrimage to the ia
nous shrine Lujan. And never
once in all those weeks did Raoul
Gastalu mention business.
In spite of his daily appearance
at the bank he always had plenty
of time. His consideration and ten
derness made Sheila feel that she
was the most important thing in
his life.
Spoke of Love
Yet although Raoul spoke to her
often of love and destiny he SEEM
ed to be waiting to declare his own
feelings. Perhaps because he
sensed her mood. Drawn to him by
an attraction which daily grew
more powerful Sheila suspected if
he had rushed her into a confess
sion of her feelings she would
have drawn back in alarm.
But here too with an exquisite
perception of her feminine nature
Raoul refused to hurry.
Step by step he won her CON-
fidence and admiration. stamp
ing his dark eyed image upon
her heart until everything else
everyone else-ceased to matter.
She had written to her father only
twice since her arrival.
When Olive telephoned remined-
ing her of their luncheon engage
ment Sheila had forgotten about
/ it.
She kept ii but warily refused
TO confide in the other girl or to
make any further commitments.
So Beautiful
Afterward Olive confessed TO her
friend that she had not realized
before that Sheila was so beauti-
full. There was a radiance about
her that had not been visible on
the ship.
The girls in love" Mildred
Burton said. Its written all
over her"
Olive had inquired il Sheila had
heard from Jim which forced
Sheila TO admit that she hadn't
even thought of him. Someday
Jim would be returning to Buenos
Aires and when he did what would
he think of Raoul? Or rather
what would Raoul think of Jim?
Before that happened however
she received an invitation to visit
an estsncia. II belonged to one
Of Raours friends whose wife
wrote a note on thick white paper
bearing a crest expressing the