A romantic loyalty test unfolds through separation, disguise, jealousy, confrontation, and reconciliation.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
A Promise Before Departure
A naval assignment separates the couple as the USS Florida prepares to sail to Cuba. A picture placed inside a pocket watch and a solemn promise establish the emotional test ahead.
Key Events
Naval Assignment Announced — A Navy lieutenant informs his girlfriend that he has been assigned to the USS Florida.
Location: United States
Voyage to Cuba Planned — The assigned ship is scheduled to sail to Cuba.
Location: United States
Picture Requested — The lieutenant asks his girlfriend for her picture.
Location: United States
Picture Secured — He places the picture inside the cover of his pocket watch.
Location: United States
Promise Against Temptation — His girlfriend makes him solemnly promise not to pursue foreign temptresses.
Location: United States
Invitation To Havana
An invitation to a large house party in Havana creates an opportunity for reunion. The invited guest settles at an uncle's home before the ship arrives.
Key Events
Havana Invitation Arrives — A large house party invitation arrives from an uncle in Havana.
Location: United States
Reunion Hopes Rise — The invitation creates excitement because a reunion with the lieutenant seems possible.
Location: United States
Journey Toward Havana — The invited guest travels to Havana before the USS Florida arrives.
Location: Cuba
House Party Preparations — The guest quickly settles at the uncle's home in preparation for the house party.
Location: Uncle's home in Havana
Ship Reaches Cuba — The USS Florida arrives in Cuba after the guest has settled in Havana.
Location: Cuba
The Spanish Senorita Test
A borrowed maid's outfit enables a disguise as a Spanish senorita. The lieutenant becomes smitten, while repeated refusals and a language ruse complicate their encounter.
Key Events
Disguise Conceived — The guest decides to test the lieutenant's love through a disguise.
Location: Uncle's home in Havana
Maid's Clothes Borrowed — She borrows a maid's clothes to appear as a Spanish senorita.
Location: Uncle's home in Havana
Foreign Fascination Begins — The lieutenant becomes immediately smitten with the disguised woman.
Location: Havana
First Advances Rebuffed — The disguised woman rejects the lieutenant's first advances.
Location: Havana
Introduction Secured — Undaunted by rejection, the lieutenant secures an introduction to the disguised woman.
Location: Havana
Walk Through Havana — The lieutenant takes the disguised woman for a walk.
Location: Havana
Language Ruse Maintained — She makes the walk difficult by pretending not to understand English.
Location: Havana
Truth Behind The Watch
After returning to the United States, the lieutenant is questioned about the picture in his watch. A false story leads to a final revelation, confrontation, forgiveness, and an embrace.
Key Events
Return To America — After returning to the United States, the lieutenant goes to see his girlfriend.
Location: United States
Picture Demanded — She asks to see her picture inside his watch.
Location: United States
Lost Picture Excuse — He claims that he lost the picture during fierce fighting.
Location: United States
Eyes Closed — She instructs him to close his eyes before revealing her test.
Location: United States
Disguise Revealed — When he opens his eyes, she is standing before him dressed as the Spanish senorita.
Location: United States
Order To Leave — She orders him to leave after exposing the disguise and his deception.
Location: United States
Final Forgiveness — She finally relents, ending the conflict between them.
Location: United States
Embrace Restores Unity — The couple embraces after the disguise test and confrontation.
Location: United States
Story Breakdown
Naval Separation — A military assignment creates distance and establishes the couple's promise of loyalty.
Cuban Deployment — The USS Florida is scheduled to sail to Cuba.
Pocket Watch Picture — A picture is placed inside the cover of a pocket watch.
Havana Invitation — An invitation offers a chance for reunion before the ship arrives.
House Party Offer — A large house party invitation arrives from Havana.
Early Arrival — The invited guest settles at an uncle's home before the ship arrives.
Disguise Strategy — A romantic test is planned through an adopted foreign identity.
Borrowed Maid Clothes — Maid's clothes are borrowed for the disguise.
Spanish Senorita — The disguise presents the guest as a Spanish senorita.
Havana Courtship — The disguised encounter produces attraction but also deliberate obstacles.
Immediate Fascination — The lieutenant becomes immediately smitten with the disguised woman.
Rejected Advances — Initial advances are rebuffed before an introduction is secured.
Language Barrier Ruse — The disguised woman controls the encounter by pretending not to understand English.
Havana Walk — The lieutenant takes the disguised woman for a walk.
Feigned Incomprehension — Pretended language difficulty makes the walk as difficult as possible.
Watchroom Revelation — The return to the United States brings the romantic test to its decisive confrontation.
Lost Picture Story — The lieutenant claims the picture was lost during fierce fighting.
Disguise Exposed — The girlfriend appears in the senorita disguise after making him close his eyes.
Reconciliatory Embrace — Anger gives way to forgiveness and the couple's final embrace.
Order To Leave — She initially orders the lieutenant to leave.
Final Relenting — She finally relents, and they embrace.
The story opens with a pretty love scene between the Lieutenant and his betrothed, Kate Stanley. Hammond is ordered to join his regiment in Cuba and Kate is heartbroken. He tells her they must part, and the girl decides to be brave. She exacts from him a promise that he will be true to her, and not indulge in any flirtations with the dark-eyed senoritas she has been told lure men from their vows of constancy in the land of flowers. Hammond is only too willing to swear eternal constancy. Kate places in his watch case a photograph of herself, kisses her manly soldier, and the leave-taking is very affectionate. The scene reverts to Cuba, Lieutenant Hammond arrives, and is impressed with the country. Kate, having relatives in Havana, receives an invitation to pay them a visit and eagerly accepts, thinking she will meet her lover. She is apprised of his arrival at Havana, and, knowing the predilection of soldiers to flirt, resolves to investigate.
