Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-02-07
By Raymond Maxwell.

Copyrights. 1901, by Authors syndicase.l
NJ AZURE had never intended that
IN Lamson should dance. By every
law Of grace and anatomy, he should
have withheld himself from the fes-
tive waltz and two step; yet Lamson
had wild desire to learn TO dance.
Worst Of all, this longing came upon
him after he was Is years old, and
the person who learns to dance well
after IS is rarer than q white black
bird.
The reason for Lamson's sudden
interest in dancing was because he
believed that as a dancer he would
be ON the air line to Mary Ellen's
heart. Mary Ellen Anstruther could
south breeze, and young Perkins, de-
testable youth, who wore plaid vests
end giggled behind faxVn mustache,
was her favorite partner. The first
time hanson ever saw Mary Ellen
she was dancing, and he was smitten
with a great love for her, and a corr
responding great hate for. her part
ffer, Perkins. Lamson himself was
kounging in a doorway, disconsolate
and alone. He was not a dancing
man, and he had come to the party
under protest. But Mrs. Ray had
one day descended ON him In his Of
ice and said that If he did not come
sire would never forgive him to the
sxsS day Of her life. So he had gone,.
ana was spending a istless evening,
trying TO keep out of the way of the
dsncers.
After he saw Mary Ellen he began
Co take an interest in things. He
skated around the edge of the ball
room until he found Mrs. Ray. He
asked her to introduce him to the
pretty girl who was dancing with
the pigeon-toed, blond young man.
Perkins was not pigeon-toed-thaL
was gratuitous insult invented by
Lamson on the spur of the moment.
Lamson was introduced to Mary
Ellen. On closer view he decided that
she was even prettier than he had
thought at first No one could know
how long and curled her eyelashes
were who did not see her close, nor
how fine and satinlike was her skin
nor could he fully appreciate the
quaint turn tof her under lip as il
merged into her chin.
Lamson talked TO her for five short
minutes, then gawky youth bore
her away for waltz. Lamson spent
the remainder of the evening follow
ing Mary Ellen about so he could
snatch few moments with her be
tween dances. Just when he begar
TO enjoy himself she was always
whirled away from him. He sug
gested that she sit down and rest
She laughed and showed him her card
which was scrawled all over will
hieroglyphics. "I wish you weren'1
30 popular" Lamson said; "then yoI
would have time to talk to me-"
Mary Ellen held up her hands il
horror. "Oh. wall fowerl Tha
would be horrid. I could never
hold up my head again
Mr.. Lamson,. she added, SCI
might come over to our house som,
day and call. don't dance then, an,
I'm sure you'd soon get tired of hear
ing me talk"
hanson learned her address fus
Is she was joining the cotil6on. al
called on her the very next evenin,
but one. Lamson found that he di,
not tire Of hearing Mary Ellen talk
Afterwards he seldom remembers,
Just what she had talked of, but b
was apt to watch the dimple in he
right cheek as it came and went, an,
SO lost much of the drift of her con
versation- hanson would have BEEF
quite content to spend every evenin
In the parlor of Mary Ellen's father
but she had many engagements
Lamson could 60 to theaters- an
concerts and card parties, but whe
it came to dancing he had to b
counted out. Mary Ellen went to s
many dancing parties that Lamso
came to the conclusion that he mus
either learn to dance or lose ever
hope Of marrying her. He resolve