The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-18
THE EVENING STORY
AT the Summer school.
by Temple Bailey


counted the teacher. taking steps
toes.
The class in advanced dancing fol-
loWed her with more or less precision.
At the head of the line Margaret Nor
ton, secure in the proficiency acquired
Dy three years of training in the sum
mer school, flung back her pretty head
ana smiled at the awkward young man
In the opposite row.
At the foot of the line poor little
Mary Cobb, teacher in district school.
with ambitions toward a physical d.
rectorship in the State Normal, strug-
gled with the intricacies of the new
steps and blushed and blushed as she
felt the eyes of the class upon her.
"One. two three; one. two, three,
counted the teacher again; the music
played lifting measure. and the pu-
pills swung across the floor IN the
mazes of a folk dance.
Most of them did it well, but Mary
and the Awkward Young Man hoped
up and down, this way and that, and
of time, out of MISUNDERSTANDING
discouraged. disheveled.
TITS DREADFUL" Mary gasped.
You are doing it nicely" the pant
ing young man encouraged her.
"Oh, I'm not" the words came with
a sob. at dance like-like a hippo
potamus."
You couldn't" His eyes rested
with appreciation on the delicate flush
ed face. the loosened yellow hair.
you're oo-too-IittIe- and-grace-
full" He stammered over the words,
as If compliments did not come easily.
I'm not graceful" she said. Look
at that lovely creature at the head of
the line"
Seeing their eyes upon her, Margaret
Morton nodded to them, smiling. She
was feeling very complacent. Her
natty gymnasium suit was or black
-, T1rA NaT
nthe strong light. She pitied that lit
tie girl at the foot of the line in the
frumpy blue flannel suit. But the
young man seemed worth knowing.
He had a classic profile and wore his
Margaret danced across the polished
floor.
Isn't it fine?" she asked, as she came
up to them.
You do it so beautifully" Mary
murmured.
The Awkward Young Man did not say
anything, and Margaret, moved to CO.
quetry, took three expert steps to the
right, and then three expert steps to
the left. ITS SO easy" she declared,
with some display of silk-stockinged
ankles.
TT looks easy when you do it." Mary
sighed, "but am so stupid"
But Margaret held out her hands to
the Awkward Young Man. Let me
show you, she offered. NOW" and
they danced away together.
For the next fifteen minutes Margaret
held the Awkward Young Man at her
side, and Mary, practicing forlornly by
herself in the corner, watched them,
and envied the ease with which Mar
garet talked and laughed and pirouet-
ted in shine of black satin ana or
copper-colored hair.
When the music started, the Awk-
ward Young Man came back to Mary.
How are you getting along?" he ask
ed, with a smile that lighted his face
and made it very attractive; o .a,a
never" and her lip Quivered.
"Oh, yes you WILL" he said. Il don't
believe you are the kind to give up"
"But-Miss Morton does it so beauti-
fully" Mary told him, TREMENDOUSLY. lu
training in the physical course at the
summer school," he reminded her. She
ought to do it beautifully"
And then they struggled on, as the
teacher counted, interminably:
''One. two. three; one, two, three
Every day Mary and the Awkward
Young Man had few minutes together.
But the minutes were few, for Margaret
Morton had taken upon herself the in
struction of the Awkward Young Man,
and more than once Mary was left to do
the steps in her lonely corner.
Everybody seems to know how but
me- she said despairingly, in the third
week to the Awkward Young Man.
It don't" he assured her.
but Miss Morton takes such an in
tesest in you"
ct wish she wouldn't" he said,
A light leaped into Mary's eyes.
ct would rather be with you," he
added, with a look tina changed the
world for little Mary.
lone, two, three; one. two, three"
counted the teacher. and Mary flew
around the room on that feet that
seemed winged.
How well you did that said the
Awkward Young Man, as she danced
I'D to him, her cheeks red. eyes like |
stars, her little figure swaying to the
IT don't know how it happened"
she laughed, "Oh. let's do it togeth- |
err
Margaret Morton watched them |
rom the other end of the room. and |
'olk dance. she passed the Awkward |
Young Man, she whispered. Don't |
you want to go with me to the light |
house in the morning?"
I'm sorry" he fibbed, 'but I have |
1ther plans
And when he passed Mary he asked:
Will you let me take you to the |
peach after the class tomorrow? We !
,au carry our note books and study"
"Oh. it will be lovely" she said.
Ind all the happiness in her heart
expressed in her tripping feet,
10 that the teacher patted her on the
Ihoulder as she came UP at the end
# the lesson. you are getting on,
Miss Cobb she said.
The day at tho beach, with the waves
apping the sands lazily and the gulls
tipping and rising against a sky of
apphire, gave an opportunity for an
of aspirations and ideals.
dary told of her plans to teach in
he normal, and the Awkward Young
Ian confessed to an ambition to in
truct physically the youths of the Y.
a. c. A. of his town.
As the afternoon waned they talked.
s young people will. of other things.