The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1911-08-11
Being a
WuUH0wer

Were you ever wallfower?'
Mrs. Bottine But OF course you
never were" she added, generously.
Il suppose it strikes you as funny
1t isn't.
Il used to laugh myself about the
poor forlorn things sitting in corners
watching others dance" she contin-
ued. Il laugh no more. l. like you,
thought that should never be wall
flower. but being a wallfiower is like
lightning-one never knows where it
will strike nor whom.
Never miHd when 1t happened. Per-
haps my husband was to blame for
not looking out for me. Still, sup
pose the poor man thought the other
men would swarm about me after he
left me at the end of the first dance.
The party being informal, there we're
no programs, so he had no chance to
fill one out for me.
We'll, sat confidently waiting to
be asked for the second dance. Alas!
found l had arrived at the bargain
ing age. where one man makes bar
gain with another like this: If you
will dance the next dance with my
wife | will dance with yours My
husband had not known OF my doleful
lack Of fascination for other men.
Patiently and vainly | waited for
= partner. Finally saw a man | knew
coming across the hall toward me.
half rose, smiling my most fascinat-
ing smile. He passed me unheeding,
and asked another woman three seats
away.
Surely with the third number
would be asked to dance-hope dies
hard! But the third and the fourth
were like the second, and there still
sat. Dancing halls are heated for
dancers, not for wallfowers. so I be-
gan to feel chilly
while the fourth dance was in
progress still sat. every minute get,
ting sitter and sitter from the cold,
while | saw the other people dancing
gayly by.
One woman kindly asked: Aren't
you dancing this evening? To which
l answered. Yes
But, oh joy! The fifth dance
struck up, and 10, a partner,
II did not mind II he was old and
fat-and oh, how very fat he was!
did not mind II he could not dance
He, at least, would bring me on the
floor with the others. | was so over.
1oyed at being chosen that | could
hardly answer him. 1t was all could
do to refrain from clutching him
wildly. so that he could not get away,
Il wish I could describe that mad
waltz. Novelists have pictured waltz
ing as floating around the hall with
heart and feet attuned TO the pulsing
throbbing music Our waltz wasn't
like that. My partner began turning
round and round, like a dervish. until
my head spun like a top. Now he
would step on my toes and then he
would madly bump ME first into one
couple and then into another. But
the finest gold has its alloy One
must take the bitter with the sweet.
/ was. at least. getting warmed up.
AS for my partner, what was my
suffering compared with his, His face
was purple, his collar was limp and
his breath was coming in quick, husky
Jerks. At last l became alarmed.
What II he should have a fit?
Hadn't we better walk for q
while?' asked him.
NO he answered. No; I'm
dancing for exercise. In summer |
ride a wheel and in winter | dance to
keep down my fat!'
"Oh. why are hope and faith so
strong? Why didn't ! then go to thc
dressing room. instead Of being led
to seat again, to sit and watch and
sit and watch the dancers! But
repeat that hope dies hard
Each time man came my way
smiled. whether l knew the creature
or not. 1t was no use The revelry
went on, and through It all l sat and
sat and sat.
Little by little l moved nearer to
the radiator until found a seat be.
side 1t. Oh, how good the heat felt
to my stiff neck and my rheumatic
knee! 1t was past my bedtime now
and l began to feel sleepy.
AT last the warmth, the music, the
laughter and the throb of the dancers
feet all mingled, and ! saw nothing
heard nothing!
MY goodness Had, been asleep,
Had anyone seen me? Oh. my stiff
neck, how 1t hurt!
Suddenly | saw my husband CON-
ing across the hall. Should I tell
him how had passed the evening?
mo, Mo- | would not own up
Smiling, | rose to my feet as he
came near. He said: 7 have danced
every dance this evening am dead
tired. and ! know you are. Don't you
want to go homer"
Smiling still, I answered: Yes.