The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-23
THE WEST TUESDAY EVENING MAY

lawyer, and on q certain cold day In
February. having no prospect Of bus.
mess for the afternoon, he had stroll
ed out 70 the suburban vicinity Of
that institution. There were reasons
Tor Mr.. Hatch's mood OF Incidence and
reasons why his steps took him TO the
neighborhood OF the college. Still ev.
en- TO himself he would not admit
them. 1t was really Betty picket's
fault-little brown.haired, blue eyed
Betty Picket, the 1ovable little doll
OF girl to whom Botsford had prof.
fered his heart and his hand only a
few weeks before.
The worst OF It was Betty had &C.
cepted his suit In timid sort OF way.
Then some foolish little misunder.
standing had come and the end OF It
all was that the time for the much.
talked'about Junior ball at the college
had come and Botsford had not been
asked.
Not that FBotsford cared for Junior
balls, far from 1t, for at best he would
have but four dances with the object
OF his alteration. But still there was
a certain significance about Betty's
Junior ball. as she had explained be.
fore the trouble was brewed. Zone
always asks the only man to ones
own Junior PROM" she had said, and
the memory Of the statement filed
Botsford with thoughts that were col.
ored with the green Of Jealousy when
ever he thought that Betty might be
going to her Junior prom and might
have invited some other man to es.
cort her.
1t was. as matter of fact, the
morning OF the junior prom and Bots
ford knew 1t. And now he was only
few blocks from the dormitory
where the tantalizing little Betty
abode. an donly one block from the
group of buildings where that same
little woman was undergoing the la.
borious process Of receiving high
er education"
He looked up at a high board fence
and beheid large red.lettered sign
that began with the words, "Ice skat.
ing-Watch For the Red Flag" Then
another glance revealed the red flag,
another smaller sign that bore the
simple legend-"Men Wanted"
Botsford rather absent mindedly en-.
tered the wooden door In the fence
marked Entrance" and, following a
group Of girls, bought ticket and Sc.
cured pair of rather rusty, ill.fitting
skates. Then still absent minded, he
began to wonder why the sign had
read "Men Wanted"
He strapped on his skates in the
shelter at the edge of tho court and
then dumped his way down the board.
walk to the sheet of Ice which covered
the sapce that in summer and autumn
served as a tennis court for the girls
Of the college not far away.
He started cautiously, for 1t was the
first time for year that he had been
on skates. And then, after a few pre-.
liminary flourishes, he was off, his
hands securely tucked in his pocket,
his body bent forward and his head
help up-tn the attitude he had learn.
ed as boy.
There were not many skaters. and
most OF those present were girls, He
might have noticed but he didn't that
he was the only man skating alone.
Twice had he gone around the court
when he was hailed by fair-haired
young amazon on an improvised
bench at the edge of the ice. He
skated easily and quickly to ner.
Il am so glad there are some men
at last" she said "and am glad you
are life size. One came yesterday, but
1t was really pathetic. Imagine me
going around on the arm OF a little
chap scarcely five feet four inches.
After ! had hung on his little arm ten
minutes, and fallen with him a few
times, he was quite winded and went
without being paid. But I think you'll
40: What do you charge an hour?"
The regular price," was Botsford's
answer, and then cautiously and with.
out delay the fair young amazon rose
and, with perfect self possession, said,
Now we are off,"
Apparently, thought Botsford, he had
been mistaken for an assistant or in.
structor. Probably the sign on the
fence was there to lure men In 10
escort the women skaters IN their
task OF learning the newly fashionable
sport. Most of the skaters were wo.
men, for the court was practically
monopolized by girls from the col.
lege.
Somehow he managed not to fall
though after half hours work he
found himself growing weary. But
the day promised no diversion more in.
teresting. and for some reason Bots.
FORD always did enjoy being part Of a
harmless misunderstanding. Besides.
unused he, he might before long mus.
ter courage enough to ask the amazon
If she knew Betty. although In an.
pearance at least there could be little
in common between the two girls.
But when the half hour was abou.