The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-06-09


then she tossed her head-a favorite
habit-ani said with spirit: I'm go
ing to that dance am quite able
to take care of myself. Some other
time can accept your kind invita-
tion-that is, if it still holds%
Mary felt that it was useless to ar
que or advise any longer. Betty had
strain of obstinacy in her charac-
ter which. she sound it hard to COM
bat. But as she looked at the sweet
face the young girl she made up
her mind that if she could prevent it
Betty should not become a sport
That evening in her home she di-
rected the conversation sklllfully to
the dance to be held that evening.
rs Harrison's dancing-hal proper
place for young girl to go tor she
asked John, her eldest brother.
We'll, I should think not" he ex-
| claimed warmly. Girls who frequent
| that dance-hall haven't shred OF rep
utation left-respectable folk steer
clear of them" Mary's fears for Bet
| ty were augmented a thousandfold.
Should she tell this grave brother of
hers about little Betty? After a mo-
| ment's hesitation, she decided to con-
| fide in him.
What are her people thinking of.
| anyhow" he grumbled when she had
finished. Are her parents living ?
| Has she no brothers?"
| ''She comes of a good Catholic fam
lily" said Mary "She is the only
! child. Her father is a commercial
man, and out of the city most of the
time. Her mother, believe, worships
| her. No one could help loving her.
she added, she is so pretty and gay"
What can l do?" said John testify.
Il am not Miss Betty's guardian. What
| do you want me to do?" he asked
bluntly.
would you go to that dance to-
night, just to keep an eye on her
and If you think it necessary inter
fere? I know you are the man who
can do it." She looked at him proud
| ly. He was a fine, stalwart looking
young man, with honest eyes per
haps ! am exaggerating, but my fears
for Betty's safety" she faltered.
"You are not" he said shortly
I'll CO. Then he took up his news
paper and lost himself in it's pages
Mary became light-hearted all at once
She felt that Betty with such pro
tector on the scene would be safe
| Nevertheless, she offered up fervent
| prayer for her
! AS Betty prepared herself for the
dance that night she was in the gay
est spirits. Her graduation dress was
so pretty and becoming. Her fresh
young face, with its vivid eoloring an6
brilliant brown eyes, smiled back al
her from the mirror as she pirouettet
before it. Agnes White was to cal
for her at nine o'clock. They were tt
take trolley to, the hall, and were tt
be met by Agnes friend, and he wa.
to introduce Betty to lots of partners
There was no make-believe about this
Betty blushed as she thought of hel
make-believe "feHers." Who conlt
tell but she might meet tonight thu
/, real one that every girl dreams of
, the one whom she could love and re
| spect, who could give her a happ.
J home? At this thought Betty blushet
, so becomingly that her mother re
marked: Betty, you do look wei
| | this evening-your dress is lovely!
| hope this Miss White is a nice girl,
] she added.
: Betty colored furiousIy. She re
l called Mary's condemnation of Agnes
} She felt if she told her mother that
/. would mean goodbye to the dance
/ With a little uncomfortable feelin
t Juggling at her heart, she answere,
5 lightly, ooh, she's all right, mother
l think you'll like her.
A few moments later Agnes arrived
all vivacity and fun. She swept Mrs
: Larkin off her feet with her brigh
f manner and gushing protestations o
A friendship for Betty She was hard
5 faced girl with no special pretention
3 to beauty save a high color and mass
? es of fair hair, skillfully arranged
}. which gave her a certain style. He
: dress was expensive, but Betty coul
I not help noticing that it was cut eH
tremely low, and wondered if, afte
$ all. Mary might not be right in he
e estimation of Agnes. Before they lef
: Agnes assured Betty's mother tina
$ she would see her safely home.
"A As they entered the dance-hal
r Agnes friend met them as he ha
] promised. From the first moment
: Betty took an instructive dislike t
] him; there was an indefinable some
. thing about him that repealed hel
t But soon score of partners Wer
e awaiting her-her beauty and fresh
! ness made her popular at once. TIL
: brilliant lights, the music and tn
* dance intoxicated her. Her imagins
e ton lent a false charm to her sui
roundings, which in reality wer
:, sordid enough. The decorations wer
!. garish, and the girls assembled wer
bold-eyed and loud of speech; bu
i Betty saw nothing of this. She wa
Q in a dreamland of her own making
9 The young men we're so gallant, tn