The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-05-11

OF TINS vhOIel on " tNlt~Ndt evening.
Dancing in the garage from s 30 TO
10 o'clock. Please come with escort"
Anne froWned when she read the
little card. When school had shut
down very unexpectedly for an en-
forced vacation, she had felt that she
must earn some extra money. The re-
suit was that she had accepted q SO
called war time" position in one of
the suburban hotels, but that such Il
position has its difficulties, and IS
mighty different from teaching school,
Anne was just beginning to find out.
II really can't 60" she told herself.
Il hardly know any Of the people who
will be there. And besides l haven't
any young man to ask for my escort
"Oh, there's Mr.. Stevens" IS the
manager Of the hotel came into the
lobby. I'll ask him to advise me what
to do" and she hurried over to meet
him.
He greeted her with a pleasant
smile for he had taken great interest
in the girl who had come to him when
school had closed and frankly told him
Of her desire to earn more money in
| order to fit herself for bigger things"
He listened carefully to the story of
her difficulty.
"Why, ia just look in for half an
hour, if l were you," he said, when
she had finished; you needn't dance
If you don't want to, and your lack of
an escort will give you sufficient ex-
cuse, but l think you'd better 90 if only
for few minutes, 50 that the others
won't think you are trying to be diff
ferent."
Anne thanked him, and hurried off.
wondering why she hadn't thought of
that herself, and resolved that she
would look her prettiest, even If she
didn't particularly care about going.
After dinner, she went to her little
room under the caves, to don her
party gown.
Goodness How gay we shall be ~
she exclaimed to herself, as she shook
out her dress. Il wonder If l haven't
been to q party since the farewell eve
ming that the teachers gave to the old
superintendent. Wonder what the new
man IL be like" and her mind wan
dered off to the subject that lay near
est her heart-schOol.
''They say he's young and quite fas-
chatting" she thought, land | suppose
| that means that all the teachers in the
district will set their caps for him.
But here's one that won't" And she
| jabbed a hairpin in with extra force,
| for Anne had ideas on the subject
| of 'AIen."
| The last lock of hair securely faS-
tened, and the last frill on the dress
alternately coaxed and patted into
place. Anne sailed forth alone to the
| garage which had been transformed
| into q dance hall for the evening
festivities, quite surprised to find her
self rather excited at the prospects of
| going to a dance, even though the
guests were to be maids and chauf-
feurs.
Il believe I'm going to enjoy it after
ALL" she told herself, with no little
| amusement. Il shouldn't be at all sur
prised if I find myself accepting an
| invitation to dance with some tall
youth who drives a gentleman's car,
and who probably"
"Good gracious" and Anne gave q
little scream as big machine shot By
her, and came to a sudden stop a few
feet beyond.
| my, but that was a narrow escaper
and the girl leaned weakly against the
door of the garage, totally unnerveC
| by the shock.
II do hope / haven't hurt yOu," call
| out out masculine voice from the
darkness beyond; a voice in which an
| nOyance and concern struggled for the
mastery. II do hope you are not hurt,
and instinctively his cap came off, as
coming into the light streaming Ou
through the door of the dance hall
he saw the slender, dainty, girlish fig
ure leaning up against the side of the
building.
"They told me down the road tina
| do q udllIC III TIC Sdl dSC III
here, so I was just running past look
ing for place to put up my car fol
while I'm most awfully sorry i
I've frightened you.'
Anne's presence of mind by this tins
had returned, and she took in he
companion with one all-appraisin,
glance.
Mighty good looking for a chauf
feur," was her inward comment, ant
aloud she said: 81 am all right now
thank you. I really was more scarce
than hurt. All the chauf-I meal
the guests at the dance are putting
up the machines in the empty lot be
hind the garage. I'll show you tn
way" she added graciously, ''for sup
pose you don't want to miss an,
dances. There goes the music now"
"Why, I don't" began the youn
man, and stopped, for Anne had walk
ed ahead and was pointing out tn
place where a number of machine
had already been parked.
ITO be quite truthful" he said, whe
he had caught up with the girl, 9
hadn't quite made up my mind to g
to this dance, for, as you see, haven
any partner" And he looked at tn