Smyrna times., 1919-07-16
BETTYS DINNER
BY LOIS EMERY.

it rather funny for you not to, where
you go out together so much"
81 know, mamma, but don't believe
want to, yet awhile.
"YCu know how terrible the boys act.
and they are so refined at his house.
The night was there to dinner every
thing was served in courses. l don't
know what he would think of us
everything on the table at once and
the boys yelling like wild Indians.
Betty stopped and kissed her mother
lightly, tits awful sweet of you to
think of it, but let's not bother about
it yet awhile"
Then minutes later, as she was going |
down the old creek road with Jack
SOmers, her heart began to sing !
little tune of happiness.
They had gone fully mile from !
home before they noticed that the |
breeze had stilled, that the sun was
hidden behind black clouds, and that |
the air had grown very oppressive.
"Why," said Betty, as she looked up
at the sky, "what's that-thunderT
She jumped up from where they had
been sitting on the grass as a drop of
rain spattered her new hat. "Why,
Jack, it's raining"
Jack jumped up and looked about
with worried eyes.
Gracious, Betty, I'm afraid you'll
get wet. Wish I'd taken an umbrella"
"There are no houses around here
and we can't possibly get home with
out getting wet," said Betty, resign
edly.
The thunder drew nearer now, the
wind was rising, and it was getting
very dark overhead.
"rm awfully sorry, Betty should
have"
WhOw! The elements now seemed
at war with one another. Rain fell in
torrents and the thunder doomed,
crashed and rumbled. filling the air
with one continuous, deafening roar.
Half an hour later the two streaming
figures were met on the piazza by the
whole ThurlOw family.
Good land, Betty, we were most
worried to DEATH" said her mother as
she hustled forward anXiOuSly. "YOu
go right up to your room and change
those wet clothes. Your father will
take care of Mr.. Somers.
AS Betty was removing her wet
garments she sighed anxiOusly, mo
telling what father and the bOEs will
do"
Presently Jacks rich hugh and the
boys shrill yelps began to come from
her fathers room. Betty could not
keep from dimpling as she viSiOned
Jacks slender figure in her fathers
clothes.
Hurry up, Betty" whispered her
mother up the back stairs. @Mr. Som
ers is going to stay to dinner and it's
most time to take it up"
"Oh, dear" Betty hurriedly threw
her dress over her head and hurried
down the stairs. II wonder what that
table looks like, anyway"
"What are you going to haCe fOr din
ner, mammaT
'Macaroni, with tomato sauce, dear, 4"
answered her mother sOberly.
"Oh, mother" said Betty, with hOr-
rOr in her voice.
II didn't ask him, Betty. would
have known better. 1t was your father
He acted as If he was awful pleased
because pa asked him. Now don't
worry, dear. There's that nice cream
pie [ made this morning, and I've got
q chocolate cake, too. Here they come
now. You sit right down here, Mr.
SOmers."
The young man gave her a pleasant
smile and sat down beside Betty. II
seemed to her that the boys never
acted worse.
She wondered if this horrible mea
would ever come to an end Everything
else was already at an end, she thought
miserably. Jack SOmers would never
have any use for her with a family
that acted like this.
They were all beginning on pie now
excepting Jack, and he was having
second helping of macarOni.
At last dinner was over, and Bett!
and Jack went out on the piazza. L
was just growing dusk and the air wa
full of that delicious sweet cOOlnes
which follows summer rain.
Jack moved nearer to- Betty. Hi
shoulder grazed hers lightly. Betty,
he said at last, you've got the nices
family 1 ever saw. Everything here a
dinner tonight was so homelike ant
jolly. You know it doesn't seem mucl
like home at our house. 1 don't know
when I've enjoyed a meal as much
1 have tonight"
He put his arm around her and gent
" drew her toward him. "Betty, l can
put it off any longer. Do you love m
we'll enough to marry me?"
Betty drew her breath in tremulou'
iy and then dropped her head ON nj
shoulder and began to cry.
whats the matter, Betty? Don
you love me well enoughT