Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-06-12
BETTY'S DINNER
BY LOIS EMERY.


It rather funny for you not to, where
you go out together so much"
II know, mamma, but 1 don't believe
i want to. yet awhile.
You know how terrible the boys act,
and they are so refined at his house.
The night I was there to dinner every
thing was served In courses. I 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 1t. but let's not bother about
1t yet awhile"
Then minutes later, as she was going
down the old creek road with Jack
Somers. her heart began to sing a
little tune Of happiness.
They had gone fully a 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-thunderf
She jumped up from where they had
been sitting on the grass as a drop of
rain spattered her new hat. "Wby,
Jack. it's raining"
Jack jumped up and looked about
with worried eyes.
Gracious, Betty, Tn 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
eddy.
The thunder drew nearer now, the
wind was rising, and It was getting
very dark overhead.
I'm awfully sorry, Betty-I should
have
Whowf The elements now seemed
at wal with n another. Rain fell In
torrents and the thunder doomed,
crashed and rumbled. filing the air
with m 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 h
she BUSTED forward a~nxiously. you
go right up to your room and change
those wet clothes. Your father will
take fare of Mr.. Somers.
AS Betty was removing her wet
garments she sighed anxiously. mo
telling what father and the boys will
do"
Presently Jacks rich laugh and the
boys shril yelps began to come from
her fathers room. Betty could not
kee1 from dimpling as she visloned
Jacks slender figure In her fathers
CLOTHES
"IInrsg up, Betty" whispered her
mother up the back stairs. "Mr. Som
ers tgoing to stay to dinner and It's
moshume to take 1t 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 have for din
ner, mammaT'
"Macaroni, with tomato sauce, dear"
answered her mother soberly.
"Oh, mother" said Betty. with hor-
ror in her voice.
81 didn't ask him, Betty. I would
have known better. II was your father
He acted as II he was awful pleased
because pa asked him. Now don't
worry, dear. There's. that nice cream
pie I made this morning. and I've got
now. You sit right down here, Mr..
SOmers."
The young man gave her a pleasant
smile and sat down beside Betty. 1t
seemed to her that the boys never
acted worse.
She wondered If this horrible meal
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 a
second helping Of macaroni.
At last dinner was over. and Betty
and Jack went out on the piazza. 1t
was just growing dusk and the air was
full of that delicious sweet GOODNESS
which follows summer rain.
Jack moved nearer to Betty. His
shoulder grazed hers lightly. Betty"
he said at last, you've got the incest
family 1 ever saw. Everything here at
dinner tonight was so homelike and
Jolly. You know 1t doesn't seem much
like home at our house. I don't know
when I've enjoyed a meal as much as
I have tonight"
He put his arm around her and gent
ly drew her toward him. Betty. I can't
put 1t off any longer. Do you love me
well enough to marry mel"
Betty drew her breath in tremulous- |
ly and then dropped her head on his
shoulder and began to cry.
whats the matter, Betty7 Don't
you love me well enoughr"
Betty nodded shyly. Her arms slid
up around his neck.
I'm all right" she answered. "just
$3.50 happy, / guess, Jack"
Copyright. 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper S~yndicats)