Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-01
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
DOROTHY'S DANCE
By Hortcnse CalducH

LIVER since the death OF her father,
IL Dorothy Bliss had kept the light
house at Breakers Point with the aid
Of her small brother, Jerry. Probably
the government would have looked for
stronger keeper at the time OF MI
Bliss's death has not Dorothy been
born and brought up in the old light
house. Dorothy loved to clean the big
lamps, trim the wcks Of the smaller
lights and polish the faultless brass in
the standards.
Every night she vas on time with
her duty. and now as the government
had placed training station tor the
United States Jackies right across from
the little island she felt her duty more
keenly. She knew that failure to be on
time with the lamps might mean death
to those brave boys.
one day as she was sitting down on
the little balcony outs de the lighthouse
she saw Jerry rowing as fast as ne
could toward their home. She few to
the steps which ran up the outside and
waited for Jerry to tie the o boat ns, ,
have here
What is IT" Dorothy asked, holding
out her hand.
81 don't know, it's some kind Of let
ter. Let me see, too, .n o,
{, opened. can't you?' She was as
eager as the child. as letters were rare
objects in the Bliss lighthouse.
She found 1t to be from the training
the boys were giving on Friday. She
giarced at the small calendar over the
table.
what is it. sis" Querled little Jerry,
unable 70 bear ,he suS!ptnse any lonEe'.
IT'S an invitation to dance from the
boys over al the station. Jerry.
"Oh, say. are YOU going.
nc Jerry. | would like to. but
can't go and leave the lamps.
You can leave them to me, sis. You
know I'd love 10 Eight them.'
Dorothy smiled She Knew this was
just the chance Jerry had been waiting
for. But she did not dare to leave such
responsibility TO her little brotner.
Friday arrived. and Dorothy did her
best TO hide her. disappointment. She
cleaned and oiled the lamps and set 10
work polishing the wc1l-worn brass
After long and dragging day the
light begah to disappear and darkness
set in. Jerry came up to the lighthouse
/ and called out to Dorothy to help him
/ with his bundles. Evening was settling
| so quickly he could scarcely see where
! to tie his skiff. Dorothy ran down the
! steps to the waters edge and took
Jerry's bundles from him. He had been
ashore to do the marketing for the
weekend.
We'll, sis, YOU ought to be glad YOU
aren't going TO the dance" he remarked
as they closed the big door
Why"
why? Don't you see what kind of q
hish." sn' ~ nc waves are A'O'' " ','''
d II tell YOU what We'll do, Jerry. Yol
can put on your best suit, and I'll dress
up in my evening dress. Well pretend
we are ut the dance"
AT the dance" said Jerry scornfullN
Arb we going 10 dance, too?.
why, yes. I'll teach YOU. You ought
to begin to learn anyway. When VIC &c
ashore it might come in handy
Each went to dress up for the dance
and before long the great dance was
in full swing. Dorothy was telling Jerry
for Il dance, and Jerry was doing hi'
best to do her bidding.
"Ahoy."
whats that. Jerry
81 don't know, go look.
Dorothy pulled open the swingin;
window and looked out. In a glance
she took in the situation. boat wal
laundering in the water, and that boa
was very close to the rocks on whici
the lighthouse stood.
Jerry. push on every button I,
brighten those lamps" she flung bacl
to the excited Jerry as she hurried dow
tIe SlalTS
Once down. she united the boat ant
climbed in. She knew exactly where T.
start from in order to avoid the rocks
Calling loudly, although she knew he
of the waves. she kept on until sh
reached the side of the boat. Willin
hands helped her to gain the deck an
tie her boat. In glance Dorothy say
il was n government boat. Quickly sh
ordered the salers TO get into her skifi
and silently they obeyed her. She rowe
boatload after boatload to place o
safety until only three men remained
Dorothy away safely. as she had fainte
awav from her long period Of anxiety.
When she awoke she found hersel
hack in her little lighthouse with
strange sailor offering her drink O
water. She sat up and stared abou
her. trying to remember what had har
pened.
ITS all right, Sis" put in little Jcr
"All right" she repeated, "all right.
Yes" said a stranger voice at her e.
bow, its all right now"
Then suddenly Dorothy remembered
"oh. I'm so glad"
Ray explained to her all about til
accident and how the ship had sine
| gone to pieces on the rocks But fo
YOU we boys might have gone with it,
he added with shudder.
few days later Ray was again
, visitor at the lighthouse.
Dorothy" he e>asked after a few me
: ments. were you going to the dane
!. that night?"
Dorothy blushed. as she knew he mu.
, have noticed the evening dress. M
I I wasn't" she replied. II wanted TO 3
and couldn't, so | was doing the ne,
best thing by pretending I was there
Ray laughed. I'D give up thousan
dances to do what you did that night
> Dorothy put out her hand. let
. talk about something else she sa id wit
a little sigh.
Ray winked. Jerry, will you go dow
stairs and get me that paper that Is
a my coat pocket?'
Then he turned back to Dorothy. ~
S right, we WILL" he said.
!. Jerry obligingly went.
The next complete noyeiette--The 4,
n seafur~ss