Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-06-20
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 90 1919

JOY OF the dance-B0D did not know
that such thing existed.
But he did want to meet some of
the girls, even If they were only work
ers in the office of the Arden plant. He
wanted to hear their laughter and see
them in some other surroundings than
that of the daily drive.
"One thing that is important" the
Instructor had told him, SIS to make
your partner think that you are en-
joying the dance even II you aren't. A
girl doesn't like to dance with man
Who appears to be working like To-
connective just to keep in step"
So on that suspicious night of the
first A. r, A. dance when Bob found
himself dancing with Nell Talmadge,
the demure little telephone operator,
his first remark was something like
this: "I'm so glad you girls got up
this dance. There's nothing like bet
ter-pardon me, that was my fault.
Yes, I'm regular dance fan; can't
get along without It,"
Neither can l." echoed Nell shyly.
81 just dote on the new dances and
the music is wonderful. l just feel
the rhythm of 1t, don't your"
Bob had come stag to dance, but
he had not been partnerless, for the
committee" saw that men who had
come alone were paired off with the
girls who had come unescOrted.
BY the end Of that first dance Bob
was weary, mentally weary, and by
the end of the second and third when
he danced with other girls to whom
the committee introduced him he was
downright exhausted. With him each
step was a matter Of going over some
thing he had learned. It was an ex-
act science, in the accomplishment Of
which he seemed to derive no inspira-
ton from the music or the grace of
his partner.
He danced often that night with lit
tie Nell Talmedge, and when the time
came for second A. II. A. dance he
asked Nell whether he might escort
her. Meantime there were extra ses-
sions with the dancing teacher. But
they seemed worth while, for they had
all made possible knowing Nell out
side business hours.
He discovered, too, that beneath
that shy but buslnessllke exterior that
he saw In the daytime there lurked
little girl that was full of a contagious
sense of humor Moreover, at the
close range of the dance Bob could
see that her small features were
no ,l.,1 hot Il
ance about the faint flush Of the
cheeks that was not apparent to Bob
as he had passed her quickly by as
she sat at the telephone switchboard.
Bob thought Of the possibility Of
meeting Nell somewhere besides at
the dances, but Nell never suggested
that he call. In fact In her rooming
house there were no "paflor priv
ileges," and so she had hesltated TO
extend such an invitation.
Are you really so eager about
dancingT Nell asked one night as
Bob was laborlously leading her
through the intrIcacies Of fox-trot.
"Tell me truly. You have always said
you were, but I've sometimes won
dered."
perhaps not especially. That is,
wasn't until found out that you
were so keen about 1t. Then I made
up my mind that I'd stick to It II 1t
was only for your sake. You told me
that first night we danced together
that you were mad about IT,"
Then, an hour or so later, when
Bob was walking home with Nell, she
said: Bob, have to confess never
could endure dancing. / don't like 1t
much now. I'd lot rather spend an
evening talking or reading with n
friend than dancing with him-that Is,
If he was friend like you; but, well,
you see, was so lonesome here and
girl knew told me that the only
way to have good time and to have
any men friends was to learn to
dance; so went and took private les
sons, as many as / could afford, and
the teacher told me that l mustn't
ever tell even IL did hate to dance,
because 1t was making men think l
liked It that would help to make It a
success. I'm sorry l deceived you.
Sometimes I've wondered whether you
really like 1t so much"
Nell won't you say that over, that
you'd rather spend an evening talking
or reading with a frlend2 Nell, II /
thought you'd spend an evening talk
ing with me and reading with me and
sometimes just sitting and saying
/