The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-08
Euening Story
The Unromantic Mr.. Dale,
BY HAYDEN T. PRICE.

roommate at college, Brother Harry
had "raved" about the great Dale in
letters and on his visits home. He was
one of the big" men of the class,
Harry claimed. And Marjorie's mar
ried sister, Alice had met Dale on the
occasion of her visit as chaperon at
the Junior Hop in February. Alice,
like Brother Harry, return to praise
the charm and clever. sparkling per
sonality of Dale.
Marjorie, just turning eighteen, had
heard so much about Dale that her
girlish imagination had seized upon
him as a subject for day dreams. And
when, in March, Harry had sent a copy
of his Glass Annual, the first thing
Marjorie did was to lock up Dale's
picture among the seniors.
A humorous descriptive sketch &C
companied each seniors picture, and
the sketch describing Dale pictured
him as young man too serious in his
work to recognize the existence of the
fair sex. 1t was not that Dale was
unima ginative or a woman-hater.
TWAS almost worse than that, thought
Marjorie, for a Woman-hater at least
recognizes the existence of women and
romance, but the serious Mr.. Dale was
so busy that he was indifferent chill
Iingly indifferent to girls moonlight
on lakes. porch swings for two on sum-
mer nights. and all other trappings
and accessories of romance.
Marjerie's heart sank a little as she
read this disquieting description of
Dale. What chance would she have
with such a man. even tho he was
as her brothers guest-a week in the
spring of the yearo
That afternoon Brother Harry and
Dale were to arrive for the Easter va
cation. Marjorie lived in a state of
suppressed excitement all day ard felt
al \ -
4 the telephone rang and Marjorie
answered.
Her eighteen-year-ol heart nearly
stopped when a voice, announced as
the property of Jerry Dale, conveyed
the news that. the boys had missed the
train connection and wouldn't be home
until z. 81 wonder if he heard my
heart beating" said Marjorie to her
self as she hung up.
This delay in the arrival of the
young men hardly made her more pa
tient. AS a relief from her restless
ness, Marjorie went to the station to
meet their train. When the train
pulled in. her heart was beating as
only girls heart can beat under the
urge of star worship. What would he
look like? Would he think her at
tractive? She was vaguely subcon-
scious of the fact sthat other young
men thought her attractive, but of
what use was that if the great Dale
didn't think SO?
There's Madge," cried her brother,
as the train came to a stop. In a mo-
ment she was being bear Rugged by
Harry.
Why, what's the matter with your
voice, Harry?"
Nothing much-just a cold, but I
can't speak above a whisper That's
why Jerry had to dc the telephoning
he
Then came the big moment, "Madge,
this is Mr.. Dale-Jerry Dale"
Madge on the way home re-lived
that moment when her hand rested in
his. She liked to recall that there was
nothing perfunctory in his handclasp.
He had seemed to hold her hand rath-
er tightly. But probably, she thought,
she was mistaken. Probably the wish
was father to the thought with her.
She drove the car back from the
station and between her busy thoughts
and her eagerness to catch Dale's
voice. her driving would have caused
worry to the founders of the Safety
First movement.
They drew up before the house and
Marjorie's little heaven was nearly
complete when Jerry Dale helped her
from the car.
She began to wonder if Mr.. Dale
had changed suddenly since his class
mates ndQ described MIN as De1nE
too serious for romance"
But her happiness was short-lived.
On account of their late arrival and
because of his inability to be heard
over the telephone, Harry-her own
brother-asked her to call up Ethel
Marbridge and tell that young lady
that he and Mr.. Dale would be over
to call on her that evening.
Now it so happened that of all the
young ladies in the little town Ethel
Marbridge found least favor in Mar
jorie's eyes. But how could a brother
remember detail like that? And how
could her brother know that Dale
meant so much in her life and
SO she bit her lip and went to the
telephone. She was sure she hated
her brother in that moment.
Marjorie called up Miss Marbridge
and as casually as possible delivered
the message. In her heart she felt
certain that she had caught a little
malicious laugh of triumph in Ethel
Marhridge's voice. and felt certain
that Ethel was enjoying her discom-
future.
The day was spoiled for Marjorie
even the Easter week was a dismal
failure. She began to blame herself.
TO have hoped that she might mean
anything to MIR. Dale.
She remembered with chagrin her
fatuous exaltation, of spirits when she
thought Dale had held her hand at
the station with something of signifi-
canee in his clasp. Tears came into
her eyes at the thought.
That evening Bale and her brother
called on Ethel Marbridge and it was
10 o'clock the next morning when
Marjorie saw them again.
Y "Madge," said Brother Harry in a
husky whisper. you'll have to act as
our social secretary. My throat won't
permit me to do any telephoning, SO
I'll have to ask you again to call up
Ethel Marbiidse and tell her we'll be
over about o'clock this afternoon.
Dale was sitting in the room, sfn6k-
ing and reading the morning paper.
For a moment Marjorie tried to con-
tain herself She was vaguely con-
scious of wanting to avoid showing
what a little temper she had when
aroused. But restraint went flying at