The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-22
The Daily Short Story

Anitass side to claim her first
| dance
II just promised Fred" said
Anita.
You promised it to me Monday
afternoon when we were sitting in
the hammock. Don't you remem-
ber?" asked Theed, panied that she
should have forgotten that won
drous incident.
NO"
We'll, this is my dance, Anita
You promised me first" Theed de-
elared stubbornly.
Here comes Fred Hurry, Theed
! Find a partner before the dance
begins"
Theed stared at her in amaze
ment. Very WELL" he said coldly
And he did find a partner. A Wis
iting girl received him tenderly
, The sad air into which Theed
would often relapse from periods
Of assumed gaiety fascinated her
She scented an unhappy romance
| in his life and tried hard to make
him forget his secret sorrow.
At first he was q bit bored, his
mind more on Anita's behavior
than the lively talk of his compan-
| ion. but she really was interesting
and Theed could not help coming
out of his sad mood.
Great was Anita's Indignation to
find him SO absorbed in that Wis
itor that he had not returned to
her for a single dance
nrr- JTOa ri -
had Fred play his clarinet. At the
! first soft, tentative toot Theed rose
and slipped out of the room. His
new acquaintance attributed his
exit to the fact that music recalls
tender memories in a disappointed
lover, but Theed had gone outside
on the piazzo to escape as far as
he could the hated toots OF Fred's
clarinet.
Fred was part through his oya-
ton when he was startled by the
wild thrilling of a bobolink, which
was repeated at intervals to the
end of his recital. In several parts
of his song sheep-like bleats and
'moos" suggestive of cows ex-
changed places with the soft, ten
tative toots and issued from his
clarinet in rural discord. At the
end of the song, however, polite
clapping greeted Fred.
them. That bird outside Oh, my
regulations lost.' He was breath
less. and his complexion had as
sumed bright pink.
Just then through the open win
dow there floated a melancholy air.
Both Fred and Anita recognized
the dreadful whistling tones as
those of Theed's "birdiola" Fred
was angry. Anita was pleased at
Theed's flare of jealousy. He had
been entirely captivated by the Wis
itor.
The mournful tune was touch
ing. even if the tones were de-
pressing. Theed must, indeed, be
very unhappy that he should play
melancholy air after he had caus-
ed Fred great discomfort. Anita
now clearly remembered that she
had promised her first dance to
Theed. Under the influence of the
weird. melancholy notes of Theed's
birdiola" tears welled to her eyes.
She was to blame for it all Anita
ran out on the piazza and shut the
screen door softly behind her.
Theed. she called TREMENDOUSLY.
The "birdiola" had been siIenced.
me young gentleman rose from
the depths OF his wicker chair and
stood coldly at attention.
ANITA sat down in a chair beside
MN: Play for me-" she asked.
Theed frightened visibly and
raised the "bidiiola" to his lips.
hght-hearted once more, the de-
pressing whistling tones of the
DlIaioia grated on Anita's sensi-
oiiiues. An idea came to her which
she carried out as soon as Thead
finished playing.
Tneed," she said soiemnfv
your 'birdola' has become verv
Gear 70 us. Please give it to me
forever and ever :.
A wise little miss Anita ss,