The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-01
Chapter 2
A CURIOUS INCIDENT


The great day dawned - giving
promise to be the ideal sort Of day for
an out-of-door commencement.
AS there was to be luncheon party
before the exercises" Ruth had been
asked to the Weeds for the whole day,
to dress there and stay until every
one departed for the dance in the
evening.
So the two girls sat in Myra's room
about noon, chatting as fast as their
tongues could go, while from below
came the sound of voices and the
clatter of dishes, and from the kitchen
assembled the most enticing odors.
But the two girls, center of this ex-
element and feastivity, were quite
alone in the room and dressed for the
luncheon and the afternoon ceremony.
With the true generosity of the small
town and the country. Ruths mother
and father had been asked over for the
day, too: Ruth could hear her mothers
deep, rich voice from the lawn where
she was helping entertain the guests,
yhile Myra's mother was doubtless
within overseeing the practical end Of
the festivity.
Il wish it would curl Ruth sighed,
regretfully. peering into mirror and
brushing vigorously over the smooth
sickness of her brown hair.
Yes, it is handy" Myra from the
largest mirror, glanced over her shout
der at her chum. She threw back the
wavy mass of gold hair and with
dexterous twist. rolled up the fluffy
ends and piled the whole high on her
head.
Ruth" she. confided. Importantly.
minute later. look here. I've face
powder. Cousin Emily sent it from
New York. as present"
With due respect for the ceremony
the two girls carefully powdered their
faces-a bit of "grown-up' vanity that
neither had before INDUCED in-Myra
for lack of permission, Ruth for lack of
funds. But today was fete day!
And Myra slipped into the frock of
elaborate lace and embroidery that
her mother had made for her and the
petticoat of delicate white satin and
lace, rosebud trimmed, that was made
to go under it. She added high-heeled
kid shoes and white silk stockings, and
stood off to look at herself-satisfled.
And Ruth was too busy admiring
her chum to think much about herself.
Her frock was home made, dainty en-
ough with it's fresh white batiste run
with fine tucks, but simple to the point
of plainness. Her slippers were can
vas-but, satisfaction to her feminine
soul, she too was wearing silk stock
ings, Mrs. Weeds graduation gift.
Did Tim Turner call you up?' Myra
asked, after silence-during which
she had sat idly staring at her own
gray eyes in the glass.
Yes, yesterday" Ruth answered, adj
justing a sash. He asked me to go
with him to the dance tonight. OF
course, did wonder he was SO long
about it."
Myra said nothing. Her cheeks
flushed little and they were already
pink from excitement. She said moth
ing.
But she remembered back. when she
had telephoned Tim at his Office. She
had asked, casually. whether he was
going with anyone special to the COM
mencement dance. Tim had said mo"
Myra. with surprising skill for girl
Of her age, had waited moment,
making no sound. Presently his voice
came back in the obvious answer:
May / take you?"
Obvious, yes; but not so much so to
a lad and maid of IS.
The city coquette Of even this age
might have scorned such a clumsy
method-but Myra and Tim belonged
to a town where life was simpler and
anything but subtle.
At any rate, Myra's acceptance of
the invitation had all the pleased sur
prise that was necessary to carry off
the situation.
why. Tim, I'd love to! How nice
of you to ask me-
Then the talk had come with Ruth
and she had found out that Ruth ex-
pected to go with Tim She knew
Ruth was very much interested in this
boy, though with a curious reserve the
girl had said very little about him to
her
She knew Ruth would never call up