The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-04-27

year stneyT W ere QuQgtnENIne Darn
dances and the Spanish fandahgo,
! guess things have changed 1
little since then"
The next evening at half.past
s, when Bertha, dressed in her
pink chiffon, started of with her
brother to Triton College, she was
inclined to think that this smooth.
shaver well-dressed young man
must be some one else than her
big; rough brother. He was an
escort that any girl might have
been proud OF.
Once or twice Bertha had tried
to back out. She had explained
that since all dance orders would
be made up beforehand they
would have no partners, they
would have to dance together ali
the evening. We'll have part.
nerS." retorted Bill. "All we want
OF them" That seemed to settle
the question.
1t was an uncomfortable mo.
ment for Bertha at the door when
the student whose duty It was to
receive tickets. barred the way and
looked skeptical when Bill said he
would see the chairr..- Of the
committee, who would fix things
UP for him. George came forward
sensed the situation in flash, and
escorted the Denby's past the dis.
mayed door committee.
George pressed Bertha's hand
as they passed 10 the corridor
leading TO the dressing rooms. He
was tongue-tled when he tried Ia
tell her how happy he was. when
you have taken your coats off," he
told Dill. "get together and come
out into the ball room. I've got 10
see about things. But I'll ilx ur
dance orders. can get some
swaps with some OF the fellows
and you can have a lot OF dances
with my girl, because want lot
with Bertha"
The words my girl" sent the
color rushing to Bertha's cheeks
She felt that she really ought to
be angry with George, and Bill's
big hands clenched in spite OF him.
self.
They were not quite sure that
they would look up George, any.
way, when they made their way
through the increasing crowds to
the ballroom-but they had nc
chance to decide. George and his
girl swooped down upon them
and what followed made Bertha
feel as II she had suddenly been
swept off her feet. The girl,
beautiful, stately and brunette
but certainly older than George
took both Bills hands in hers.
What a wonderful surprise, /"
she said. II am going to send for
you tomorrow. but l never knew
you'd be at the dance" Then she
and Bill Srayitated to some chairs
behind some palms, and Bertha
left standing with George, ran
around with him as he attended Ia
the details Of the dance, and when
the music started for the first
dance, and George was expected Ia
be the first on the floor. they did
not even try TO find Bill and the
mysterious girl from Wyoming,
but stepped out on the smoothly
waxed floor together.
They danced for few minutes
and'then sought two chairs at the
side OF the floor. That's Helen
Dawson" George said. She's the
girl Bill was engaged to. One OF
the boys was out in Wyoming a
few weeks ago and told her about
Bill-how he's never married and
didn't-iike girls, SO she decided Ia
come and look him up. She found
out when the dance came off, re.
membered I'd asked her, and took
that as an excuse to come East.
She didn't think how she might
have spoiled things for us. But
everything is going to turn out all
right, ! guess" added George as
he looked over In the palm haded
corner OF the room where Bill and
Helen Dawson we're still talking,
oblIvtous to music, dancers and
possible onlookers.
And everything did come out
all right. and after the dance Il
was decided that Bertha should
spend what time remained for
sleep in the hotel with Helen
Dawson. Big brother Bill would
arrive In the morning with day
clothes for Bertha's return home
and Helen should go with them
And that night when Helen and
her new-found friend Bertha Den.
by, whom she had seen once be-
fore as little girl, went to bed in
the inn, Helen whispered to Ber'
that that she was engaged to Bill
and Bertha announced IN a lower
whisper that she had just accepted
George.
Copyright. 1927
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