Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-27
! THE DAlLY NOVELETTE,
Bertha Goes to the Dance
Dy ysns Osborn

b
The next evening At half past s, when
started of with her brother to ITilton
ColleGe, she was inclined to think that
| this smooth shaven, we'll 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 be-
forehand they would have new partners,
they would have to dance together oil
tnt,.svs the svsninE s!; Wen have partners"
That seemed to settle the question.
] In was an uncomfortable moment for
Bertha at the door when the student
whose duty It was to receive tickets
barred the way and looked skeptical
man Of the committee, who would tx
things up for him. George came for.
ward, sensed the situation in a flash,
and escorted the Denbys past the dis.
mayed door committee.
George pressed Bertha's hand rs they
passed to the corridor leading to the
dressing rooms. He was tongue tied
when he tried to tell her how happy he
was. when you have taken your coats
OF" )" he told Bill. get together and come
out into the ballroom. I've got to see
about things. But I'll fix up dance
orders. !! can get some swaps from
some Of the fellows. and you can have
a lot of dances with my girl, because l
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 himself.
They, were not quite sure that they
would look up George. anyway, when
they made their way through the in.
creasing. crowds to the ballroom, but
they had no chance to decide. George
and his girl swooped down upon them
and what followe made Bertha feel as
II she had suddenly been swept of her
feet. The girl, beautiful, stately and
brunette, but certainly older than
George. took both Bills hands in hers.
,Whnt a wonderful SURPRISE" she
said. Il was going to send for you
tomorrow, but never knew you'd be
at the dance" Then she and Bill gray =
itated to some chairs behind some palms,
and Bertha, left standing with George,
ran around with him as he attended to
the details Of the dances and when the
music started for the first dance, and
George was expected to be the first on
the floor, they did not even try to find
Bill and the mysterious girl from Wyo
ming. but stepped out on the smoothly
waved floor together.
They danced for a 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 few weeks ago and told
her about Bill-how he'd never married
and didn't like girls, so she decided
to come and look him up. She found
out when the dance came of, remem- :
bered I'd ask 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 shaed corner
OF the room, where Bill and Helen Daw :
son were still talking, oblivious of mu :
sic, dancers and possible onlookers.
And everything did come out all right
for after the dance it was decided that
Bertha should spend what time remained
for sleep in the hotel with Helen Daw
son. Big brother Bill would arrive il
the morning with day clothes for Bcr
tha's return home and Helen should Il
with them.
And that night when Helen and he,
new found friend. Bertha DENLY, whom
she had seen once before as a littl,
girl, went to bed in the inn, Helen whis.
pered to Bertha that she was engaged
to Bill, and Bertha announced in a low
whisper that she had just accepted
George.