The Washington herald., 1922-12-27

makeup and went on with the
dance and the foolish words Of
the pogo song.
When l finally was able to
take my eyes away from her long
enough to look at the rest Of
the ensemble I saw that each girl
was dressed in running trunks
and a silk jersey with a college
monogram on it. There were
about thirty in all.
WORE COVETED "Y."
looked at my wonder girl
again. Then I saw. to my Joy,
that on her sweater was the big
blue "Y' that it was my greatest
desire in life to gain for myself.
Here was a dance to Join all my
previous ambitions into one effort
and add another to them. / would
win the coveted "Y," satisfy all
the poetry that was in me and
gain one Of Gods most perfect
masterpieces, all in one fell
swoop.
Owen noticed my abstraction and
followed my gaze He said:
THE little one on this end Is
Geneva Mitchell. Well have to
fix it for you to meet her some
time IL you like"
IF l like?"
/ hurled at him, never taking
my eyes from her.
IF I like? That's all in the
world I would like. Fix it for to-
night, won't your"
He returned: IT can't do that.
We did ask her, but she had an
other date, but you have lots OF
time, and we'll fix 1t next week:
Hold onto yourself, young fellow"
By this time the "intercollesi'
at pogo stake" was announced.
The starting signal was given ana
down they came on their pogo
sticks, bouncing UP and down.
MY alma matters representative
soon forged ahead Of the crowd.
1 leaped to my fet and cheered
her on.
She was winning! Nothing
could stop her! Suddenly It
seemed the most important thing
in the world for her TO win that
racei
KISSES QUIvERING LIPS.
Six feet from the finish line
and directly opposite my table
the unexpected happened. Her
pogo stick landed on a slippery
spot in the floor. the stick shot
across the floor and my dream
girl fell heavily.
As i stared asnast a hush fell
over the audience and the other
girls abandoned the race.
Impulsively, I jumped from my
seat. stepped on to the floor, and.
as she was slowly lifting herself.
I picked her UP In my arms and
stepped across the finish line.
yale wins" I cried.
Looking down at my burden, /
saw that tears were in the little
girls eyes She looked up at me
and my arms frightened around
her tiny body.
The spotlight struck US Just
as 1 bended over and pressed my
lips to her quivering mouth.
How long we stood thus I can
never remember. but 1t was long
enough for the whole world to
change.
Owen Jumped up and grasped
my arms, growing:
Put that girl down. YOU wop!"
WRITES POEM TO HER.
Come back to the table before
they slide you out of here or
your ear,
The next thing 1 knew 1 was
sitting at the table again and an
other number had replaced the
pogo girls. I stayed until the
end. but had eyes for nobody but
the little ~" girl.
While waiting for her I scrib
bled off a few lines of verse on {
menu and sent 1t in to her by ar
telephone number.
The party after the frolic helc
no further interest for me and
went home to bed-but not t.
sleep.
Ten THOUSAND times during tn,
night l lived over that ecstatiC
moment when my lips first me-
those of the girl of my dreams.
Here are the lines I sent bach
stage to her:
Little girl with the grayblue eyer
And the face Of an angel rare
Do you wonder . poet tries
To sing Of q thing 50 fair?
Do you wonder q heart goes oui
From its home to seek your owl
Like ancient lmight-and don't
you doubt
OF its coming home alone: