Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-23
DaAyNouelette
The Time to Dance
BY I. WRIGHT
MARY WILSON threw her knapsack

1x1 on the ground, unbuckled the
campers stove from her shoulder ana
loosened the roll that made up her bed
and blankets. 1t had been heavier than
she had anticipated, and the nike
through the woods to the lake hnd
been easily mile longer than she had
thought. Her eyes smiled, though. II
her lips did not. AZ she surveyed the
scene before her. The lake. blue and
ripping on one side with Its strip OK
yellow sand that fairly insisted that
one stop and swim right there; the
roadway on the other side which made
camping alone perfectly safe, inns-
much as some one would pass every
half hour or so during the day, ana
the clump Of trees where she stood
that was the picture that lay betore
the tired eyes of Mary Wilson.
Working in an Office as she did TOT
eleven and a half months OF the year.
it seemed good to think of being alone
and quiet for these two weeks. More
than that, the spot had a certain at.
traction for her, inasmuch as she hau
once motored out there on an early
Sunday morning when John Smith mad
been one Of the party. She thought OF
John Smith now, and tried to make
her lip curl derisiveiy as she thought
uf her name had she married Min
Mary Smith, the wife OF John Smith;
rhe lip would not curl In the approved
manner, for Mary Wilson knew that
had John Smith ever said the least
word she would have leaped at INC
chance Of being Mary Smith. :,
Why he had not asked her was De :
coming to Mary as tantaiizing a puzze
small pieces to be fitted together by
people who have long since forgotten
geography. 1t was worse, indeed;
puzzle could be worked out with pa
tience; Mary Wilson could not fathou
why John had not spoken.
He had taken her to several dances
had invited her out to dine four times
had bought tickets for the theatr
some hnlf dozen times. Besides thes
things they had walked to the parl
on Sunday afternoons times withou
number.
As she set about making camp sh
wondered IL she had been foolish u
come off here by herself. The othe
} girls in the Office all went to gay sum
Iner resorts where they would NEE
men. They made no secret Of thi
!. at all, but compared notes as to th
, number Of men at each place, an
decided that different places would b
tried the following summer vacation;
. you're foolish, Mary Wilson, So
. phie Sbonman had told her. If Joh1
Smith doesn't speak up and 'sprcs
himself--well, the best thing YOU Gu
do is to get another sweetie. No gir
wants to reach thirty-unmarrieI.'
Mary Wilson had opened her mout
10 speak. but Sophie had raised OH
hand hastily.
I'm a woman and I've seen that yo
love him. It's nothing to pc ashamc
Of, is it? The thing Is this-mnny
girl has not made an impression o
the man she wanted and she too
some other. After all, marriage /
much the same--full Of fights after tn
first year."
Mary Wilson had been silent. !
was nothing to be ashamed Of. sll
mentally agreed, to love John Smith
hut to marry some one else just to b
Mrs. or for the sole pleasure of show
ing the world that she had captured
,, husband-ugh! And Mary Wilson ha
set about making preparations
camp alone ut the spot where she an
John Smith had gaily cooked fish owe
, TN open fire and eaten them quickl
= while they were hot from the pan.
Going over to the stove she besr
n car on the road and wondered idl
: who could be stopping. She did nj
turn. however, but went on with he
: stove. opening the bacon while th
r fame burned hotter and hotter.
II beg PARDON came a mans vOic
behind her.
y She whirled about; there never, sh
|, knew, was another voice besides John
I which was just like that.
: why, Mary" he stammeret
z She laughed ut his amazement
y whats the matter? Men 60 camp
t ing, don't they, without any one max
ing such n great to-do about it. WI
G should /"
=. "It's not that" he said. "I--onl
!; I thought YOU didn't care about any
! thing except dancing and dinners an
: theatres. I supposed your main Oil
I In life was to dance
she turneu 10 put slice OF Dac0n
the hot frying pan. II do love
' dance" she said frankly. "but thel
4 is time to dance and a time to camr
:. This is the time to eat. If you I
hungry
You bet I'm hungry" he said sud
denly. "I'm starved. have my tw
weeks vacation and my uncle lent n
his car for it. thought I'd cam
9 here. Why, l have cooking outf
and a box Of fishing tackle" lie wa
eating now, cutting piece after piec
! of bread and spreading butter on her
: for her rapidly. Deity she saw hi