Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-11-07
COARSE LUMP
TO REFINED
DOUBLE X
By HUGHES MEARNS

70. Doubleday. Page 6 Coz


and Mrs. Williams were obvious
L ly agitated. 81 will speak to Vir-
ginla myself, directly she comes
down. Mr.. Williams persisted firmly:
'These carryings-on have gone too
farr
Mrs. Williams tried to calm him.
"But l am not sure, James. could
not see very well in the dark; and
was not trying to eavesdrop. Please
don't say anything just now, not when
she is going out TO the fraternity
dance"
kissing boys Goodbye he fumed.
"What Is this generation coming tO2"
Eventually Mrs. Williams succeeded
In exacting a promise that he would
wait. Customs were different, she
argued. But decency has not changed,
hopew he broke in.
"Of course, If they were engaged"
the mother tried.
How could she be engaged to
half-dozen college boys?" he came back
Indignantly; there's at least that
many logging about after her, taking
her here and there and heaven knows
where And this lad who Is inviting
her to the dance tonight, what do we
know about him2 Girls nowadays
dent SEEM"
A ring at the door stopped his
speech, Tom Seybert's voice was
heard In the hall. They frightened up
at the sound Tom was town boy,
out Of school several years, a steady
business sort.
"Why couldn't she settle down with
some good, solid man like Tom Sey-
hertz" the father asked In lowered
tones.
Tom had dropped in to talk oyer the
plans of an in-town garage which a
group Of the suburban men were think
ing of managing comparatively. Oh,
no; he was not going to the fraternity
dance.
my dancing days are over" he
said. They Joined in his laugh; he
was only twenty-four: but they
beamed on him in open admiration.
"Tom," Mr.. Williams asked abrupt
Ngs NIdl uO JOu VI AlElb MES
ing boys good-by?"
"Fatherl" admonished Mrs. Will
liams.
"That's all right, mother" he waved
Ia hand at her. I'm not mentioning
cases."
Tom smiled enough had been said
ito tell him exactly what the case was
"What do l think Of it2" he asked. at
depends on who's doing It,"
snow, see here, Tom" said Mr. Will
,liams, "all fooling aside, you know you
yourself wouldn't"
"Oh, wouldn't II" Tom laughed.
A three-cornered debate, warm and
full Of Interruptions, finally disclosed
no the astonished elders that Tom, the
dependable Tom, had no adverse criti-
lcism to make on the custom that was
80 shocking to the older generation.
In the midst Of 1t Virginia danced
down the steps. She listened In de-
light while she dalntlly powdered her
nose.
"The nice old pokies" she laughed,
lhuggIng her mother to her. ITS moth
ing more than shaking hands," she
'crooned, rocking her mother back und
forth. "And 1t depends lot on what
brand you use. There are all sorts of
grades, like sugar; aren't they,
Tommy
IAN the way from coarse lump to
l'refned double X" he nodded.
But If you were engaged or mar
''ried--" the mother began helplessly.
oh" Virginia dsawled 1t out dell
ciously, then you'd keep all the sugar
for home consumption
The roll Of car and ring an
nounced the arrival Of Virginlas part
ncr to the dance. In u moment he was
in the library, strikingly handsome
youth.
"Isn't he beautiful, people% Vir-
ginla str0ked his slick hair admiringly
"All us girls are just crazy about him."
Unabashed the handsome youth held
out his arms to Virginia and sang:
All the girls have lost their G.
Qui-librium over muh. muh, muh, me!
She stepped into his arms and
danced delightfully."- within the space
of square yard while she took up
the verse:
All the girls have gone quite i'm
Be-cllium over huh. huh, huh, himi
Then she kissed him, a deft little
touch and go, right before everybody.
"By-by; we're off I" They both danced
out singing:
All the towns upset and hus-
Tered-lllum over uh, uh, uh usl
Mr. and Mrs. Williams we're SO
frankly dismayed that Tom put his
garage plans In his pocket and set
himself the task Of arguing them into
n better attitude toward their daugh-
ter.
"Tm ashamed" said Mrs Williams,
gazing at the door out Of which the
two gay scalawags had just gone In
such high glee.
"Well, you have no right to be-"
Tom grew firm. "vlrginla Is a fine,
right sort Of girl. oughtn't TO have
10 tell this to you"
"But she has a pack of young cubs
providing around after her" father be-
gan.
Tom laughed "Why shouldn't they
prowl7 She's worth prowllng for, I'll
sayH
But It's the way she treats them"