Evening star., 1924-06-29


umbrella and she was wearing
raincoat. She must have known il
was going to rain.
| Hello" she cried.
Hello" he answered.
Somehow her tone, her expression
her air were less formal than usual
as If in response to the informalitg
of the occasion.
I've got an umbrella" she said.
as it lets up a Bit
Thanks awfully." Joe said. They
stood side by side in the doorway
| and watched the rain. After a few
| minutes it did let up. She handed
him the umbrella
IT'S nice to meet you this way"
he said as they started off. II wish
there were some places we could go
or something"
From across the street came the
steady beat of a dance orchestra with
drums ana pleHty VI VI dSsSS. JIG
looked across. An electric sign an
nounced: Dancing so cents. Miss
Robinson's gaze followed his. She
saw the sign Then she stopped
short
DO you know what I'd like to do
she asked. impulsively.
NO" Joe said stupidly.
I'D like to go over there and
dance"
"Really?" Joe asked.
Yes" she said. Il like that sor-
geous, noisy, awful music"
The big orchestra was striking
up again when they reached the door.
Joe put his arm around Miss Robin
son. They danced. They danced the
dance the music called for. Joe for
got all about Miss Pensonby-Smith'S
four inches of space. They finished
in an absolutely middle-class kind Of
whirl
Gee" she said, that was fun"
WHEN they reached the door of her
w house an hour later he had to
say something.
Look here" he said. won't you GO
dancing with me tomorrow night:
Well go to dinner first"
"At Cyrano's?" she asked.
"Of course" he answered.
Miss Robinson looked thoughtfully
down at the toe of her shoe. They
were standing under her umbrella
that is, she was standing under it.
NO" she said.
.II-Tm sorry," Joe stammered
Miss Robinson continued to stud!
the tip of her shoe.
I'm sorry if I've presumed" joe
continued. 1t was the f1attest refusal
he had ever experienced. And ten
minutes before she had been so jolly.
What could have happened?
oh" she said, you haven't pre-
sumed. Not in the least You never
would-conceivably."
She paused.
Il must go in," she finished. ''Wont
you keep my umbrella? You can
bring it to the office in the morning"
But I don't understand" Joe said.
II" he stamrnered.
She flashed a look at him.
I've half a notion to tell you the
truth she said.
please do" Joe said stiffiy.
Well she said. You are New
Yorker-you've been used to it all
your life-you won't understand what
/ mean. But I'm going to tell you.
It's just-its just that I'm not up
to ito your sort of thing. 1t cramps
my style. 1 knew it would, butt
was fun to go to Cvrano's once. But
a place like that makes me self
conscious. Why, I didn't dare to go
with you until I'd got a new dress.
You see. I'm from Iowa"
WHAT? said Joe.
IT knew it wouldn't work that first
time We walked up 5th avenue
together-I knew it when we passed
Hicks and 1 said they served such
good, fresh fruit sodas and you didn't
say a word. Why-back home a man
would have taken me in and bought
me a soda. But you wouldn't-you
wouldn't take a girl to a soda foun-
tain You're too-too awfully New
Yorkish."
Joe took her arm in his free hand
Look here" he said How long
have you been in New York;"
She laughed.
81 came in September haven't
been here a year"
you've been here longer than |
have" Joe said, fiercely. "I came in
October. I thought you were a New
Yorker"
With a quick movement he caught
her hand in his and snuggled it
II begin to get it now," he said.
I've been putting up blu1 on you
and you've been putting up a bluff
on me. And it's going to stop-rght
here"
He put his arm around her. He
kissed her. And she let him.
She released herself and looked up
at him, smiling.
That" she said. softly-"that
wasn't a bit in your New York man
ner."
NO." said Joe Thayer, shat was
the Indiana way"