The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-02-07
BrOtherly Attentions

HYou were at the Summer Clfci9
dance, weren't you. Alice7" asked
Ethel. Alice nodded.
@Why, what's the matter1 Didn't
you have good timer Whom did you
go WITH"
Il went with By"
.sHow perfectly splendid it is to
have two brothers; and l haven't
any"
"Oh. wouldn't feel bad about it, II
were you," returned 17-year old
Alice. brothers are sort of mixed
blessings. The fact is, don't know
anything more exasperating at times
than d brother. The night of the Sum-
mer Circle dance wished mine were
both in Jericho"
'sAnd yet By took you. ] don't I'M
derstand."
ssWell, listen! You know Bob had
been pursuing Ruth Spencer all sum-
mer. and because she was out OF town
he invited me to go. No one else
seemed likely to ask me, so of course
l said I'd go with him, altho l took
good care to inform him that knew
why he so honored me.
aThe night of the party / had just
put on the perfectly sweet pink-and-
white organdy that ! had begged mann
ma to buy for me for the occasion
when the maid came upstairs and told
me that Charlie Lane had come 10
take me to the dance.
"1To take me?' exclaimed. Why,
he hasn't invited me, and, besides, I'm
going with Bob
..It's all right, Alice said Bob, COM
ing into my room. I arranged with
Charlie to take you tonight, after all.
knew you wouldn't mind, Sis
"Well, / do mind answered hot
w. I won't go with him.
"You won't go with him? You'll
have to, Alice. You like Charlie all
right, don't your
az don't like either Of you. ! don't
know what makes you boys think
Jan be parsed around like bother
some bundle. If Charlie wanted me
to go to the dance why didn't he ask
me? You asked him SO you could take
Ruth, who has just come home, sup
pose!'
"Be careful, Alice, he'll hear you,
warned Bob.
"I don't care II he does. Anyway,
I'm going to tell him that ! won't co.
I flew downstairs. but when got to
the parlor door walked in slowly and
bowed ever so slightly to Charlie.
"T'm sorry l said, with dignity.
that you troubled yourself to come for
me, as can't go with you
"'Why, why not, Alice?
"Because l don't care to be tossed
around like leftover of some kind.
You should have known better than
to expect me to go with you when you
didn't even bother to invite me-.
'But-but, l thought you under
stood. / thought Bob would explain,
and, of course, was glad to ac-
comod-'
eyes, it is sweet of you to do Bob
favor / interrupted sarcastically.
but as it happens it won't be neces-
sary.s Then turned and went slowly
upstairs while he was murmuring
something about being sorry and
didn't think I'd take it that way.
''In few minutes Bob came along
and said he wished mother were home
to make me behave. / made no reply
and didn't open my door till | heard
BY come into the house. Then l ask
ed him to take me to the party. He
was perfectly horrid about 1t, but final
" when / said he could take my
camera camping with him next week
he consented to go if l wouldn't ask
him to dance any.
"And Charlie Lane was at the
party! / was dancing with one Of the
Hanson boys when saw him, and you
may be sure that If he was suffering
from the heat.my bow must have cool,
ed him off considerably. ] had good
time, Notwithstanding the fact that
Bob glared at me every time he came
my way, but when the dance was over
couldn't find By anywhere.
81 waited until every one had left
and the janitor was putting out the
lights. Then I went out on the porch,
wondering what in the world I'd do,
and Charlie Lane was there smoking
a cigarette.
"Have you lost something9 he in
quired casually.
"Have you seen By?' / returned
coldly.
eyes. He went with another kid
over to the lake for swim
He did, Why, he ought to be here
to take me home.'
Eyes, he ought, but don't believe
he will, for when he left he said that
! should walk home with you, if he
didn't get back in time
well, / like that gasped, and
then began to cry.
"Don't feel bad, Alice, and don't
blame By. IL suggested that he
shouldn't come back, because well,
you see l wanted chance to say a
few things to YOU