Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-17
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~ ROE FuIkERSON N eteeew @a n- A@hmM

sNiHS, a " SiltiHS SO close 10 ner tnat their two shadow
sleeve across her white dress. From time to time his
black-haired head blotted out the girls face entirely
Betty knew ne was kissing her.
George continued to talk of the success of the party.
She dropped encouraging monosyllables from time to time
to keep him talking while she was busy with her thoughts.
She looked over the tops of the cars parked beneath
tne reTanoai 1oWaId nr anne another couple, walking
the girl; she was looking up into his face, singing. The
moonlight shone on an auriole Of blonde hair framing her
face in gold. Her low throaty contratlo sang:
Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly,
| gotta love one man til | die.
Can't help lovin' that man."
At the conclusion of each short stanZa, the boy stoop-
ed and kissed her. He opened the door of the parked car
and they stepped in.
There was no more of the song.
Betty wondered what she would do if a boy kissed
her like that. Would she slap his face? Would she
respond? She had long ago made up her mind not to per-
nit such liberties; tonight she realized she had never had
occasion TO protect herself rom them.
Turning impatiently to George she said.
Let's go to the other end, and get away from these
Strolling along the veranda they passed a couple
which separated hastily as they approached. The boy
sat in a big wicker porch chair and the girl was balanced
The opposite end of the veranda gave a view over the
golf course. AS the orchestra started up, Betty saw two
couples come out Of the shadows of the trees around the
hTz tee and stroll toward the house. One girl combed
George had concluded his long monologue. but Betty
had long since lost the thread of his story. Her How
Lets go dance" he suggested. LAS chairman of the
committee on arrangements it's my duty to be seen on the
floor"
LET me stay here" she suggested. There are sew,
eral girls on your committee you should dance with. I'll
stay here in the moonlight. If | want to dance I'll come in"
"Shall / send Pete or one of the boys out to you?"
mo, please, I'D like to be alone with the moon"
Remember George acclaimed with a ponderous
attempt at humor. 1.-The ancient Greeks evolved the word
Iunatic' from the root luna meaning moon. They
thought the rays of the moon made people insane
81 feel tonight as though there were something in the
ideal laughed Betty.
What was there about her that made the boys of the
school pass her up? She recalled with what pleasure
~highbrow crowd. That must be the trouble. She thought
the average high school boy was far from hlghbroW;
but she believed she was attractive to the better class OF
boys.
Hey, Sister, A boy come toward her from the club
entrance. why, so pensive and alone when there IS so
that ever-'Scuse. Betty he finished, lamely, i didn't
know it was you" a.. +
MOI" She was more confused IMAM ne. ana |
don't come in the kissing group"
She was abashed at her involuntary remark.
Gosh. | would as soon think OF trying to kiss the
forty-seventh problem of Euclid!' laughed the boy, pass
Until tonight she would have felt complimented at
such a statement. but the woman in her was hurt cruelty
by the remark. She had never felt that way before. What
was it about her that inspired a remark like that!
She shook her head impatiently an went into the
ballroom. where couples circled IN a slow waltz. Inc stag
line did not notice her but George, converslng WIN a pro
At the conclusion of the dance many drifted through
a. big open windows onto the noonlit veranda. George
took her TO the professor of mathematics, who tried to in
duce her to take up teaching as a life work.
She looked at him and at his rather dowdy wife. She
lid not feel as much complimented as she would have a
lew days before. Somehow culture had lost its lure.
She asked George to take her out onto the veranda,
complaining Of the heat. Once outside she turned to him
a asked:
George. am | pretty"
why. of course" he answered, as though there was
no doubt Of it in his mind. Had he stopped there she would
have been pleased, but he continued:
But of what consequence is mere prettiness? Doz-
ems Of girls in our class have doll baby prettiness. 1t is
depth of character and brains which really count
Count how? Count where? Count when?" asked
Betty.
Count in the final analysis" answered George, pc
dantically. Who is interested in mere surface things like
prettiness, clothes and things of that sort?"
Every one seems TO BET commented Betty, plain
lively.
"No one who countsl' assured George. Then he
launched into a general discussion of the beauty OF char
acter which sounded TO Betty as though he were rehears-
ing a speech. She believed he had forgotten her eXls-
tence and was talking to an imaginary audience. George
had wanted TO be a lawyer, but lack of money had forced
him to take a position as cashier in a big down town res
taurant.
Would he never stopl George had never irritated
her before. She had liked his clear-cut way of thinking
and the logical way he puts his views.
His right hand rested on the veranda rail. She NOV
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