Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-04-27
The Dance
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By JOHN GRAY
g. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Service

On the spare ROOM bed In the DENLY
farmhouse lay the pink chiffon frock
that Bertha had bought for the big
event. Silver slippers and stockings
lay beside It..
/ The whole house was In an air of
\ expectancy-and even the cows and
chickens In the barnyard and pasture
must have suspected that something
was In the air from the happy, preoc-
cupied air OF Bill DENLY, gruff and
usually Indifferent as he went about
his daily chores. Bill DENLY was Ber-
tha's brother, her elder by ten years,
who, though he avoided society him.
self, never seemed more content than
when his pretty sister was included In
the festivities at the nearby Tilton
college.
Then George Fulton came with the
news that changed all this air OF pleas
nrable expectation to one OF gloom and
detection.
I've done the thing that seems most
honorable he announced ut means
that | can't take you to the ball. And
with much faltering and many hesIta-
lions he proceeded.
Last summer / met girl who lives
out In Wyoming. We played tennis to-
gether and went swimming and sail
Ing and-well, before we parted
asked her to go to my Junior ball with
me. That was before met you. Well,
we wrote once or twice and nothing
more was said about the ball, and then
we didn't write any more. had met
you and she didn't seem to care
whether | wrote or not. This morning
/ had letter from her 1t just says.
I'm coming for the ball. VIII arrive
at 8 Friday. | know you haven't for
| gotten your invitation
| ITS too late to prevent her coming
k@-she Is almost here. I didn't know
what to do. OF course, / want to take
you more than anything else. / made
I up my mind that the right thing for a
| fellow to do In the circumstances was
to go to the glrl#he really cared for,
the one who-well, the one who trusted
him and understood him-and tell
her"
tt was not till George had gone and
Bertha had gone to nurse her grief In
sight OF the pink frock laid out SO
neatly that she permitted tears to flow.
Bill DENLY who had looked In vain for
his sister downstairs, found her there
In the spare ROOM Bertha explained.
don't care so much about going
with him. she abbed, .but / wanted
to wear the dress I never had such
a pretty dress BEFORE
I'll take you,n Bill said firmly.
But they won't let you tn-you'ra
an outsider"
See here" said Bill, shaking def
ant finger In her face, you said this
George is the boss OF the dance. Ill
show him I'm no outsider this time.
I'm going and he's going to let mem.
That's the least he can do"
In the thirty hours that were to
elapse before the dance Bill found
only few for sleep. There was 4
hasty trip by motor to Tilton in quest
OF evening clothes. 1t was eight years
since Bill had worn them.
He came back with numerous
bundles. Here's everything from soup
to nuts" he announced, dancing
pumps. silk socks and everything. Now
start In and show me the steps,"
The next evening at half-past eight.
when Bertha, dressed In her pink chif-
fon, started of with her brother to TIL
ton college, she was inclined to think
that this smooth-shaven, well-dressed
young man must be some one else
other than her big, rough brother.
1t was an uncomfortable moment for
Bertha at the door when the student
whose duty 1t was to receive tickets,
barred the way and looked skeptical
when Bill said he would see the chair
man of the committee, who would fix
things up for him. George came for
ward, sensed the situation In a flash.
and escorted the Denbys past the dis
mayed door committee.
What followed made Bertha feel "A
II she had suddenly been swept off her
feet. The girl, beautiful, stately and
brunette, but certainly older than
George, took both Bill's hands In hers.
what wonderful SURPRISE" she
said. Il was going to get In touch
with you tomorrow, but didn't expect
to meet you at the dance" Then she
and Bill grayltated to some chairs be-
hind some palms, and when the music
started for the first dance, anasGeorge |
was expected to be the first ofla the
floor, he did not even try to locate
Bill and the mysterious girl.
They danced for a few minutes and
then drifted toward two chairs which
they utilized for conversation.
@That's Helen Dawson George said.
"She's the one Bill was engaged TO.
One OF the boys was In Wyoming a
few weeks ago and told her about Bill
how he'd never married and didn't
like girls SO she decided to come and /
look him up. She found out when the
dance came off, remembered I'd asked
her. and took that as an excuse to
come East. She didn't think that aha
might have spoiled 1t for me. But
III n |