The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-04-28
The Dance
By JOHN GRAY
e. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
WNU Service

tdnl JuuioT Jail dI IltOn cOIlege-
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 be 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
urable 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 a girl who lives
out in Wyoming. We played tennis to-
gether and went swimming and sail
ing and-wen, 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 l had met
you and she didn't seem to care
whether l wrote or not This morning
had letter from her. II just says:
| I'm coming for the ball. VIII arrive
at 5 Friday. | know you haven't for
gotten your invitation
Its too late TO prevent her coming
she is almost here / didn't know
what TO do. OF course, want to take
you more than anything else 1 made
up my mind that the right thing for
| fellow to do in the circumstances was
to go to the girl he really cared for,
| the one who-well, the one who trusted
| him and understood him-and tell
| her."
1t 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.
| 81 don't care so much about going
with him." she fibbed, "but 1 wanted
to wear the dress. never had such
pretty dress before"
IN take you," Bill said firmly.
"But they won't let you Inquire
an outsider"
See here" said Bill, shaking a def
ant finger In her face, you said this
George is the boss of the dance I'll
show him I'm no outsider this time.
I'm going and he's going to let me In.
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 a
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-pas eight.
when Bertha. dressed In her pink chif-
fon. started off 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 as
If she had suddenly been swept Off her
feet The girl. beautiful, stately and
brunette, but certainly older than
George, took both Bills hands In hers.
"What a 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 gravitated to some chairs be-
hind some palms, and when the music
started for the first dance, and George
was expected to be the first on the
1 hn nnt fy-~ 70.
Bill and the mysterious girl.
They danced for few minutes and
then drifted toward two chairs which
they utilized for a conversation.
That's Helen Dawson" George said.
.She's the one Bill was engaged to.
One of the boys was in Wyoming
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 she
might have spoiled II for me- But
everything Is turning out all right.
guess" added George as he looked
across the room TO where Bill and
Helen Dawson were still talking. OBJ
livious of music. dancers and possible
on-loekers
And that night when Helen and her
new-found friend. Bertha DENLY. whom
she had seen once before as a little
girl. said good night. Helen whispered
to Bertha that she was engaged to
Bill again And Bertha, snblimely
/ happy, confessed that with little per