The Hardin tribune-herald., 1936-01-24

Dancing t
Published By Special Arrangements With Tho
Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate,
Incorporated
(Copyright: 1885: By Margaret e. Sangster)
GIN TWO PARTS PART ONE)
Anything Can Happen When q Wife
Takes q Prolonged Vacation, As Mrs.
Pearson, Fair and Forty and Fond Of
Dancing, Discovers.
TODD PEARSON watched his wife
swaying past in the arms Of a tall
young man who combined the rela-
tive merits Of q collar ad and q foot
ball star. Quite analytically he noted
the sleek suggestion Of q wave in her
hair. the clear bronze Of her back, the
slenderness Of her ankles. He told him.
when We were Tme snan has san
backward for her" He sighed and
added mentally, Myself, I'm older
than Godl"
One OF the chaperones came clump-
ing across the room toward him. The
country club still insisted that its
weekly dances have chaperones. Some
thing in the original charter, no doubt, :"
Bella Pearson explained to her friends.
Todd numbered to his feet at the
dowager's approach and bowed more
or less from the waist. The chaperone
said:
IT saw you sitting over here alone
and was alone, too. thought" q
faded attempt at archness here, "that
two might be company"
Todd dragged forward an overstuffed
chair and placed it beside his own.
II was lonely" he said with a no.
ticeable lack Of enthusiasm, "it's nice
of you to take pity"
Bella Pearson came swaying past
again-sleek waves, brOnZed back, slim
ankles, ct al. The only change was her
partner. The last one had been dark,
this one was fair.
The chaperone gushed, Mrs. Pear
dancer! You're lucky man to have
such charming, popular" was there
a yelled suggestion of claw? wife.
But" yes, the claws were very much
in evidence, why don't you ever dance
with her yourself, Mr.. Pearson?"
Todd answered glumly, II don't
Dance"
The chaperone gurgled, "But I'm
s0,,7d; sure y you could learn: I'm sure you
Todd said, "I don't want to learn.
Say, wouldn't you like an ice or a
lemonade or something's"
The chaperone dropped her voice.
Preferably something" she told Todd,
and he went off in search of high
continued to watch his wife-always
encricled by ardent, alien arms, al
ways demonstrating to the nth degree
the poetry of motion-a sense of Bit
terness began to take root in the dark
places of his soul.
It was the next morning at break
fast that the bitterness bore fruit.
ond cup of coffee-black and sugarless
when his wife trailed into the din
ing room. She didn't look quite as juv-
emile by the cold light of morning as
she had to the tune of waltz. But her
negligee was rosy chiffon and her
feet were thrust into silver mules and
her hair was as sleek as overland
She said:
Morning: my pet: Did you have a
good time last night?"
Todd growled. 'You asked me that
on the way home from the club. The
answers the same now as it was then
Il had a lousy time; I always do! Why
you make me go to those darn af-
fairs"
Bella stifled yawn behind three
slender, ruby tipped fingers. She said:
People would talk if you didn't take
me to the dances"
Todd answered, "People talk any,
way. You and your gigolos! Why can't
you stay home and play rummy or Rus
sian bank for a change and let the
debutantes do the dancing? You're
briefly that she would. She said:
II don't feel forty. And dance bet
ter than most of the kids. If you ever
took the trouble to watch me, darling,
and make comparisons"
Todd growled his interruption. I've
I'm worn out watching. you. Can I
have another cup of coffee?"
Bella poured the third cup with her
eyes averted. Not because she was an
noyed; because she was running
through the morning mail.
"A letter from Bebe Cummings" !"
she said brightly, at last, "she's off to
Florida to open her winter house: She
or two; it would be fun. Bebe and
have such good times together"
Todd asked sourly, "Well, why don't
you go? You and Bebe Cummings
could dance on the sands under the
tropic moon and the palm trees. think
Bebe," Todd spoke with the contempt
of man for his wife's bosom friend,
lis a flat tire. I've always thought so."
Bella came over to her husbands S
side of the table and seated herself
on the arm of his chair and ran fingers
through the straightness of his thin
ming hair.
What a cranky boy it is," she said.
After all, Bebe and roomed together
in school and was her bridesmaid and
she was my matron of honor. And
when Dan Cummings died and left
her that money Dearest, wouldn't
you miss me dreadfully if I went?"
All at once Todd knew that the
unwavering good hulnor was q part of