Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-02-01
BY
Margaret E.
Sangster

ter and applause Of a crowd she conldn'i
see It drew her-though the music
/ nadnt-toward the room in which
tnere was dancing. She went Quietly
over the threshold Of that room I'M
noticed. She paused, frozen with amaze
ment, on the outskirts OF the ring OF
people, five deep, who were watching
an exhibition Of some sort In the mid
ole Of the cleared space. This chill
ainazement was an emotion keener than
any Bella had ever felt IN her life
For Todd, her Todd-Slimmer than he
nad been since their honeymoon. and
infinitely more carefree than he had
peen then-was giving the exhibition!
his partner was the prettiest member
OF the club, and the choosiest
Bella, standing on the verge Of that
thronged room, found herself remem-
oering the size and the green fire Of
Beoes emerald. So the late Dan Cum
mlngS had been entertaining a blonde2
Wen, Dan had been piker. Her Todd
was entertaining $50 people. and doing
y very well indeed. She thought, I'm
dreaming, OF course. III wake up pres
emily at Bebe's with q mosquito gnaw-
ing my ankle" But she didn't wake
up. not even when the music stopped
not even when Todd, taking his bow,
glimpSed her above the collective heads
OF his audiencel
They we're home in their own bed
room at last. IL was much, much later
% late In fact, that It was early.
Bella, tottering with exhaustion. had
watched her husband swaying past with
blonde girls and dark girls and red
headed girls in his ardent embrace
When. one Of the chaperoneS had
gushed:
Your husband is so charming. Mrs
Pearson-and such a marvellous dancerl
But why aren't you" were there claws
In the velvet mittens Of the chaperone2
dancing with him?"
Bella had been too weary to resent
the implied dig. She had only an
Swered:
I'm too all in to dance, I guess"
They had come home In a car crowd
ed with vigorous young bodies. They
had stopped at lunch wagon for ham
and eggs. Todd was the life OF the
party-Bella didn't know that life
Of the party" was in quotesl And now
built dancing shoes and Bella was
him. She said at last:
And I was worried because you
might take coldi"
Todd laughed. He was too good ma
tured 10 be true.
Haven't time to catch a cold" he
told his wife. MY Lord, honey, it's
swell to have you home. only wish
we could have had a dance together
bat was fun up. Never mind, plenty
1f evenings left. BY the way, did you
notice that step was doing with Sally
oringle?"
Bella didn't answer for a moment.
She was thinking. Somehow our posi- |
ions have been reversed, Todd's and I
nine. He's the bell sheep, I'm the fol- /
ow-upper." She thought, Darn it, |
I'll have to do something radical about |
hist" She said aloud:
Yes, noticed. Who in time is Sally
oringle? Say, Todd, what's come over
did you learn to dance, and
Why? incidentally, what was that
'ringle girl calling you on the way
lome?"
Todd Pearson yawned and stepped
nut OF the major portion of his gar
nentS.
sally Pringle's visiting in town." he
aid, she's a marvellous waltzer-I
hink she's a grass widow, or else.
Where and why did I learn to dance?
Veil, Bella, it's long story; III tell
on tomorrow. What was Sally calling
ne, you ask? o." Todd chuckled as
e found his way into a suit Of vivid
aJamas, "she was calling me Hot
oddly! ALI the kids do"
THE END