Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1938-11-30
CHAPTER "a

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weston, the Houston newspapers
again printed his portrait on their
front pages.
"Holgate Honored by Faculty."
one paper headlined it, stating In
the article that he had been elected
president of the Rice Faculty club.
It meant, simply, that his own COL
leagues had recognized his popu-
larity. He was the youngest man
ever to head the Faculty club. It
had happened on Saturday, and he
had FASTENED to Sara Sue with the
news, even before the papers car
ried it.
"It's wonderful" she assured
him. "It means that you really are
making progress in your personal
ity development. Thornton. What
are you going to do to celebrate 2"
IT do not know. have tele-
graphed my mother in Massa-
chusetts. But IL came next to
you, Sara Sue. I shall have to do
many more things now, in a social
way. The club has its own group
dances and bridge parties, as well
as it's serious considerations from
time to time. It meets every
week."
He said the last as If it were an
appalling fact.
Suppose it does? That's fine!
You can handle it, Thornton. You
must practice dancing more,
though; you are still bit awk-
ward. Have you danced with
strangers any?" 81
"Strangers?"
"sure. Girls you don't know.
Just break-in dances"
Of course he had not. She might
as well have asked him If he had
ever robbed any strange banks.
But she knew that a man acquires
poise and self-assurance if he does
mingle socially with strangers.
Tell you what-we're going to
Sylvan Beach tonight" she de-
clared then. 'This is Saturday.
Every sailor in the ship channel
will be there with his girl. They'll.
have some wide open dances. You'll
get a lot of practice. I'll give you
your next lesson on the dance floor,
Number 100"
She still called him customer 100
on occasions. remembering that he
had been the Tooth person to sign
for her counsel in romance.
He called for her at o'clock,
and when she saw him she barely
recognized him.
Thornton! You look grand! 1
never saw you in your tux beforew
"Ah-some of the faculty as
semblies will be quite formal. I am
told"
Eyes, but-wen, all right. I
don't imagine anyone else will
have on a tux where we are going
tonight, though. But no natter
at occurred to me that ] might
as well accustoln myself to wear
ing it while dancing also. / have
worn it on certain occasions, often.
But I have not danced in it."
Sara Sue deliberately chose the
largest and perhaps most demo-
cratic Of the various dance halls to
be found in the Sylvan Beach area.
And her guess had been right-it
was full of seagoing men and boys,
some just arrived in port, some
having their last fling before sail
ing. The hall itself would have been
an excellent place to store hay, or
used cars, or. almost anything
bulky. Stripped of it's bunting and
electric lights and white wash,
it would have been exactly what
its name Gin three-foot letters)
proclaimed: YE OLDE BARN.
But it had a smooth floor. And
an orchestra with volume enough
to be heard distinctly, which made
up In boom-boom rhythm what it
may have lacked in the finer nu-
ances of music. It had an odor,
too; an odor of many people and
many inexpensive perfumes, min
gled with touches Of buttered pop
corn and things to drink. It had
tiny booths around it's sides, and
for 25 cents you could lease a ta-
bic and two chairs. Dances cost
five cents each, pay asj you go.
TITS full already, and by mid
night it'll be crowded." Sara Sue
guessed.
1T is q very colorful assembly. (.
her escort declared.
You. mean, The gangs all
here don't you, Thorny 2"
He laughed with her. He had
been making some progress at hui
<,manizing his precise, scholarly
conversation. She halted now tc
give him instructions.
Fl Dance with me time or two
80 you'll be accustomed to the