The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1939-07-13

don't forget they still sow the wild
oats In the same old way.
laughed delightedly he received
thrill No. 2. -..-s. ..
The night club was crowded: the,
had to stand in the foyer for fifteer
minutes before getting table.
And Noel. already beginning to
feel little stiff from the long walk.
eased himself into his seat with .
little suppressed groan Of relief.
The stiffness. however. was for.
gotten when Miss Glow began to
order.
He marvelled that such tiny girl
could want so many things to eat
al at once.
II amused him and he laughed.
The champagne came and they
drank q toast to each other.
Noel glanced around. smacked his
lips and felt . warm glow Of con-
tentment.
Here was life, gayety, youth. the
sort of thing he wanted and needed
This was-well. being frivolous.
The orchestra began to play and
Miss Glow began hopping around in
her seat.
.'Oh, let's dance!" she exclaimed.
Lets dol"
But Noel smiled and shook his
head.
Lets wait for waltz" he sug-
gested. These new dances-well.
I'm not used to them"
But Miss Glow didn't want to wait,
and when she saw boy at nearby
table whom she knew, she smiled
at him and he came over and asked
Noel Il he might dance with Miss
Glow.
Noel WINGED.
The boy was the son Of bust
ness acquaintance. and the business
acquaintance was only dfty-one!
Noel drank some more cham
payne, and when the next number
was played he got to his feet with
something like grim determination
written in his eyes.
Lets Dance" he said to Miss
Glow.
And Miss Glow looked . little
frightened; she looked as il she
hadn't expected that Noel would 60
that far. But she assented. and
Noel swept her out on the floor.
Swept" Is the proper word. for
when Noel danced he required
space. and woe be to any unfor-
tunate who got in his path.
They circled the floor once and
then Noel got . twinge. A sort Of
sinking sensation took hold Of him.
He remembered his rheumatism
and recognized the symptoms.
The twinge repeated itself.
One knee buckled and then
Strengthened again.
Noel suddenly became aware that
people were staring at him and
| grinning.
It made him mad and he hung on
to Miss Glow quite desperately.
The same knee buckled again.
At the moment they were lumber
ing past mirror and Noel caught .
glimpse Of himself. The glimpse
revealed doddering. baldheaded
old man whose clothes didn't at
him very well and whose knees
seemed to be giving way.
It required several minutes be-
fore he realized that the reflection
was that of himself; that the slip
of girl who was clutched in his
arms was Miss Glow.
The thought flashed across his
mind that Miss Glow was young
enough to be his daughter. but
probably had been mistaken for his
| granddaughter.
Breathing heavily and with sweat
pouring down his cheeks. Noel
gained the sanctity Of his table and
sat down.
He glanced ut Miss Glow and
glanced away again.
From the corner Of his eye he
could see people looking and grin
ming.
Erla was waiting up. as always.
when Noel finally arrived home.
One look at him and she went
running for mustard and hot water
and towels.
She scolded mercilessly vhilt
helping him get undressed. but 70,
once the scolding was exactly whal
he wanted to hear.
He eased his feet into the basin OF
hot water with q great groan OF
relief. and smiled up at his wife.
"Erla." he said happily. did I
ever tell you you were the most
wonderful beautiful. understand.
ing"
But Erla cut him short with an
impatient gesture. ''Oh. Noel. act
I sensible. Don't be so-wel. friv-
oloaIa"