THE DANCE
The night of the dance had come, than which Wellington could produce
no more momentous occasion. For days the students had been
decorating Old Warburton Hall, stripping their own rooms to the
point of desolation to pile their banners, their flags, and even
their mandolins around the big hall, in artistic and effective
settings from ceiling to the smallest nook around the chimney corner
windows. Judith and Jane were responsible for the "Bosky Dell"
created around the Inglenook. Here the mandolins were cluttered, and
about the walls were such artistic woodiness as branches of bright
red berries, then sprays of dark gray bayberry, glowing sumac, deep
brown oak leaves, and this applied foliage provided the "Bosky" for
the juniors' pretty dell.
All college departments shared the honors of decorating, each
depending upon its originality to outshine the others, so that now
when all was finished and the students drew apart to decorate
themselves the atmosphere fairly vibrated with expectancy.
Under the eaves in Sally's room she and Bobbie were putting on
finishing touches. Too full of youth to give place to regret, these
two freshmen were keyed to the full pitch of the big, jolly, gleeful
occasion.
"Can you imagine us going, and bound for such a good time?" said
Sally, while Bobbie fluffed the maline butterfly from her
companion's shoulders.
"Like a jolly time at a funeral," replied the other, her tone of
voice softening the comparison.
"Dear me, must we really leave?" sighed Sally. "I have been hoping
for a miracle."
"So have I, Kitten, but we have had a couple of miracles lately and
it wouldn't be fair to overwork the fairies. There, you look just
like a golden butterfly. Oh, really, Kit, you--are--a dream!"
Bobbie was responsible for the color scheme adopted by her chum, and
its success was just now rather inadequately reflected in the
conventional mirror that formed a door to the narrow wardrobe. Sally
was gowned in gold and white, and the gold of her hair completed the
"dream." A big yellow butterfly she was indeed, with the sleazy,
clinging, white draperies wound around her slender form, then the
wings of golden maline pinioned on either softly rounded shoulder.
Sally was a perfect little beauty, and also possessed that whimsical
manner so attractive in this delicate, fragile type.
"How do I look, anyhow?" asked Bobbie, and the "anyhow" betrayed her
hopelessness.
"Don't you really know you are stunning?" replied Sally. "Bobbie,
your height and figure are in such splendid accord with that
American Beauty! Whew, girl! I can see who shall charm the partners
tonight."
"Do I honestly look--well?" persisted the other. "I wish my hair
were long enough to turn up."
"I don't. It is so becoming in that halo just as round as a crown,
and more curly every minute. If all misfortunes really have their
compensations, then, Bobbie, put down the curls opposite your
accident."
The big girl peered closer to the mirror. She never could be vain
but just now she might be pardoned a flicker of satisfaction. She
did look well, the American Beauty satin made such a startling
background for her peculiarly true American type.
"Now, if we are all primped and preened, suppose we rehearse," said
Bobbie, powdering the last finger of her left hand to a finish. "You
are sure Ted has his lesson all clear and that our--masquerade will
not be spoiled?"
"He was just wild about the lark, and wrote a whole page of
effusions such as boys always indulge in," replied Sally. "He says
he may stick to Barrett for a name, it has such a twangy sound,
whatever that may mean; and he also promised to be led by us even to
the extent of breaking his own gay heart."
"Nice boy. I hope our little skit won't spoil his fun. It is just
for that, you know, little chum, I have agreed to postpone my
flight. But be sure of one thing--I shall fly before I ever face
that wonderful crowd of girls we were with last night, after the
discovery."
"Does it all seem so hideous still?" asked Sally. "I have felt as if
some of the black horror were wearing off."
"Mine is turning green--a dark, dark moldy green of envy. Why didn't
I know four months ago just a few of the precious things I see so
vividly now?" Bobbie sat down at the risk of spoiling some of her
preening. Also she ruffed her long (now well cared for) fingers
through her short hair with distracting indifference, but not a
ringlet showed any ill effects, each fell back on her broad, low
forehead in its original place, without a kink of disorder in the
line.
"I have learned more than the Wellington course offered," said
Sally, "and one thing I am now sure of. Our small towns may offer
advantages in freedom and security, but they restrict us in a choice
of friends and companions. How could we possibly have guessed that
the very girl and her group we expected to antagonize should be our
deliverers?"
"I don't quite get your flow of words, Kitten, but I do agree with
their meaning. Yes, small towns can turn out gigantic specimens of
conceited ego. And that conceit is like a paraffine coating; air
tight against personal progress, absorbent for the poisons of
jealousy and envy. There, that sounds as if I have learned a little
English, doesn't it? But it isn't enough to face Miss Robert's
exams."
"It's after eight. There are the girls slamming doors in the first
jazz number," said Sally. "Come along, Bobbie, and smile your
warmest. Then we shall defy fate for a few more happy hours at
least."
Swallowed up immediately in the swirl of young students heading for
the dance "Kitten and Bobbie" were presently on the high road to
defying fate as per schedule. The music from the dance room was just
feeling its way out of brilliantly lighted windows, and the grand
old campus seemed very proud of itself indeed, as it stretched out
and made a background for the entire picture.
Flocks of automobiles were nestling along the drives, and many a
Wellington heart skipped its regular beat at the preliminary
thought:
"I wonder if he came yet?"
From companion colleges the boys were making their way into old
Wellington, and the students of Yorktown were apt to be especially
plentiful. It was from this big college that Ted Barrett--alias Ted-
-somebody's brother, was expected.
In contrast to the usual line for receiving, such as so often makes
a farce of the formal social event, the seniors and juniors had
formed themselves into a ring that surrounded the entrance, and
through this ring each guest was forced to pass in at one end and
out at the other in initiation to Wellington. Jane was chosen to
form one "clasp" of the circlet, with two tall seniors at her side.
She gave the welcoming pass-word for the juniors, and in her hand
clasp delivered the secret sign.
As the girls from Lenox entered, the eyes of our two special friends
immediately sought out Jane. Not even the possible presence of Teddy
offered a distraction, for it seemed now as if their fate rested
more fully than ever in the hands of the girl whose father had given
them the much abused scholarship.
"How sweet!" breathed Sally. "Like a pansy."
"Exactly," answered Shirley. "Did you ever see anything prettier?"
Jane's appearance supported this flattery in every detail. She wore
a flowered frock, georgette with pansies sprinkled over it, and in
her coppery hair a small bunch of the same velvet flowers was
clustered. Among all the others this flowered gown seemed
distinctive, although Dozia in her ruffles (to cut her height), and
Judith in her sea foam green (to give her color), were indeed highly
attractive.
The indescribable jazz music was see-sawing in and out of harmony,
and if there were anything actually shy on the score it was more
than plentifully supplied by the "ukes," mandolins and banjos of the
visiting college boys.
Sally and Shirley had scarcely crossed the circle and were melting
into the crowd, when someone tapped Sally on the shoulder.
"Teddy!" exclaimed both girls at once.
"The same, your obedient coz," replied the good looking young
fellow, eager to show at once how well he had learned his lesson.
"Come over here," breathed Sally. "I am just dying to speak to you."
"No fair," cautioned Shirley. "Don't forget your lines, Kit."
"Say, girls, tell me," implored the youth, letting his critical eye
scale the crowd of pretty girls, "what's this your name is? You're--"
to Sally.
"I'm Sally," she replied, twinkling prettily, "and this is Shirley,"
indicating Bobbie.
"Shirley?" he echoed increduously.
"Yes, and please don't ask any more questions just now, Cousin Ted.
I have promised to introduce you to half of Wellington." This was
said so that more than one girl standing near overheard; one was
Nettie Brocton and she quickly took the cue.
"Just look at that?" she said to Ted Guthrie. "Sally acts as if the
Teddy were her especial cousin."
"Yes, and Shirley is all but blushing."
"Queer," commented Ted Guthrie.
Presently the music suggested a One Step and without waiting for
further coaxing Shirley and the handsome Ted floated out among the
assembling dancers.
He was handsome, and, although that fact seems trite just here, it
may better be known and reckoned with. He was tall, light, nimble
and flexible as a young birch, as he swayed in and out leading the
excited Bobbie.
"Guess I'll have to call you Bobbie, too," he said in his partner's
ear, after more than one girl had pointedly called out, "Hello,
Bobbie!"
"Yes, do, please," replied Bobbie. "I am getting so accustomed to it
I rather feel it is really mine."
"Suits you splendidly," said Ted, with a boy's idea of compliments
being put on thick at dances. "And I am sure I would give the game
away if I ever tried on the Shirley."
Bobbie acquiesced just in time to feel Judith Stearns' black eyes
demanding to know Teddy. The dancers stopped, and after an
introduction Bobbie was swept off her feet by a new partner, while
Judith glided off with Teddy.
"Where is Sally?" asked Judith, not seeing the little butterfly on
the floor.
"Sally?" repeated the bewildered Ted. Then he recovered himself.
"Oh, yes, Cousin Sally. She's just over there," pointing to Jane's
"Bosky Dell" in a far corner.
"Your cousin?" repeated the shrewd Judith.
"Yes, little coz, I allus calls her," he lisped, to cover any
possible attempt at piercing his disguise.
"But she said she was not related to Bobbie?" persisted the
irrepressible Judith.
"She isn't," frankly offered Ted. "She is only related to me. Oh, I
say, Miss Stearns," he broke off. "Who's the golden girl over by the
punch bowl?"
"I knew it," trilled Judith. "No one could possibly miss her. She's
Jane Allen."
"Jane Allen!" he almost interrupted. "She whose pater is a
benefactor of Wellington?"
"Yes, the only Jane," answered Judith glibly. "Come over and meet
her. I know you will like her even better on acquaintance. I don't
mind being generous, for Jane and I started together here, and from
present appearances we seem liable to end it together."
While she spoke they had ceased dancing, and Judith fancied she just
caught a look of question on the young man's face. This coupled with
his inquiry about Jane's father, Judith at once assigned to his
knowledge of the scholarship Bobbie had obtained. But even that was
not just a correct guess, and it seemed the actual presence of this
good looking boy from Yorktown threatened to add new complications
to those already surrounding the mysterious freshmen.
Both reached Jane's side as Judith and her partner came up. Judith
presented the much talked of "lovely Ted" and perhaps a part of
Jane's ebullition was attributable to the code shot out from
Judith's flashing eyes. It said plainly:
"Now isn't he lovely? I told you so!"
While Jane remembered her own wish:
"I hope he's big, clumsy, ugly, etc.," and of course he wasn't.
He claimed the dance and presently swept the Golden Girl from her
place in the little circle.
"Your cousin?" questioned Judith with a very comprehensive smile.
"Bobbie, I never saw a girl blush as you did when a coz whispered
into her dancing ear."
Wise, discerning Judith!
Bobbie blushed again, but she was not going to be tricked into
telling her secret. Her eyes flickered until they rested on Nettie
Brocton.
"I must ask Net for a dance," she said. "I suppose it is perfectly
proper for a mere freshie to do so?"
"Absolutely," replied Judith, "but you are not slighting me?"
"Not for worlds, Judy. May I have the next?"
"What's your hurry just now Bobbie? Trying to duck me?"
But a sly glance of challenge gave Judith answer, as Bobbie hurried
away to dance with Nettie Brocton.