Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/228

you will enjoy it”.—with a calm look that took the zest out of Albert. They were crossing a street, over which a bright light glared. Albert took a guarded glance at her profile, so exquisitely outlined against the thickening dusk, and was stimulated to go on.

“Say Els’, there’s a rollicking good card party at Vaha’s tomorrow. What say, we take in the evening?” That was more like it.

She mused awhile, then: “I am sorry, Albert, but Francis has asked me to a dance, and I’ve promised him, already”.

“That’s nothing. Chuck Frank for one night and come with me. Mother promised to go too, and she would like to see you come. I know you feel a little-er-hurt, ‘cause I took Lil out a few times. But you know I have nothing with Lil. She’s just a silly little blonde, that’s all”. Elsie was not even aware of his hand on her rigid elbow.

“You know I wouldn’t do anything of the kind, Albert. He has been so nice to me all this time—Good night! I have to hurry and get something for daddy’s supper, yet”. And she turned in to “Doley’s Grocery”.

Albert got his new 1928 coupe, but during the subsequent weeks he enjoyed it very little. His mind was on the girl he had lost and on the man who won his place. Mrs. Danko guessed what the matter was, but could do nothing. She had wished that her Albert would take serious interest in Elsie when she first heard of their attachment for each other, because she knew and liked the girl ever since she had learned to walk. But they were both quite young at the time, and hence she did not mind their hesitation. Still now when she wanted to do something, her Albert was more irritable and unapproachable than ever. He quarreled with his younger brother and sister, and was sour as a lemon to everyone. He came late from work and got up unusually early in the morning; took a sparing breakfast and was off on a walk again. Even his father was alarmed.

“What’s the matter. Albert!” he asked. “Did you get into some trouble, or something?” But the other merely turned away with an unintelligible mumble.

Then came St. Valentine’s Day and the big dance at the Indian Acres Pavilion. Albert was on the nethermost rung of dejection. Yet he got ready and went.

I said that Albert was a sensible youth, still his going to the dance that night would not argue in his favor at all. For a certain dogged urge of recklessness overpowered him, and his discretion abandoned him.

The dance was nearly half over by the time Albert found himself in the extravagantly decorated and illuminated hall. The couples like twin phantoms floated and twinkled in the nebula of diaphanous splendor to the rhythmic strains of an orchestra. Out of that phantasma before Albert’s eyes emerged two real figures of Elsie and Francis. Never before had he seen Elsie so glorious as she appeared now; never so com-