nd am glad I have a chance to go further in it
than most young people get. Yet these class dances give us
something that algebra, or chemistry, or geometry can't supply us."
"This is the brightest spot of the year," put in Tom Reade, in
a low voice. "It must be the brightness of the girls' eyes that
fill this part of the room with so much radiance."
"Bravo!" laughed Laura and Belle together.
"Have you been quiet the last fifteen minutes on purpose to
think that up?" Dave asked enviously.
"Tom can say lots of nicer things than that," spoke up Bessie
Trenholm, half shyly.
"Oh, can he?" demanded Harry Hazelton. "Please search your memory
then, Bessie. Let's have a few specimens of what Tom can say
under the influence of luminous eyes."
Bessie blushed. When she tried to speak she stammered.
"I---I guess I can't remember anything," she pleaded.
Freshman laughter rang out merrily at this. But the waltz had
ended, and now the prompter was calling for the grand march.
"Let's find our places," urged Dan Dalzell.
"We're on the side, so we might as well remain right where we
are," proposed Dick. "That is, unless the floor manager or some
aide comes along and chases us to the rear of the procession."
But no one interfered with the freshmen taking their places in
the line just where they stood.
As the grand march ended the orchestra drew breath once or twice,
then burst forth in a gallop. Dick offered Laura his guidance,
and away they flew together. By the time the gallop ended the
freshman couples were rather well scattered over the hall.
Dick danced well. He enjoyed himself immensely. So did his partners.
Some of the freshman girls finally drifted off with upper class
partners.
Toward midnight, Dick, alone, drifted to Dave Darrin and Harry
Hazelton.
"I haven't a thing to do, now, for four dances, unless some senior
drops dead," Dick remarked.
"I'm in as bad a plight," admitted Harry.
"And I," nodded Dave.
It wasn't many moments ere the other three partners happened along,
all disengaged.
"We don't want to be wall-flowers," muttered Dick. "It's going
to be more than half an hour from now before any of us are due
to dance again. See here, fellows, what do you say to our getting
our hats and coats and getting out into the air for a while?
A ballroom, isn't the worst place in the world, but I'm so much
a fresh air fellow, that I'm half stifling here."
"Good! Come along to th
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