Page:The Star in the Window.pdf/90

80 came out with it. She had never lent anything to a friend before!

"Here it is," she said, shiningly.

Mamie grabbed it without a glance. "Thanks. Well, I'm off. I got to meet my 'friend' up at the Gayety at eight sharp. Movies. Top bureau drawer. Don't forget." And down the hall she clattered, while Reba, quivering and exalted, softly closed the door.

Reba had not planned to the entertainment to-night. She had no wish to put her good fortune to too severe a test. She hesitated to expose herself to obvious disappointments. The nature of the entertainment had been explained some two weeks before, and it had frightened her.

The Women's Alliance, it seemed, had issued an invitation to a similar organization of young men in the city, asking its members to a "party with dancing" on a certain Saturday night, in late March. They had accepted, and Miss Park, in addressing the girls en masse one evening, had asked all those who wanted to come to the party to put their names on a paper that she had posted on the bulletin-board.

During the dancing-hour one noon Miss Park had said to Reba, as she guided her over the floor in a one-step, "You're doing so well! You'll be all ready for Saturday, won't you?"

"Oh, but I'm not going. I didn't put down my name," blushed Reba.

But why not? You must. Of course you must."

"I don't dance well enough yet."

"Of course you do. Lots better than many. We need you, too. We want to have the number of girls