Carmella Commands
The orchestra was playing at the time, so that Nicolo waited. When the dance ended, he shuffled forward again, though with more confidence in his gait this time. To the leader he said, holding out the bill.
“Listen, brother, I gotta young dame here that’s simply gotta have that dance again. Here’s something for ya to do it again.”
He turned and walked back. As he reached Carmella’s side the orchestra began again the opening notes of the Campus Dreams waltz.
Carmella jumped to her feet with a cry of delight.
“You did it! You did it!” she exclaimed.
“Two dollars did it,” said Nicolo.
Again Carmella directed Nicolo’s awkward feet through the steps of the greatest of college waltzes. And again she grew up.
“That’s dancing!” Carmella repeated, as the waltz came to an end.
“Aw, the heck!” said Nicolo.
As they walked home, chattering, Carmella was reflecting on the mental standing of a boy who preferred a foxtrot to a waltz. By the time they reached Doty Street, she had decided that his standing was low.
The next morning, on reaching school, she offered her excuse for the absence of the day before. It had occurred to her that, with rare foresight, she had written “today” instead of “this morning.” And her father
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