The Adventure Girls in the Air

  Chapter XIX

  SENIOR PROM

  The committee's plans for the Senior Prom met with many setbacks. Therewas trouble on all sides, but finally everything was settled. It had solong been delayed that it was May before the big night finally arrived.It was the main event in the lives of the Seniors. It was a night theyhad long awaited and dreamed of.

  If the night were to exceed Gale's dreams it would have to be galaindeed. For months, ever since the night she had asked Brent, Gale hadlived the Prom secretly in her heart many times. Brent had gone toWashington to take up his position with the air company, but he wroteher long, chatty, amusing letters. And she answered in kind. She hadbeen desperately afraid he might forget he had promised to take her, butthere was no danger of that. The day before the Prom Brent came toMarchton and upon insistence from the whole family stayed in the guestroom at the Howard house.

  Now here she was, coming from the dressing room where she had left herwrap, meeting Brent, tall and handsome in his formal clothes. Gale felther heart must burst with happiness. She had no idea how lovely sheherself was, flushed with the excitement and happiness of the evening,but Brent had.

  The ballroom was crowded. Gale felt as though she scarcely knew theyoung people there. There was such a difference. Formal clothes on theboys and long, fluffy gowns on the girls changed the hail-and-well-metchums of the campus to dignified young people. The committee had sparedno pains to make the night one to be remembered. The ballroom wasdecorated artfully with the school colors. The orchestra played smooth,sweet rhythm.

  "Happy?" Brent asked.

  Gale sighed. "I didn't know I could be so happy."

  Over his shoulder--she could just about see over Brent's shoulder--Galesmiled at Phyllis dancing with David Kimball. She was delighted onPhyllis' account. It had been a long time before Phyllis dared plan tocome to the dance. There was Valerie dancing with Peter Arnold--andJanet! Janet with Mark Sherwin and having the time of her life. That waseasily determined by the rapt expression on her friend's face. Gale inher long acquaintance with Janet had never seen the latter look sodemure and sweet.

  Carol was there with her favorite basketball player, as was Madge withthe boy next door. In fact every one Gale knew was there and well theymight be. It was the goodbye social affair for them. In another monththey would be graduating from high school. Then would come vacation daysand then college.

  Mingling with the other young people she knew Gale felt happy. Shedanced with the other boys and Brent danced at least once with the otherAdventure Girls, but Gale was happiest when she was dancing with Brent.At other times they talked a lot, they always had something to talkabout, to discuss, to laugh about, but tonight they were for the mostpart silent. Gale felt it was all a dream. The reality was even moresweet than her dreams had been.

  Down the smooth expanse of floor Brent guided their progress, winding inand out among the other dancers, to the wide French windows that led outonto the terrace of the Country Club. It was an exceptionally warm nightfor the spring and startlingly clear. The stars were out doubly strongand the moon beamed with, it seemed, whole-hearted approval upon thepleasure of the young people.

  With mutual consent they found a little stone bench in the seclusion ofa willow tree and sat down. The night was scented with the sweetness ofblossoming flowers. Gale leaned her head back against the rough trunk ofthe tree and closed her eyes. She felt if something didn't happen soonto remind her she was actually here she would simply burst withhappiness and contentment. It was like a setting in a play--the garden,a boy and girl, and in the distance the faint murmur of music.

  "Isn't it lovely?" she murmured.

  Brent had eyes not for the night, but only for Gale. He said as much andshe smiled.

  "I mean it," he insisted. "Gale--" his voice had become gentle, low, anddesperately serious. "I want to marry you. No, listen, hear it all," hesaid, as she would have spoken. "I know, you are going to college, youwant to do a lot of things. I want to amount to something and to havesomething real to offer you. It will take time. But I had to tell younow. I've thought about it a lot lately--I'm always thinking about you.Tonight I--I just had to tell you!"

  "I'm glad," Gale whispered.

  "If you will wait, Gale, it may not be for long, but I want to give youso many things. If you will wait for me--for a little while, Gale----"

  Gale listened to his words, her heart beating fast. It was true she wasgoing to college, she wanted to finish growing up, to have a chance inthe world, and with Brent working for the same goal as she---- When shelooked up there were actually tears in her eyes. "Oh, Brent," shewhispered, "I'll wait--I'll wait forever!"

  When they went back into the ballroom Gale's eyes were a littlebrighter, her cheeks a little rosier, and her hand nestled cozily inBrent's possessive grasp. Her friends noted these things and Valerie andPhyllis smiled knowingly. They fully appreciated how happy Gale must beand the minute they could, when they were alone in the dressing roompreparing to leave and drive out to the country to a little place forwaffles, they each kissed her.

  "Has it happened, Gale?" Phyllis asked.

  Gale blushed. "Nothing is to be said, but I'm so happy, Phyl!"

  "I'm glad," Phyllis said, and she meant it.

  Gale and Brent were both favorites with the Adventure Girls. In theshort time they had known him Brent had won a place beside Gale in theiraffections. They liked his ready smile, easy-going nature andsociability.

  The evening ended with Gale, Phyllis and Valerie with their threeescorts, driving out into the country where they had hot chocolate andwaffles, and then by a long, roundabout way, driving home in themoonlight.