The Corral, Volume 17, Number 2, March 1927 Page: 11
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THE CORRAL 11
twenty minutes trying to roll her eyes, only to
find that so long as she looked at them she couldn't
move them. She even tried moving a hand mirror
but to no effect. The eyes wouldn't budge. At
last she discovered that the effect was better when
she moved her head. This she did indiscriminately
until at last her whole body was bending, sway-
ing, and doubling until it seemed her bones must
crack. It was at such a moment that her mother
entered. The girls back was to the mirror and her
head was twisted to such an angle that she could
see her blue eyes, just below the upper lids. Then
she caught sight of her mother, and closing her
mouth which her position had forced open, she
turned about.
"Alison Roger! What will you do next?"
"Ma--I mean mama, I was practicing Arlies'
tender 'O-how-I-adore-you' roll of the eyes. How's
this?" and she rolled her eyes upward until they
seemed in danger of staying there.
"Draw the curtain! The action is terrible!" and
to Allie's disappointment, her mother laughed till
she cried.
"Guess I'll have to take the preacher after all
then. If it is so funny, I'd scare my prince away."
But in secret she practiced the roll which persisted
in acting more like Harry Langdon's than Arlene's
adoring orbs when she was near the banker.
On Friday Allie came in from a walk to find her
mother giving orders for Saturday evening din-
ner-explaining that things must be nice because
the new minister was coming. And Allie went up
to tell Arlene.
"Sure," she said, "but do be careful not to dance
with the broom stick or roll your eyes. This will
be a good chance for you to get dad a minister."
"Pooh! No preacher for me! You know my luck
with 'em. Remember the last one I tried?"
She did, she also remembered her chagrin as
Allie gave her comical and laughing account of it.
On one occasion the minister had called, and
because he was young and not bad looking, Allie
took the chance. After she had lectured at length
upon the need of a man in his position for a
helpful wife, she had heard a far away voice say
that he had a wife and three children as well. She
had stared at him open mouthed, and had finally
said "how sad," and recognizing her mistake, she
had added "for her." Then she flew from the
room.
"Nope. This 'un probably has the same luck. If
you want Dad to have a preacher son-in-law, you
can get him."
Never-the-less, the family has never ceased to
marvel at the fact that Allie came down the next
evening in a filmy blue frock, and surprise of sur-
prises-high-heeled slippers.
"What's up!" asked Mr. Rogers. "You've seenthe minister, eh?"
"Nope, and I don't want to! All I hear
preachers-'scuse me-ministers, and son-in-law,
and I'm gonna shock this one so badly he'll never
come back. I'm gonna roll my eyes, dance with
the broom, and end up by eloping with my Prince
of the Drug Store, but, happy thought!" she added
to herself, "How can I when I've only seen him
once and don't know him. Anyway, the effect is
good."
Ten minutes later the family departed to see to
last-minute affairs, and Alison sat alone inwardly
fuming at the fate of the innocent in the hands
of style, and-high heels! Presently she glanced
up to see the maid as she showed in--joy of joys-
the Prince of the Drug Store! Allie's tongue re-
fused to work, but she managed to rise. The Prince
was coming forward with out-stretched hands.
"This is Miss Arlene, I presume?" What a won-
derful voice! She couldn't speak, but she nodded,
and then realized her mistake-but he was going
on.
"I saw your sister in the Village the other day.
Boys said she didn't care for-well things a girl
usually care for-so I knew you were you when
I first saw you."
Allie's eyes began to twinkle. After all the joke
was on him. She became herself again. Fate had
brought her the Prince, and she would make the
most of it.
"No. Wrong number! I am Alison, and I don't
-didn't-do care for girl's things too. I dressed
up tonight to shock the minister. He's coming to
dinner and I'm gonna dance with the-say! won't
you dance with me? And roll my eyes like Harry
Langdon, and then I'm gonna"-
"Gonna what?" he asked, a glint of humor
in his eyes.
"Oh _-_ __. hop like Harry too, I guess."
"I see, but was that what you started to say?"
"Well, no - but are you going to dance with
me?"
"I guess, Miss Alison, I'd better not. You don't
even know me yet. You haven't asked my name."
"Met you? That's right! But I want to shock
the preacher. All I hear is preachers!"
"But I don't dance; don't believe in it."
"Don't dance! Congratulations! I don't either,
but I have been capering around considerably to
the haunting strains of a love melody with a broom
for a partner not the melody with a broom,
but me with a broom-to--to-"
"To what?"
"To be ready to shock the minister, to be sure.
Well, if you don't dance, what is your name?"
"Since you at last want to know, my name is
Harry-"
(Continued on Page 19)
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Simmons University. The Corral, Volume 17, Number 2, March 1927, periodical, March 1927; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth109415/m1/13/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.