Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-10

"She's nice looking-and nice figure, too.
What did you say her age wasH" pursued
Mr.. Lacombe.
"Eleven, sir"
ELEVEN, eh? What's your name, little
girlr
my name is Mariposa Manuel, sir" re-
piled the child, in tone, so gentle and mu-
sical, that it struck Mr.. Lacombe's ear at
once. He looked at her with renewed inter-
est and inquiry.
"Is she your daughteri" he asked of the
woman, with keen glance. There was i'm.
piled doubt in the manner in which the ques-
tion was asked.
ashes my daughter, of course" was the
hasty rejoinder, with az involuntary flash Of
defiance in her dark eyes. Mr.. Lacombe
slightly smiled. After all, it was no concern
of his whether she was telling the truth or
not.
"Im told you are clever dancer, Maripo.
sa," he said, addressing the child. "Step out,
now, and show me something of what you
can do"
"Take off your hat, Posy," said her moth.
ar, at the same moment bringing into view
small common fiddle which she had carried
concealed beneath her shawl. She struck one
or two preliminary notes, while Posy, tossing
her velvet turban aside, threw back her long
curls and placed herself in fanciful atti-
tude. Then, as she dashed into wild dis
cordant sort of measure, perfect in time,
though very imperfect in execution, the child,
obeying her nod. instantly commenced &c.
ries of evolutions of no common or easy sort,
swaying her light, delicate figure now for
ward, now on one side or the other, waving
her arms gracefully in time to the music, and
executing a variety of intricate steps with
perfect facility and grace.
"Very good" exclaimed the audience, as,
flushed and smiling, and little out of breath,
the performer stopped, at length, in accord.
ance with concluding twang and scrape on
the fiddle strings. "Very good. think I
understood you to say, Mrs. Manuel, that you
taught her yourself?"
Entirely myself. SIR" said Mrs. Manuel,
with grati6sd look. "Didn'tI, Posyf"
every bit" corrobated Posy, smiling
swell, she does you credit. You are
dancer yourself by profession, I thinkY'
eyes, sir, on the stage this many years.
But since I had the rheumatic fever, two
years back, I've never got my spring again,
though I've tried" rejoined Mrs. Manuel, re.
gretfully. my good days are over, I'm
afraid"
"Well, the young one can take your place.
You are quite decided that you wish her to
enter the ballet corps?"
Eyes, sir; I'd only be too glad. Posy,
speak for yourself"
Posy came a step forward, and put her
hands together, raising to Mr.. tacombes
face, with an appealing look, a pair Of eyes
of wonderful beauty.
"Oh sir, I'd like it so awful much" she
exclaimed, with an emphasis that left no room
for doubt of her sincerity.
"Well, we'll see about it" said Mr.. La.
combe with the air of one comforting favor.
"Of course you know, Posy-is that what
they call you THAT you have still great
deal to learn-a great deal; and you'll have
to take lessons from professor, and practise
very hard, so as to become finished dancer.
At present you can only gil an inferior po-
sition but in time you'll work your way up,
dare say"
Posy did not know what an inferior posi-
ton meant; but she comprehended that this
gentleman, to whom she looked up with much
awe and reverence, as one who held her fate
in his hands, was likely to grant her the great
privilege to which she had looked forward all
her little life, of appearing on the stage, and
that he was giving her some good advice res
pecting her future behavior as connected with
that privilege; so that she nodded her head
seriously, and said, "I'll work awful hard,
sir, and do all I'm bid," in the same earnest
tone as before.
Come round again this evening, contin-
ued Mr.. Lacombe, to the woman, "and I'll
give you definite answer about the girl. l
must speak to Professor Lightfoot first"
Now it was already quite settled in his
own mind that Posy would not only be &C.
cepted, but would constitute most valua
BILE addition to the ballet-corps of the theatre
of which he was manager; but he desired, in
the first place, to make it appear as though
he we're performing most magnanimous
deed, and in the second place, to depreciate
the child's actual skill and ability in order
that the chief credit of her aquirements might
devolve upon the dancing master in his en-
ploy, and shed additional lustre on his name.
He foresaw that the day was not far distant
when Posy would take prominent place on
the stage; her diminutive size and her rare
beauty combining with her real merit as
dancer, to make her an attractive star.
"Well Posy, guess it'll be all right" re-
marked her mother, as the two walked home
together, the childs heart still beating with
the excitement of her visit. "But can see
that genteman's goin' to be mighty particlar;
you'll have to take great pains to please him,
or you won't keep the place long"
"Do you think he'll be cross, mammy3"
asked Posy, with some apprehension in her
tone Will he beat me if I don't learn
fast?"
"Beat your The woman's eyes flashed,
and she involuntaily clenched her fist. "I'd
like to see him or anybody try that game -
No, Posy, don't you be scared of him. Any.