The morning call., 1891-01-28
THE PEARL OF CORDOVA,

Among the palms and the grapes and roses
she had passed the transitory period from
infancy to youth, and ere the corrugated
epoch CT waiting childhood was passed she
had danced-fguratiyely and practically
into public favor on the tips of her dainty,
pink toes. The wine of grapes and roses
had mingled with her blood, and gave ear
nest of an Intoxicating womanhood Inc
soft winds of her native valley stole VIII
kindly intent over the wild-fower beauty,
warming and caressing her into aperleclion
of grace and loneliness. Dancing WIN inc
love Of life and buoy ant youth nestlinG close
TO her breast and the love OF suptier soll
peryading her nature, 1t Is lltte wohuel
that Cordoya lauded her genius I'LL" 0n4iS
tened her its pearl
1t was the grand theater night and Car
menia was TO dance her farewell. In the
first flush of glorious womanhood her
genius aud beauty eclipsed the prophecy of
earlier years. The city was ablaze with
light and noisy with the chaff and banter Of
pleasure-loving populace. Long before
the curtain was rung up the vast theater
was a swaying sea of fans and handker-
chiefs aud humanity. A hum of expectancy
deepened the color on the withered cheek OF
many a grande dame in laces and rare
jewels, who watched with the eagerness OF
long-vanished youth for the first strains
of the Hungarian dance. Dark-eyed senoritas
forgot their flirtations in an expectation
that found voice in murmur OF approval
as the orchestra took up the Hungarian air,
swelling to a storm of welcome as Carmenia,
appearing upon the now exposed stage, ac-
knowledged to right and left her royal well
COME And then she danced; not the arts
tic piroutte, artificial and graceful, of the
nimble French danseuse; no simpering and
courtesying down the length of the stage in
suggestive attire; no suggestion of coarse
exposure. A skirt of satin reached to the
slender ankles; satin slippers, hish-heeled
and dainty. cased her feet There was a
dearth of weighing on iron toes. Her move
ments had been fettered by no school {;
genius alone had stamped her success. She
swayed and marched, whirled and swayed
again, with the 1.-the. panther or ace of her
people. Backward and forward, right and
left, her hands raised high above her head,
the music taking up the weirdest airs. 1t
was the flaming wind blown sway of a
passion bud-the efferyescence of perfec-
ton of the ballet.
The weird hungarian music tnrobbed in
waiing cadence, dying in softest means in
the uttermost galleries. The dance grew
faster, bursting at length into a divine
chaos Of whirlIng, pirOuetting, pauSing;
twas tile desert blood leaping in love and
Joy and success, and, perhaps, far away a
suggestion of free, happy Zingari life, with
the passion, fire and romance finding vent
IN Wild potion, gathering inspiration from
the click of the eaStanetS. Little wonder
that CordUva laid homage at lier feet, and
that round upon round of applause followed
her as triumphant, GREATNESS, happy, she
mad frRt rl1a ha i,
loaded upon her.
The music drilted out upon the well-nigh
deserted strerts-down the palm crowded
vista and wandered family among the mar
BILE and jasper pillars of the cathedral, los
Ing Itself ever and anon in the dim balloon
les, then breaking forth anew in a breath
OF sweetness. In the shelter of the mosque
there were few to drink in the subtle, plead
ing harmonies. The cathedral was deserted
save as some chance passer-by paused to
admire the wonderfully carved baluStradeS,
glintng in the moonlight. One whose dress
Oetokened lineage far removed from the
pleblan at his elbow stopped in the shelter
6hy n6 ST ffft to aEiHs in tbs Eonde Ft!I ha
they were waited through the vistas. soOth-
ing to quiet an angry spirit. He listened to
the minor strain, then suddenly turned from
the pillars to the timly-lighted street.
"NOnsenSep he murnluTed. "a senseless
QUARREL l am a fool TO lose my temper
over such a trife. Carmenia is too price
less to risk at a single toss" He had
reached the stage door of the theater,
through which he hurried without molesta-
tioQ. Advancing rapidly along the passage
way he emerged in a waiting-roOm. An at
tendant stepped forward,
Pardon, sehor."
The stranger acknowledged the salutation
by an inclination OF the head, disclosing on
the nonce the badge Of an attache of the
French legation.
Further attamnt Mt oopvarso tinD ro- fms
trated by the thunderous applause from the
audience-an instant later Carmenia stepped
from the stage and appeared at the door of
the outer room. Her maid enveloped the
shoulders in soft clinging wrap of trmine
and the danSeuse turned toward her dress
ing-room. "Carmena."
She turned abruptly at the softly faltered
name-the Joyous triumphant face taking on
look OF scorn as she saw Louis de Etienne
and acknowledged the saIutation.
Carmenia, give me but five minutes to ex-
plain here, your dressing-rooin, where you
VIII, only grant my request"
g As you please" she rejoined and moved
toward her dressing-room.
Well, she queried, turning full upon
De Eticnue as the door closed a touch of
acerbity in her voice.
Forgive me. CGrmenIa. Twas unjust and
have been wretched with grief because OF
our quarrel. | was jealous, dear, of your
popularity; L wanted you to myself. Can
you pardon me, Carmenia?"
He attempted to take her hand, but She
Withdrew step backward. This was dis.
couragng beginning for one so contritely
minded, but he went on hurriedy.
Is not my love more to you, Carmenia,
than the piaudits of gaping audience
GU nave sald you loved me truly and but
wait your pleasure to make me the bappiest
OF men. crave your forgiveness, sweet
heart. Come, kiss"
lie advanced smiling, but Carmenia
turned away. 1t would have taken n far
less loving nature than hers to have with
stood the eloquent pleading of word and
manner, but sheathed under the artless love
she had. well hidden, the strictly feminine
propensity for feline torture. 'Ah." she
SAID coldly, Il thought we bad done with
such scenes. l made sad mistake in prom
, Sn,i, 10 marry man whose JEALOUS anger
sm uuip oIt ~ SO mueh OF shadow into the
que was shocked at the falsity of her W
terance, Tor deep down in her heart was en-
genqered the hope of reconciliation
lou near, she SAID; friends demand
admittance. have no more time at NV dis
posal." "' U''
The c0quette in her nature had CONQUERED
She had expected brief, eloquent pleading
and was prepared for final Yielding, but in
the firm, set features she read a negation of
her hopes.
AS you will, he responded. IN Paris
VIII find an easy solace. Au revoir"
Friends crowded into the apartment.
showering congratulations upon Carmenia.
In the excitement of her triumph De Etienne
vanished from her thoughts. and when she
bethought herself aud turned TO bestow the
weIl-won kiss he had disappeared.
An, well" she unused. The will be peni-
tent tomorrow"
But the morning dawned and faded to
tswllighf, and the darker hours of the night
I Eti Carmenia hurrying to Italy. De
Gluenne had not called-had left no sign,
P I5e had been true to his word-had gone to
III.
,,, tVa a.. ln the days when her genius was
put beginning to kindle popular Enthusiasts "%9
ane "0td had conjured up to Carmenia's
mental vision the success She meant tn wis
ere she lett the stage forever. In Italy She
unused, she would make her final triumnbW
would dance as never danseuse had dnna
before. The people would grow frantic over
her genius. She would dance before the
royal coterie and-yes, perhaps they would
strike medal for her. But all through III q
night and day that she was travelling so re-
sistlessly forward to the goal of her ambi-
ton other thoughts swan in her brain.