Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-01-12

could not have hit upon better device;
and can tell you that ballet dancers
were letter treated by tho swells for
sotne time after that"
And lsoai rai-~d ber.elf on her toes
and laughed
~ capital story. capitally told said
Rush; "and ! shall have caro- In future
not % chuck ballet girls under the chin
until find out II there are any athletes
In the family"
II don't believe you are that sort Of
man." said ieonL III ! did. would
not have stool here talking TO you. but
there is something about you that tells
me that you arc an honest young fellow
and have not been In tho city long
enough 10 ls spoiled by its wicked waya
Ali there Is my cue"
Rush was young enough not to feel al
togrther iiattercd by Leonis estimate of
him. but he took II as Il was meant lie
was very much pleased with tho girl;
she was very handsome. her manner was
~ attractive as IL was frank. and shs
danced like q sylph. lie made up his
mind that he would ask permission to
call upon her. and when she pirouetted
around his way again. he said. "Mlle.
feoni. since you have been Kind enough
to express such good opinion of my
character. perhaps you would not mind
proving what you say by allowing me 20
call upon you at your home" And he
smiled most winning smile.
Ieoni looked him straight I'm the eyes;
then she saidi III you would really care
to call a; my humble apartment you are
quite welcome; but Dirt give mo your
name. that may introduce you 20 my
mother; she Is here waiting for me. shs
come. for mo every night and We 90
home together"
my name IL Rush lIurlstonc. and I
am journalIst-frcsh from the country.
too. as you surmiscd. shall bc most
happy Ia meet tho mother Of - charm
Ing daughter. II you viii take mo 20
her" aid Rush. In his most convincing
manner.
This way. then, please"
Rush followed her across the back Of
the stage, and there In q remote corner
at q tall. thin Italian woman. with .
wrinkled. sallow skin. largo nose. sharp
pointed chin (ths very chin Lord He'll.
flower had touched 10 his cost. and coal
black eyes With heavy Ida They must
have tccn handsome eyes when she was
yOung-nO, - many years ago, either,
but Italian women fade rapidly.
Mother. want TO Introduce Mr. Rush
ilurlstone, from the country. who would
like 10 call on us some day" aid Leonl
The way she pronounced his name
amused Rush very much, but he was too
well brci 10 smile lie bowed politely
TO the mother and shook her hand 20
heartily that he knocked her knitting
out of her lap az she attempted TO rise.
II am very glad 10 meet you. signora
ieoni.- aid he. and ! hope for
bitter acquaintance with both you and
your daughter"
Thank you said .he. In English
morr broken than that % her daughter.
"Ilut my name 10 Celia
"Lsoni Is my stage name. you know"
aided the daughter. "You have 10
have q fancy name In the ballet. AZ
bone am LiSa Celia. here ] am Lconi
the only Lcoui.' as they say on the
bills-
While they were talking there were
loud cries for "Meester White" the Gas
man Nine LAnner wanted 10 try some
OF the oolorcd light effects and Mr.
White could not 10 found "lt's very
funny said the hack door man. IL
saw White standing out In the rain over
an hour ago and called him In. What's
more. I saw him come In; but | haven't
sesn him since. lie couldn't have gone
out, for haven't left the door Tor q mo-
ment.- Rush felt guilty lush steal up
u hi. checks. but as " would not help
matters for him toefplain that 10 Vas he'
and not the gas man. who hai be.n
called 10 enter tho academy. he saii
nothing. II being impossible 20 try the
colorcj light. without Mr.. White. Nine
IAnner aid that she would expect 10
meet them all the next morning at y.
leoni and her mother got ready for the
street. and Rush asked N be might not
accompany them to their door. as 10 was
rather late Tor unprotected women TO he
out
They smiled at the idea % the lateness
sf the hour; IL was then not more than
half past 10. and often they had gone
home alone as late as O'Clock. but II
Mr. Hurlstone was going In their direc-
ton they wolld be pleased 90 have his
company. They lived In East Tenth
street. which was quite convenient for
him The rain had ceased. and the moon
was shining brightly. a. the three stepp-d
ou, into Fourteenth street Rush thought
of the one he had seen coming through
that doorway the night before. as he
gave his arm 10 signora Celia The con.
yersation turned from the stars of heaven
to the stars of the stage. as they walked
down to East Tenth street. and when
they reached the modest house where
the ballet dancer and her mother lived,
signora Celia insisted that he should
come In.
I'VE always have little supper after
the theatre" said shc, "and II would
please us very much 10 have you eat
b,t of bread and drink n glass of wine
with us Giuseppe will lie glad To see
you. too; he sees very little company.
poor man.
leoni added her invitation. Rush
looked at her handsome eyes. glistening
In the moonlight, and accepted Sig
nora Cellas night key admitted them,
and they were soon In n comfortably
furnished room In the second story. A
table spread with a snowy cloth stood In
the middle of the foor. and. by the mel.
low light of an oil lamp. Rush saw that
Il was set for the late supper Of which
all people connected with the stage are
~ fond. and which Is really necessary 10
their health. as they can eat very little
before the performance. After the per.
Torrance L. over their minds are at rest.
and they can sit down quietly and enjoy
tolerably hearty neal A stick Of
French bread. q cut of that delightful
Italian sausage. salami. and q bottle Of
Chianti wine stood upon the table. Rush
noticed this at q glance, and at the same
time he saw large man. with Q face
showing signs Of great suffering. propped
up with pillows In 4 big chair by the fire.
Ieoni ran lightly across the room. kissed
l A. A.. A. - A A., A Ia