The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-20

verified face. and just how she managed to
make one big toe support her quite as COM
fortably as two feet fatty on the ground.
More than this, I wanted ID know the
mystery of her changeless snlile-if she
were really as happy when she danced as
she seemed TO be.
Waiting For Mile. Ramon.
The stage entrance was gloomy place
enough. for the day was not pleasant-in
fact baby cyclone was drifting over New
York.
How long viii Mile. Ramon be, do you
thinkg'' I asked the Anticipated doorkeep-
er. who was interviewing a sandwich and
ignoring me completely.
YEN hear her when she comes, " he
rnunched. There amt much doubt OF
that"
'sYeu don't think she could have gone
out the other way" inquired, as the
place was becoming urOearable for two
Teasons-the brick wall was so damp 1
couldn't lean against il, and the old man
was making very irritating sounds IN his
endeavor to swallow the sandwich at a
gulp.
''Nopel' was his reply, and I didn't
shake him for obvious reasons, although L
felt very much like it.
Suddenly a shrill voice rent the air. It
came from the shadow at the end of the
long passage, beyond which lay q hint of
.dismantled scenery and flicker Of lime
2ight.
''Oh, Jet me go back and see her on the
stagep' 1 suggested.
''Nope!''
Just then, to calm my indignation, 1
saw an alert little figure appear side by
side with a big woman
Non, nonI' mademoiselle was saying.
ST won't spik to 'er-I hate 'er-ole cat!
She spoil my dance twice. Non! Spitfirer"
1t did not need these words to tell me
that the ballet dancer was in rage, and
my heart sank, but when l presented my
card of introduction and stated my reasons
dor wishing to see her the smile ! had no
biced on the stage came spasmodically to
her lips and ''staid put" as our New
England cousins say. Then knew that
1t was false-as false as the color on her
thin little cheek, as false as the color on
her hair-for, to my amazement now that
! saw 1.-THE pretty Ramon" in the gray
light of that unreasonable spring day, she
was undeniably old and undeniably plain
Ramon's Real Opinion.
IT tell you wat TO do, she exclaimed,
trippingly, in her fiuty voice. "Eef you
want to see the dance taught-yess-come
with me-cOme-come. My-w' at'you call
FER in my-niece-yes-she ees
learning at a ballet school! We go there on
nv way home-snd you see all!''
Before we got out of the car at the door
of public hall in one of the dirtiest streets
of or town l had learned good deal OF
1.-The little Ramon's" life. She hated the
stage She hated dancing. She hated
she loved fat people. She would never
have been dancer if she could have helped
1t, and she was very wesry-excessively
weary-supporting her husband out of her
Earnings, large though they were.
So much for fancy! l had been think
Ing of her all during the play asa child
Bur she was an honest little soul although
disapPointment-this pretty little Ra-
mon. - | had heard men call her.
''Thees way-up two fightsl" she re-
marked in her shrilly voice as we entered
the battered doorway of that very shady
looking place
A concert was in progress on the first
floor, and l heard stentorian German
voice singing in a way that seemed a good
Imitation Of = ponderoUs coffee mill. Up
the dirty stairs we went and then heard
the soft plunking of a solitary banjo, while
p voice came t. our ears: Tires bieni
Bien,"
'Eet ees he-oet ees monsieur nodded
the dancer oonfdingly. "Ah, he ees superb
tres gentilr'
She knocked at the door as she stood
there poised in a fairylike attitude, and
soon ii was swung back on its hinges
\ pretty scene and very odd one met
my eyes. The room was situated in wing
of the building, and though not high up
was immediately under the roof, and
through an uncurtained skylight the chill
gray Of the dying day stole in. 1t shone
on the slender. baldheaded dancing mas
ter-a Gallo Turveydrop. if ever there
was one-it struck CLEANS from the bare,
nicely polished windows, CLEANS from the
brass rod running at elbow height all
around the big square room, CLEANS from
the highly wGxed floor, and fingered with
very telling effect upon dozen girls who
rested against this rod in various graceful
poses
The French Teacher.
They were in the regulation ballet cos
trlne, except that the tights We're lacking.
Instead OF these they wore Turkish trou-
sers TO the knee, under the gauzy skirts,
and stockings. One was in cream color
and red: another. very blond. was entire
1y in blsck: another in pure white. There
Yves something about them remindful Of
group or eTotics in conservatory as
they clustered in the shadow, their bright
eyes fastened on the door
But oh dear r-a- how that Frenchmsn
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