Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-10-28

was old and liked his ease, but vague
fancy came into his mind that he
would go to the opera and see this
pearl. 1t would be treat for his son
and daughter.
A carriage came slowly down the
river road, where carriages did not
often come. The master looked ut it with
lnnguid surprise and lifted his glass
to his lips. But it stoppedat his own
door, and he set the glass down again
in surprise. A gilded footman got
down and opened the carriage door and
q very beautiful lady got out. The
footman pushed back the iron gateway
of the little front garden and tho
splendid lady came in, waved her hand
and laughed, and then she ran up the
steps and out of his sight, and he could
hear the muflled thunder of a knock
ing at the door.
He had scarcely risen to his feet,
slowly trying to recall the face that
had just laughed at him, when the
door of the dancing-room opened and a
splendid lady came in, bringing q
blaze of color into the quiet room.
The master bowed, but the lady ran
rapidly across the room, and before he
was well aware of it she had kissed
him on both checks. lie seemed to be
enveloped in an atmosphere of del
icate, haunted perfume as she cnressed
him. Then she let him go, and fell
back a little, looking at him and
laughing. He had confused sense
that she was dressed in rare brocades
that glowed with crimson and orange,
and that her cloak was brightly blue.
She was not eryuhandsome, perhaps,
but she looked handsome in her rich
habit and many jewels on her fingers
and throat. Her great, dark eyes
danced with mischief, and as she
nodded her head the feathers in her
hat danced also.
You do not know me-" she said. "I
am" and then she gave him the name
of the dancer who had become the
talk of the town.
The master took pinch of snuff and
bowed again, while he murmured
something about the honor in tone
that implied a question.
You don't remem Der me?" she said
again. "Ah, remember you," and she
mentioned this time another name
the name of little girl whom he had
sent away from his class because she
was so incapable,
The man sought in his memory over
space of nearly ten years; then he re-
mernbcred, bowed again, and again
took snuff.
The splendid lady would take no de-
nial; he must needs come that very
evening and see his old pupil dance at
the opera. She had got the noblest
box in the house for him. He must
and should come. There was some
thing about her manner which was
quite irresistible. So ne promised and
the shining vision vanished, leaving
behind it in his mind a tumble of color
and jewels and perfumes and divine
eyes and divine laugh. He watched
the coach drive off from the window,
and the dancer leaned out of the win
dow and waved her hand to him mer-
rily till she was out of sight.
That evening the old dancing-master
sat in the opera house in the noblest
box in the theater. He sat between
his son-in-law and his daughter, with
his eyes fixed upon the stage. The
great theater was packed, and when at
length the time came for the ballet
and the curtain drawing up revealed
the adored dancer, the house raved at
her. Only the master, in his sober
black and white, sat with his hands
folded on the front of the box and
waited.
The dance began. 1t was marvellous.
The dancers body was plastic, supple,
exquisite. She danced q strange dance,
in which she did wonders with long
sill;en scarf, moving hither and thither
like some figure from u Grecian vuse
from Pompeiian wall. When it ended
and the house ragged for more, she did
Spanish dance, in which, to the click,
ing OF her castagncttes, she expressed
hurriedly, triurnphantly, all the pas
sion of the south. When it was ovcl
tho house rained flowers upon the
stage, and n thousand hands thunderc6
an applause that brought the woman
again and again before the curtain.
Whea it was over a servant of the
thcater came to the box to beg thai
the master would come to the dancers
4. drcssing-room. He bade his children
go liorne and followed the messenEc
behind the scenes to the dancers rosm
A crowd of men were waiting outside
it. lie alone WAS admitted. She wa.
changing her dress behind the screen
but soon came out again, clasped hin
by the hand, kissed him on boil
cheeks and thanked him for coming
Then she talked volubly CT all tn,
places she had seen, and showed hin
trophies OF her triumphs, wreaths O
gold, wreaths of silver and rare jewels
and finally she asked him if he woul'
come out to supper with her and som
friends, and she mentioned some grea
names, The old man declined with hi
polite bow, and would have withdrawn
but she insisted upon his staying an
seeing her to her coach. So PRESENT.
the impatient young men and the i'm
patient old men waiting outside ha
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