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

Against the lilac walls of the room
the white dresses of the girls made
blots of light. The shape of their
faces, the color of their hair seemed to
become indistinct to vanishing point
in the pale gloom of the place. Beyond
the fact that they were all dressed in
white they seemed to have no exist
encc; no idea of individuality, OF per-
sonality, associated itself with those
faint masses of huelcss garments.
They were like SO many white flowers
held up against piece of purple paper
and to the ordinary beboldcr one
flower differeth not from another in
glory.
The old dancing master walked slow
ly up and down the room surveying
the girls He held his kit and bow ten
derby under his left arm, pressed
1udiciously to his side. With his right
hand he alternately strolted and
twealSed ut his chin, which was always
sign that the teacher was perpleXed.
Up and down the long room the mas
ter paced, visibly perturbed. Each
time that he came to one of the two
long windows that lit the room he
paused and looked out through the
naked branches of the plane tree ut
the river, as if he hoped to get some
encouragement from its ccnselcss flow.
And each time he turned away from
the river view with the same look of
disappointment upon his smooth, neat,
elderly face. The great clock mt the
other end of the room-the clock that
had counted off SO many lessons
seemed all of sudden to tick with un
wonted loudness, rs if 1t, like the girls,
were impatient for the master to stop
his promenade and say or do some
thing.
Perhaps the appeal of the clock had
its effect. Perhaps in the stiffness the
muster could catch family the sound
of all those girlish hearts futtering
timidly together. He stopped for an
instant and looked at the long line of
expectant faces.
Young ladies, you can 60"
Then as the girls, relieved from their
suspense, moved eagerly forward to
the adjoining room, waere their be-
longings lay, the professor reached
out his thin, fine white hand and
touched one of the girls upon the
shoulder.
Come back" he snid, II want to
speak with YOU"
The girl looked up in his face with O
| little start. Then she went into the
anteroom with the rest
When she returned in her everyday
dress, with her hat and tippet on and
her dancing shoes neatly put away in
the reticule that hung on her mittened
arm, the master was standing at the
window again, drumming nervously on
| the pane. He had put his kit and bow
down on the gilded table between the
two windows, the gilded table that al
ways seemed to the girl the emblem OF
ineffable luxury and repose.
The mG9tcr heard her come in, but
for moment he did not turn, and the
girl stood watching him, her pale,
plainish face paler than ever with ex-
| pcctation, and her dark eyes shining
in the twilight The master turned
and walked abruptly up to her.
"You will never make dancer" he
said.
The girl looked back ut him with an
expression on her face as if he had
struck her. lie saw the expressi on
and spoke quickly and sharply to hide
his pity.
1T is no use for you to come here
any more," he said. "You will never
make dancer"
but l must" the girl answered
with tears in her eyes, while her right
hand pulled nervously ut the fingers OF
her left.
Never, never, never!" he insisted
Its no use dcceiving yourself, and L
look you, | cannot deceive myself
Please do not come here any more"
"Oh, but sir" the girl lifted he
.laspcd hands toward him. He shool
ais head angrily.
Il know what l know, and sa!
what know. ] cannot have you herr
any more. Could you ever do the Pa
lie Zephir?' Never. Can you do th,
Fouette' or the 'Dallonc? Bah! Yol
vill never know tho difference betwecI
coup and 'jctte.' Conway, please
Te have finished. You will ncve
nalrc a dancer"
There was frmness in his voic
yhich showed that his decision wa
inal. The girl made no further at
cmpt to contest the decree. 1t wa
like the Judgment OF the gods; absc
lute, irrevocublc. She turned silently
md went out of the room very quietly
But when the door closed behind he
,he strained scnsibilities of the maste
,ould hear the stcalthy sobbing, whic
he tried to stiile as she slipped dowr
,tairs and into the gaunt hall. Ii
heard her close the door, and for on
moment nc was tempted to go to til
Window and call her back But h
hook his head. Better sooner tina
later" he said to himself. "She coul
( never make a dancer" Then he sa
| down to the harpsichord and playc
over gavotte OF Lully's until he ha
, played the plain, awkward girl out {
his memory.
1t was summer, and very warm. Til
master sat at his window In the san
long lilac-room. 1t was very pleasar