San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-31

1
there was a flask of white wine near to
his hand, and a glass half-full of the
yellow Juice. from which ever and
anon he took a self-satished sip. He
seldom gave lessons now, for his daugh-
ter had married, and his son-in-law
carried on the teaching admirably,
knowing Rameau almost as well as the
old teacher, whom he adored. But the
master liked to sit in the dancing-room
of an afternoon after dinner, and
dream over old experiences.
Just now, however. he was think
ing, not of the past, but of the present;
for he had laid down a news sheet in
which there was talk of a dancer at
| the opera who was setting the town
wild. a dancer who had conquered
European capital after European cap
ital, and was now making playgoers
mad with pleasure. The master sci.
dom went to the playhouse now, he
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 a treat for his SOD
and daughter.
A carriage came slowly down the
river road, where carriages did not
often come. The master looked at it with
languid surprise and lifted his glass
to his lips. But it stopped at his own
door, and he set the glass down again
in surprise. A gilded footman got
down and opened the carriage door and
very beautiful lady got out. The
footman pushed back the iron gateway
of the little front garden and the
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 muff1ed thunder of 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
splendid lady came in, bringing a
blaze of color into the quiet room.
The master bowed, but the lady ran
rapidly across the room, and before he
was we'll aware of it she had kissed
him on both cheeks. lie seemed to be
enveloped in an atmosphere of del
icate, haunted perfume as she caressed
him. Then she let him go, and fell
back a little, looking at him and
laughing. He had a 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 very uhandsome, 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. 81
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 a tone
that implied question.
You don't remember me?" she said
again. "Ah, l 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
a space of nearly ten years; then he re-
membered, bowed again, and again
took snuff.
The splendid lady would take no de-
NAL; 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 he 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 strange dance,
in which she did wonders with long
silkcn scarf, moving hither and thither
like some figure from Grecian vase,
from Pompeiian wall When it ended,
and the house ragged for more, she did
Spanish dance, in which, to the click
ing of her castagnettes she EXPRESSED.