The Portland daily press., 1895-04-25

the yellow juice, from which ever and
anon he took self satisfied sip. He sell
dom gave lessons now, for his dauabter
had married, and his SON in-law carried
on the teaching admirably, knowing Ra-
meau 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 exueri-
ences.
just now, however, he was thinking
not of the past but Of the present. for he
had laid down new sheet in which there
was talk of a dancer at the opera who was
setting the town Wild dancer who had
conquered European capital after Euro
pean capital, and was now making play
goers mad with pleasure. The master sell
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 son and daughter.
carriage came slowly down the river
road, where carriages did not often come.
The master looked at it with languid sur
prise 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 car
rage door, and very splendid 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
muf1ed thunder of a knocking 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 the splendid
lady came in, bringing blaze of color
into the quiet rooni.- The master bowed,
but the lady ran rapidly across the room,
and before he was we'll aware Of 1t she had
kissed him on both cheeks. He seemed to
be enveloped in ali atmosphere of delicate,
haunting perfume as she caressed him.
Then she let him go and fell back a little
way, looking at him and laughing. He
had confused sense that she was dressed
in rare brocade that gIowed with crimson
and orange, and her cloak was brightly
blue. She was not very handsome perhaps,
but she looked handsome in her rich habit
and tha 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.
va w dOu hAOW lu0, bd0 b1lQ L
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 some
thing about the honor in tone that i'm
piled question.
''You don't remember 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 in
capable.
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 denial;
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 something about her manner
which was quite irresistible. So he prom
ised and the shining vision vanished, leav-
ing behind it in his mind tumble of col
or and jewels and perfumes and divine
eyes and a divine laugh. He watched the
coach drive of from the window, and the
dancer leaned out of the window and
waved her hand to him merrily till she
was out of sight.
That evening the old dancing master sat
in the opera house in the noblest boz 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. It was marvellous
The dancers body Was plastic, supple, ex-
quisite. She danced a strange dance, in
which she did wonders with long silken
scarf, moving hithas ana thither like some
figure from Greoian vase, from Pom
peiian wall. When 1T ended, and the
house ragged for moro, she did Spanish
dance, in which, to the clicking Of her
castanets, she expressed, hardly, tri-
umphantly, all TIE passion Of the south
When it was over, the house rained flow
ers upon the stage, and a Thousand hands
Numbered an applause that brought the
woman again and again befors the curtain.
When 1t was over servant Of the thea
ter came to the box to beg that the mas
ter would come to the dancers dressing
ROOM He babe his children 60 home and
followed the messenger behind the scenes
to the dancer's room.
A crowd Of men wegs waiting out
side it, He alone was admitted She was
changing her dress behind the screen, but
soon came out again, clasped him by tho
hand, kissed him on both cheeks and
thanked him for coming. Then she talked
volubly of all the places she had seen and
showed him trophies Of her triumphs-
wreaths of gold, wreaths of silver and
rare jowels-and finally she asked him If
he would come out to SUPPER With her and
some friends, and she mentioned some
great names The old man declined with
his politest bow and would have with
drawn, but she insisted upon his staying
and seeing her to her coach. So presently
the impatient young gentlemen and the
impatient old gentlemen who were wait
ing outside had the surprise of seeing their
idol come out in all her splendor leaning
on the arm Of little gentleman in black
who showed traces of snuff on the ruffie
of his shirt.
Through the crowd there the master es-