Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-05-18

never make dancer"
I There was tirmneSS in his voice
which showed that his decision was
final The girl made no further at
tempt 10 contest the decree. Ii was
like the Judgment of the gods; abSo.
lute, irrevocahle. She turned silently
and went out of the room very quietly.
But when the door closed behind her
the strained SenSibilities of the master
could hear the stealthy Sobbing. which
she tried to Stitle as she slipped down
stairs, ana into the gaunt hall He
heard her close the door, and for one
moment he was tempted to so to the
window and call her back Better
sooner than later" he said to himself.
she could never make a dancer"
Then he sat down TO the hlrpiSchOrd
and played over gavottc OF Iully's
until he had played the plain, awkward
girl out of his memory.
I 1t was summer, and very warm. The
master sat as his window in the same
long lilac room, 1t was very pleasant
/ TO sit there and watch the river and
1 the wineries and blrges. and to re
/ fleet in its prosperous, peaceful even
ing upon the events of Il painStaking
Succs sSful life. The master did not
Smoke-it was a custom he abumiuated
but there was 4 flask of white wine
near to his hand and a glass half full
OF the yellow juice, from which ever
and anon he took Self-satished sip.
He seldom gave lessons now, for his
daughter had married, and his son-in-
law carried on the teaching admirably,
knowing Rameau almost as we'll 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 thinking
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, dancer who had conquered
European capital after European capt.
tai, 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 a
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.
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 4
got down and opened the carriage /
door and very splendid lady got OUT 1
The footman pushed back the iron
"a = ha arSto nj
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 mufied thunder OF
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 splen-
did lady came in, bringing a blaze OF
color into the quiet room The mas
ter bowed, but the lady ran rapidly
across the room, and before he was
aware of it she had kissed him on
both cheeks. He seemed to be envel-
oped in an atmosphere Of delicate,
perfume as she caressed him.
Then she let him go and fell back a
little way, lOOA.ng at him and laugh
Ing. He had confused sense that she
was dressed in rare brOcade that glow
ed with crimson and orange and that
her cloak was brightly blue. She was
not very handsome. perhaps, but she
looked handsome in her rich habit, and
the 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. II |
then she gave him the name {
If the dancer who had become the talk {
If the town. I
The master took pinch Of snuf and 2
bowed again, while he murrnured some
hing about the honor in a tone that
implied a question.
You don't remember me?" she said I
again. "Ah, l remember You" and
The mentioned this time another name
the name Of a little girl whom he |
lad sent away from his class because /
he was so incapable. q
The man sought in his memory over :
. space Of nearly ten years; then he l
bowed again and again !
oOk snuff.
The splendid lady would take no y
tuldlg liz must ltfuS tOlllt lIiuL very
vening and see his old pupil dance at r
he opera. She had got the noblpSt box |,
n the house for him He must and v
hOuld come. There was something
bout her manner which was quite r. r.
SO he promised and the j
Inning vision vanished leaving be- C
ind it in his mind a tumble Of color p
nd jewels and perfumes and divine e
yes and a divine laugh. He watched II
he coach drive Off from the window, G
nd the dancer leaned out OF the win h
ow and waved her hand to him merri- u
z till she was out of sight II
That evening the old dancing master u
ut in the opera house in the noblest !
OK in the theater. He sat between ',
is sOn-in-law and his daughter, with y
is eyes fixed upon the stage. The - =,
reat theater was packed. and when -
length the time came for the ballet r.
nd the curtain drawing up revealed n
10 adored dancer the house rayed at =,
or Only the master in his sober