The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-01-21
HER LAST DANCE.

X She was not beauty, perhaps, but
she was assuredly fascinating butter
ny Of creature; even her women
friends admitted that. And though
seven-and-twenty, and the mother of
= girl of seven. She still retained SO
much of virginia. expression and con-
tour that imagination was 10th to ac-
lcept the fact of matronhood. One felt,
Indeed, that if the "Ewige Weiblich,"
'changefully changeless, radiantly soul
satisfying, were to be personified, here
was the model. Gracious and graceful,
gentle and joyous, she possessed
talents innumerable, az cultivated to
certain degrec-to n degree that had
quite sufiiced for her own enjoyment and
the editication of host of admiring
and not too exacting friends, who
thought her delightful prodigy and
spoiled her accordingly.
But, now, cudgel the stunned brain
as she would, 80 real capability 'of
marketable value" as it had been so
bluntly put to her even in these early
hours of miscry--Cousin Selma always
put things bit bluntly, she felt with
little shiver Of annoyance-no resource
could she discover to stand her in good
stead in the dreaded day that had come
at last. The bolt had fallen that morn
ing, and, with numb, folded hands and
dry, terrOr-tilled eyes, she sat in the
darkest corner of her gay little draw
ing-room. beneath the ghastly chamber
whence were soon to be borne the earth
ly remains of her husband.
What was she to do? How was she to
procure, not the luxuries without which
she scarce imagined her child could
exist, but the bare necessities of life?
Every piece of furniture in the house
was mortgaged to it's full value, and
her last jewel had gone to pay the rent.
Thank heaven, they would have this
haven for some time to come. She was
in debt TO butcher and baker, and she
had not had new pair of gloves for
months Shillings had become the basis
of expenditure as guineas had been
hitherto.
In the morning sympathizing friends
came to support and assist her through
the trying ordeal. All passed like
dream. 'Tout passe, tout casse," she
said, over and over, but my heart is
strong"
When, a month later, she sat with
Cousin Selma in the same room, in the
same chair, listening again to the gusty
rain as it beat against the windows, it
was to her as if no appreciable time had
interviewed Dreamily she took up the
thread of her thoughts where she had
dropped it that sad night, and the
strange conceit came back to her.
Women, less brilliant but stolid and
plodding, were ensconced in journals
where she had disdained even to allow
her verses to appear. With voices in no
way comparable to hers, she saw others
succeed; while she, who sang like
bird-but like a bird. too, only when in
spired-could make no impression.
And so, lowered as she was, she was
poorer and more helpless than the
humblest woman who could conscien-
tiously knit a pair of stockings or em-
broider teacloth.
The pretty face seemed pinched and
weary; two deep lines began to nclosc
she said, to Cousin Selma.
Is she turned from the mirror, where |
she was trying to change the express
sion of those quivering lips, that even at
the moment curved upwards, a Cupid's
DOW, at the quaint conceit.
More surely than ever she knew she
could ask no favors, but must put her
IL ~
% do when all else failed? To dance on
bhe stage! Why not? She could dance:
III her life she had loved to dance In
ler greatest JOY she had ever found full
,st expression in dancing to her own re-
1ections before the long mirror in her
A hundred times her darling
lad been lulled to sleep, eased of her
pain by the dancing of her pretty
Once. with her husband, she
had seen a famous actress-a woman
,haste as herself--dance so gracefully,
ret with an abandone SO perfect as to
,aptivate an audience accustomed to ex-
1ibitions from which she had turned
n loathing-to his annoyance, since
his taste grew yearly less refined. Even
And how much even then was implied
hat she should say, turning to him:
THAT / could do, am certain"
"May you never need" he had an
wered, fervently. For he loved her and
vas proud of her, though his paths in /
ife were devious, though he would not
ollow her. 1t all came back to her vivid
y-the gay scene, the eager faces. the
nurmur of delight, the applause that
'ose again and again, and could not be
tayed. Her heart beat fast: yes, she
would dance. 1t might cost her the few
friends she still possessed, but as long
IS she helped herself she could maintain
Ter pride.
Next day began a tiresome round of
interviews with impatient, incredulous
'r impertinent managers, with a heart
'rOysinU daily heavier and a braip