The times., 1898-06-12
The Tale of n Motive.

There is something inspiring in the Can
Can. Last night the band played it over
and over again with unusual zest. and the
jewellers kept on dancing with sparkling
eyes and cheeks that glowed for one brief
hour through the depth of paint that COW
cred them One of the women, a tri1e
more drunken than the rest fell fainting
into a chair after the first pause but
sprang 10 her feet like child when she
heard the opening bars of the second part.
There is much that is inspiring about the
Can-Can-it is the national hymn OF
some hearts.
Three blocks away from the hall in
which the festival was given there is
refuge for women who wish 10 reform
II is cheerless little place, in which vir-
tue is its own and only reward. But be-
meath its roof are sheltered many 10
whom its very quiet is sacred and whose
only protection is its sanctity. The Can
Can drifted through the open windows of
the ballroom and hOated down the SOL
emn street until it reached the refuge and
tainted the atmosphere within
1t reused a woman who was sleeping on
the top floor. At first its strains seemed
only natural and she awOke without a
start but then she remembered and fell
back again after a while its rhythm be
gan stealing into her mind and with it
came the taint that was poisoning the
air The listener remembered every note
and knew each Of the gestures that ac-
companied il. Instinctiyely she sat up in
bed and kept time 10 the inyigoratinS
counts with her hand and with the eyes
that We're just beginning 10 live again.
But her thoughts We're far away and the
flush on her cheeks did not come from
prayer
over in the ballroom people were dane
ing as she had danced there once They
We're enjoying, il only for the night. the
pleasure that she had fOrsaken- Within
the broad confines OF the hall lights were
blazing and music was Dlayiuz-the Can
Can Men whose immaculate dress had
long since become uutidy and women
whose limbs moved and chests heaved
unconfined were clinging 10 each other
IN passionate eagerneSS. painting anf
laughing, whirling and swinging. singing
and shouting in the wild drunken ex-
uDerance OF their mirth. To them the
morrow was no more than yesterday. and
they had no worry If only because they
had no care. Faces that would be sal0w
and worn when the sun rose were happy
and youthful enough now. and thoughts
that might bring bitter tears at other
times were pOwerIess at last
The listener wiped her damp face with
the palm of her hand, and threw her head
back defiantIy. a year OF atOnement had
1
be back again in the scenes OF feverfsh
gaiety that were being repeated only three
blocks away. With all the force of her
viii she tried TO remember the results that
sin mad brought to her, but there was no
room for them in her brain while the Can
Can was playing And yet il was strug-
gle. Her face became hot and her eyes
dry under the ordeal. her fingers grew
rigid and her mouth twitched Almost
mechanically she stepped from the bed
and began dressing And then the music
stopped.
For a moment the woman listened eag-
erly and then she breaJhed a sigh OF re-
lief On a table few feet away lay a
! book of prayers. and she opened this in
impatient haste She was reading it when
! the orchestra in the dance han began
playing again. Then she stopped an in
Stant, but she did not close the
book Her eyes were still riv-
eted on its bold, black type. but her mind
was divided between the gay room where
the festival was taking place and the bare
little apartment she occupied It was a
rare treat for her 10 leave that room un-
less it were TO be exhibited to the visitors
who were continually coming The wO-
man had all a wOman's love for Eaudiness
and brilliancy. and the fight was too much
She had read a page without knowing it
Three blocks away her Old-time friends
were awaiting her and the band was play
iHg-the Can-Can.
Il was all the work of a moment. Those
who were awake below heard the sound
of a heavy volume falling and the few
cred pacing Of the inmate above The
FORTRESS saw a white figure steal out OF
the hall door and passing policeman
looked askance at someone who fitted
by him like a ghost. But there was re-
newed pleasure in the ballroom when
few moments later. the door opened and
woman with flashing eyes and Unkempt
hair walked into the middle of the room
and took up the dance Her motive had
come and nature had outdOne reform.