The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-25
THE CHRISTMAS EVE DANCE.
BY JOHN FREDERICK oEis.


didn't keep a move on" He had Just come
in from the station. having taken the train
at Oconoviile. 100 cold to take the horse
out. although the sleighing Is great. came
up In the big sleigh from the station with
the Anderson boys-goin' to stay there all
night" he said
with Mrs. Warner and her son, they sat
down to supper They were lovers. and they
were very happy. Somehow they had come
to an understanding as they rode home
from Mr. Nittach's that day.
As they were putting on their wraps after
supper, Judith conilded to William the fears
that beset her all that day. Caroline Il
seemed. had made good her threat to have
Tom at the party. 9TH only cost two dol
lars to hire him." she told the girls. and she
would pay that out of her own pocket 30
Tom had been hired. Judith had remon-
strated with Caroline. and with the rest OF
the girls. but to no purpose. She had had
her way about Mr., Nittach, they said, ana
now It was no harm to hire Tom also. Be-
sides they argued, II will rive Mr.. Nittach
chance to rest. Judith could say no
more then, but to william she now re-
marked:
II suppose It IL all right, but I cannot for
the life OF me get out OF my mind that Car
oline wants to shut out Mr.. Nittach alto
gether. She doesn't like him anyway, be-
cause he said he could teach her the violin
no moro. She was too stupid And ever
since the day that the girls decided to have
him play at the party against her wishes
she has been saying unkind things about
him. Even throws up his courtship Of
mamma. OF course that was funny In a
way. hut II was pathetic, too. Poor Mr..
Nittach, he always sends mamma wine or
flowers, but he never comes to the house"
They walked over to the school build
&c. T. - - M HnIA avaA
William called attention TO the effect of the
moon upon the memorial stones in the
churchyard. II can see papa's," said Ju-
dith, and she stood silent for moment.
Caroline met them as they entered the
door.
''Tm 80 glad you've come early" she
gushed. you're Just in time to help hang
the greens around the lemonade well.
We've worked awfully hard all the after
noon. hope you brought the chocolate
cakes. Jude"
Eyes, took all afternoon to bake them.
so couldn't get over to help
Couple after couple came In. Tom Al
den came along, his violin under his great
coat. He was only boy Of 1s. but he
prided himself upon his playing. Mr.. Nit
tach had given him his first lessons. and
later he had studied at a second-class "con-
servatory'' In Chicago. Caroline wanted to
start the dancing at once, but Judith OBJ
jected.
'.You said that Tom was to play when Mr..
Nittach was tired. He hasn't come yet, but
he will be here. 1t isn't fair. IL 1t. boys7"
she turned her flashing eyes upon the
young fellows.
Mr. Nittach was great favorite with the
boys. He taught them how to snare birds.
and to trap small animals; and he showed
them how to mount their catch. He was
quite A taxidermist. Now they rallied to
his support.
"wait till he comes" was their ultimatum
and they went Off in corner to tell stor-
les.
The musician was a long time coming.
when he did arrive he was profuse IN his
excuses
az am not VEIL" he said. II hat trouble
here" placing his hand upon his heart.
but would not you disappoint. ! nrousnt
the two-steb." he whispered to Judith. He
looked really III, but was clipper. seem.
inely as ever, and the same kindly light
shone in his little bright eyes.
He was not long in tuning UP, and the
boys and girls trooped onto the floor, smirK-
ing wat at IL shall Be. the lanciers frstr Mr.
EVERY one nodded, or shouted assent. He
played a rollicking tune. the main theme
of which was 1.-THE Girl I Left Behind
Me-" He had beeen dancing master IN
his earlier days, and could never 1orget
that he was not teaching a class. He did
his own calling out Balance to corners.
s.swing your partners "Sashay ALL he
would call out in jolly, II squeaky tones.
s.Allaman left" he called. Suddenly he
stopped.
.Judith-Judith Warner" he said, "and
williaml You hat not dat done right NOW
once more" -
The dancers shrieked with laughter. "Oh.
Jude!" the girls cried, Hey Bill" shouted
the boys your left foots lazy.
The dance finished, the dancers made for
the lemonade well. The violin soon called
them to the waltz. Next It was the quad
rille. then a waltz; then a lanciers
..It's time we had two-step," said Caro-
line. .Play the two-step, Mr.. Nittach,
please"
.sIf ID bleases you. my dear" responded
the old man, readily.
.arbe two-step, the two-step," cried all
the girls, but Judith.
Mr. Nittach struck up the washington
POST. For a few bars he got along fa-
mously. Then he unconsciously swung into
the waltz time. Now the dancers stopped.
Wrong, wrong, Mr. Nittach." they shout
ed, 1t was the first time in his aife that
his playing had been questioned. His SIM
ple pride was hurt, and his voice quavered.
II had dot valse SO much In my head,'
he said with painful smile.
He tried the two-step again; and again
for a few bars he played finely. But
once more he swung into the waltz.
Caroline and two of her cronies and their
mariners took their seats The old gen.
tleman noticed that, and by an effort got
back to the two-step. A moment later.
however, he fell into the slow, measured
strains OF the waltz, and dropped his bow.
IL cannot blay dot two-steb." he
said dejectedly.
"Tom." said Caroline peremptorily.
"you play It,"
They danced to Toms music. Judith
brought Mr.. Nittach some lemonade. II
viii der lanciers and der quadrille and
der valse blay," he told her. He played
the quadrille admirably. When the
young folks had rested from the dance
he started to time up for the waltz. But
Caroline and a number Of the girls di-
rected Tom to play the two-step. The
older musician stopped, bewildered
Judith walked swiftly to the center Ut