St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-06-30

just come here and laugh Tor US GEca-
sionally, as you know how, it seems to
melt might be an invaluable service -
Marie laughed then involuntarily,
and at the bird-like, joyful note dozen
| persons turned around with a sympa-
| thetic smile upon their faces.
| The next night there was dancing
| party at the house of friend of Marie.
She went to it as eagerly as if it had
| been her first ball, and she was a lovely
| sight in her white gown with its sill
yer lilies of the valley woven in the
mesh aud her necklace of turquoises.
She carried lilies of the valley and for
get-me-nots. A daintier maid or a
more joyful one it would have been
hard to have imagined. ~sa-
Her programme was filed ten min
utes after she had entered the ball
room, and as she danced it seemed to
her that life was never SO nearly per-
feet as when the music throbbed, and
everyone was gay-hearted, and the
lights burned and the flowers perfumed
the air, and she, Marie. could lend her
self to the rhythm and the Joy and
dance.
'Miss Vanderpool," said one gentle
man, as he led her to her seat, Il have
danced with a great many good dane
ers in my life, but have never enjoyed
ia waltz SO much as the last one. It is
the perfection of motion which you
have, and it is a cha1ning gift. Really,
| can call it nothing less than gift"
He had expected careless acknowledg-
ment of this compliment. and was
amazed when she said, grayeIy:
Sand a gifts something which ought
to be used, I suppose. That is what my
sisters would say"
\ 4. s'Then they would approve of you.
surely, for have you not been putting
it to the best use possible?"
81 mean that it ought to be used~for
others
'.It has been-for as many others as
could avail themselves of it. I regret
that it has not been used more for me-
One dance is short allowance,it seems
TO me-"
E The beautiful head was shaken with
yet greater gravity.
Some time soon am going to show
you what mean, Mr.. Hadley," and
then, smiling and dimpling, she went
away with her next partner. @
Itwas month latter when Kenneth
Hadley received letter from Miss Van
derpool, asking him to be at the Brown
street settlement on a certain night.
Mr.. HadIey was not interested in set
Elements, but he was in Miss Wander
pool, and he accepted the invitation.
His cab took him along a thronged
street, past tenement houses and sa-
looms and shops and stores till he came
to the brightly lighted tenement house
standing tidy and serene-Iooking, in
the midst of block. He asked for Miss
Vanderpool, and was shown past the
crowded classrooms and lecture halls
and music rooms to a room on the up
per floor. The sound of piano, violin
and harp came out to salute his ears
with a familiar tune, and he opened |
the door and stood within large room
filled with young men and women.
But it was not a party which he be- |
he'd. He saw that at once. It was a
dancing class. The pupils stood in line. |
awaiting the directions. of their |
teacher.
He looked about him for Miss Van
derpool, but the chairs by the wall |
were vacant. Probably he had arrived |
too soon. However, he decided to in
quire reoftheteacher. Attkat momenth he I
beheld her Marie Eanderpool- in her
pretty pink frock with its short dane.
ing skirt, standing before the class. It
was she who was the teacher. Her eyes
had never seemed brighter. The smiles
which were never willing to leave
her lips played about them be-
witehingly. Her golden head looked
more adorable and unkempt than ever.
She seemed the incarnated spirit of the
joy of life. She came running toward
him.
Come, come!'' she cried "T in
veigIed you over here with purpose. I
you to show us the mazurka.
You dance it so beautifully" She
called to the musicians to play ma
zurka, gave the class permission to be
seated, and poised herself delicately.
come. comet" she cried again, 81 in
sist on yourdaneing the bestyou know
how" %s
Kenneth Hadley, the dignifed and
the man who had thought
himself a little better than others and
had held himself somewhat haughti1y
aloof, bowed to his destiny and entered
heart and Soul upon his task.
Nearly the whole evening was spent
upon this dance.
''We must get it just right" Miss Van
1erpoo1 insisted. You see, we are not
earning in quite the usual way on ac-
count of a lack of the knowledge of the
,udiments on the part of the teacher"
And she laughed. "But we propose to
lance as wen as those who have learned
n the regular, old-fashioned way"
Hadley looked about him and saw in
very face, whether it was that of {.
foung man or young woman, of Jew
or Christian, of German, Bohemian
Scandinavian, or Italian, of factorr
land or worker in the stock yards, .
ook ofadmiration and respect for Miss
ianderpool. Moreover, her infectious
happiness had brought vivacity and
akin to delight even into
he heaviest face.
Il never liked your dancing so muck
S do at this hour" he said TO her.
arnaStIy ST wish T TniDbt he1r, vor1