The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-27

boys who stood around long room watch
ing the long professor. on the platform
We're chairs filled with admiring mothers
and aunties and grown-up sisters. One
twO-three, one-two-three." counted the long
professor, and in obedience 10 his instruc-
tions and in imitation Of his movements the
long line OF little girls and boys slid and
hopped and balanced around the room.
Il wish you'd look at Melia." whispered
Aunt Kitty 10 mother. she moves like
little wooden DOLL
"Oh. the child's frightened" said mother.
easily. when the shyness wears of she'll
do it beautifully"
But Saturday after Saturday came and
went and 'Melia cid not do IL beautifully.
Time after time the long professor took
her out into the center Of the room while
all the other little girls and boys watched
her. Her cheeks sgere hot with shame, her
eyes moist with the tears OF modification,
but she stiffened her little back like
ramrod and brought her shiny little feet
down as clumsily possible
81 cannot understand It." said the long
professor in despair, and mother and Aunt
Kitty talked volubly both in the dressing
room and at home. And all the time.
whether it was in the dancing school where
'Meia Nstood. repressing every inclination
OF her buoyant little frame towards unre-
strained motion. or whether il was after
she had been tucked away in bed and was
left in the dark TO confront her problem.
Melia strengthened her resolution net TO
learn to dance by reiterating fiercely II
will not lose my sOul-I won't"
There was one grief more poignant even
than the despair of the long professor and
the shame of fond relatives. There was one
little boy who in the first afternoons had
chosen 'Meia to dance with, and i'm Me
las eyes he was all that is desirable i'm
little boys. 1t hard work for 'Melia TO
harden her heart and stffen her back when
Ralph chose her TO dance; but she man
aged TO do it; and after she had stepped
on his toes and bumped his chest two or
three afternoons in succession i'm a way
that no self-respecting little boy will coun-
tenance in his partner, he gave her up
and merely watched from afar her wooden
progress. The other little boys too ceased
TO ask her 10 dance, and il was only after
all the other little girls had been led from
their chairs that some leftover little boy
would take her in his tentative embrace and
drag her resisting through the measure.
The dancing term was half over when
Melia found that Mildred. who lived next
door to her, had soul, which also
next-dOor neighbor. Mldred's eyes were
blue and her mouth was merry and she was
lovely to tell things TO that the grown-ups
didn't knOw-abOut how when YOU went
upstairs and you knew that there was a
man following you, you walked instead OF
running just because you wanted To run
and how if you put on your left stocking
before you had put on your right stocking
II was just as bad as II you had gotten out
of bed on the wrong side and you must
change your stockings all over again even
If you had been called twice.
'Mildred's a Episcopal and they have
choir boys to their church. said Melia at
with her tomorrow morning. can I?'
THE thirty-nine articles next" said
father smiling, but Melia failed 10 get his
meaning Mother looked a little troubled.
DO you think we ought To let her mix
things up like this p she said But father
only laughed as usual and said. Let her
alone;" so the next morning Melia and
Mildred trotted off happily together.
The church was full OF rich gloom out OF
which the electric lights in the chandeliers
startled out with dazzling radiance The
sunlight fell softened through stained win
dOwS on deep cOlored walls and rich altar
hangings The pews had velvet cushions
of deep red and soft hassocks. and Melia
thought of the glare Of the morning sunshine
through the uncOlorcd windows on the
neutral walls and green carpeted pews OF
the Methodist Church. Up somewhere in
the gloom an organ played softly and
thTillingly and the faces of the little choir
boys in their white vestments shone from
the dark choir stalls with seraphic effect,
The clergyman, in his mysterious robes OF
white, seemed To Melia something set apart
from the world far more than any preacher
In ordinary clothes had ever done.
Il love your church." she whispered 10
Mildred, clasping her hand estatically un-
der the cover of darkness.
The next sunday morning Mildred came
over early. Melia was yet in the stages
OF hair brushing. II want you TO come TO
my Sunday school with me-, she said
pleadingly. Melia looked at mother. Go,
If you want to- said mother. Your own
Sunday school isn't till afternoon.
Mldred's teacher had an aureole OF soft
hair beneath her fur hat She wore
long boa of sable and she let 'Melia sit
beside her and hold the warm mum that
matched the boa. 'Melia stole glances at
her now and then as she taught the
clustered around her She liked the way
that the teachers hair fuffed out over her
eyebrows and she admired the soft flush
that stole up TO her cheeks whenever the
superintendent stopped beside their class
and that, il seemed TO 'Melia. happened A
great many times. When the lesson was
over and there were prayers, and the
teacher pulled 'Melia down on the hassOcs1
beside her and let her read from her own
little prayerbook with the silver markers
hung on purple ribbons Melia was faint
with alteration
When the session was quite over Miss
Lovett bent over Melia. lis this little girl
,
sweetly, I'D love TO have her"
'Melia hesitated. Mrs Raymond with her
big eyes and dropping shoulders was very
faint and faraway beside this pleading
young woman with the roseleaf skin and
the shining eyes. The cOldness Of the
Methodist Sunday school room too. sud
denly appealed to 'Melia as lacking in re-
/ ligious effect beside the warmth and dusk
of the Episcopal chapel She fingered the
back of the pew shyly. "Yes'm / think L
/ like TO come very much indeed. and yes'm
/ think / VIII. she said.
And you must be sure 20 come 10 our
party next week and dance" said Miss Low
! EFT. cordially.
Melia could scarcely wait till she and
| Mildred were down the steps before she
! burst out with the question which burned
/ her lips.
''She said and dance Can you dance to
! your church,"
why. of course, we can" said Mildred,
! happily I'VE dance right there In the guild
/ rooms over the chapel. and Mr.. Jenkyns.
he's the rector. he comes TO our parties and
watches, and once he danced with the lit
I test girl" 'Melias world turned upside
/ down again. Dancing. then. was a thing 10
/ be approved OF by the clergy and INDUCED
1 I'm by the laity. And isn't IL wrong at all. 4"
/ she persisted feebly "and won't YOU lose
/ your sOul-or nothing-tO your church IL
/ you dancer
Course IL isn't wrong. 'Melia Browne" q"
/ cried Mildred in righteous Indignation. do
I you s'pose If twas wrong that Mr.. Jenkyns
he'd dancer At dinner that day Meia an
f11f ina NOT