Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-03-08
THE DANCE Of The ROSES
BY Baron Alexander Won wart.obers

Inc great ballroom was filed to over
flowing with an audience consisting OF
the creme de la creme of society. 1t
was not every day that one had the OPP
pnrtunity of seeing Holden.
the most famous beauty of Vienna. on
the stage. or listening to Baroness Ger
stem singing the latest hits of the cafe
chantant chansonettes, and the ap-
piause which had greeted the aris-
tocratic amateur player had been deaf
eninS.
only one more act was left-the beau
tiful Dance of the Roses
The curtain rose, the stage repre-
scented a beautiful rose garden, filled
with Il crowd of debutantes made up
AS queens of flowers. The dance com
posed and rehearsed by the great
strauss himself, almost tool the breath
Of the audience away as the most beau
tlful of this bevy of girls came rushing
in, pursued by an enafnofed satyr, his
face Utmost distorted with the passion
of love.
Again and again she escapes him, but
while she is rapidly growing tired he
lnrsues her with growing fury. Now
he seizes her in his arms, and She al
Inost breaks down In her terror.
Wonderful" the audience gasps.
Go on with your dance the satyr
whispers in her ear.
II cannot" she replies almost inaudi-
bly, eve to him. but she tears herself
loose end fees almost into the wings.
iSut he follows, his arms e~ncircle her
slcnder waist. and she shudders.
Smile, Smile" he Kisses. and her
lips, which would be pale. but for tho
paint. part, showing her white teeth.
IN her eyes * AN expression OF deadly
fear, while his are cruel In their steely
determination.
She cannot, she will not give herself
M in hin, IJar iny,nct faalipuc ,a,snit
at The thought Of becoming his wife as
he has roughly demanded of her before
They entered.
Never. never she gasps and fees
as the leader gives the sign that the
dance is TO go on.
You must. and . SHALL" he whisp-
ers. and he pursues her and catches
hold OF her flowing veil.
Laugh" he whispers, and her beau
tiful face distorts In anguish.
He seizes her arm in q grip of iron.
Il hold you in my power. Your ia
ther is dishonored IL you refuse. and
1 Will announc it to the whole world
not promise before the dance is over"
All turns black before her, she does
not know how h Scape from him
and dances to the footllghts. In the
front row she sees her father. sitting
next to her poor, pale suffering mother.
~ NApI tSolou III ucI UlOtueT y lace
tells all and that there is no escape.
But still she struggles. Why should
she suffer for the sins OF another?
The time is up; / demand your an
swer." the satyr whispers with a satan
ic grin.
She thinks of the proud motto which
adorns the coat Of arms of her family.
Fl sacrifice All to honor"
Should she, of pure egotism. forget
her duty and dishonor her noble name.
No-dishonor is worse than death.
Il promise she whispers. and almost
AIM In his arms. He covers her face
with kisses which find no response.
y storm Of applause calls her back To
life. An engagement on the stage
now beautiful, now poetic. Congratulate
tions are showcred upon the couple.
Her father is the first to reach her and
give her his blessing with his unbear-
able jovial smile. but her looks silence
him and he understands. but he ac-
cepts her sacrifice. which the world will
never know. The honor of the family is
safe with her.