Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-14

~ ONCHA had eaten no supper. As
she entered the saia she clapped
her hands the guests ranged
" themselves against the wall, the
musicians. livelier than ever, flew
TO their Instruments and with the drifting,
swaying movement she could assume at
Will, she went slowly. absently to the MD
die of the room. Then she let her nead
drop backward as If with the weight or her
hair, and Rezanov. vaguely angry, expected
one of those appeals to the senses for Whlch
Spanish women of another sort were noto-
rious. But Concha. after tapping the floor
alternately with the points and the wooden
heels of her slippers for few moments,
suddenly made an imperious gesture to lg-
nacio Sal. He sprang to her side. took her
hand, and once more there was the same
monotonous tapping of toes and heels. Then
they whlrled apart, bent their 1.-the backs
until their brows almost touched the floor
in a salute of mock admiration, ana danced
to and from each other, coquetry in the
very tilt of her eyebrows, the bare SEM
blance of masculine indulgence on his eager,
passionate face. Suddenly, to the surprise
of all she snapped her fingers directly
under his nose, waved her hand, turned
her back and made a peremptory gesture
to that other enamored young swain, capt
Antonio Castro of Monterey. Don tgnacio,
surprised and discounted, retired amidst
the jeers of his friends, and Concha, with
her most vvacious and gracious manner
met Castro half way, and, taking his hand
danced up and down the sala, slowly ana
with many improvisations. Then, as they
returned to the center of the room and
stepped lightly apart before Joining in a
gay whirl, she snapped her fingers under
his nose, made a gesture of dismissal over
her shoulder and tiuttered an uplifted hand
in the direction of Sturgis. Again there
was delighted laughter, again discounted
knight and a triumphant partner.
"Concha always gives us something we
do not expect" said Santiago to Rezanov,
whose eyes were twinklng. The other
girls dance FL Son and La Jota very grace
fully-yes. But Conchta dances with her
head. and the musicians and the partner,
when she takes one, have all they can do
to follow. She will choose you next, senior.
Rezanov turned cold. and measured the
distance to the door. II hope not" he said
II should hate nothing so much as to make
an exhibition of myself. The dances
know-that is all very welf-but to impro-
vise-for the love of heaven help me to
get out
But Santiago. who was watching his sis
ter intently. replied: Wait moment, ex-
cellency. l do not think she will choose
another 1 know by her feet that she in
tends to dance FL Son-in her own way. of
course-after all"
Concha circled about the room twice with
Sturgis lifted him to the seventh heaven
of expectancy, dismissed him as abruptly
as the others. Lifting her chin with an ex-
preston of supreme disdain for all his sex,
she stood a moment Swaylng, her arms
hanging at her sides.
II am glad she will not dance with
Weelam." muttered Santiago. II love him
yes; but the Spanish dance is not for the
BostOnian."
Rezanov awaited her performance with
an interest that caused him some cynical
amusement. But in a moment he had sur
rendered to her once more as creature