New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-10
The Wedding Dance
Confined ron Dcgs .

drank kre1nlotf sank back to his chair and
stared ahead. the queer grin still on his lips
I It Is 1ust thirty five years ago to this
very GaV-thaJ WaS what he meant-that ne
went 10 the ship 20 meet Anna, whispered
Feltrnan TO the boy; but ne said nothing OF
the other thing that had come into his mind
said nothing regarding the new violInIst with
the long gray locks and black. womanly eyes
THE band began to play. At the first chord.
Uncle Feltman sat suddenly upright send
ING a swift look toward Ivan kremlOf. For
the band was playing the pastoral Russian
wedding dance. The music began croon1ngly,
with swapping. spasmodic notes here and there
TO catch the ear,-lttle, quick touches OF
sound % start one nerves atInglIng. Father
Ivan" his ruddv face flushed by the liquor ne
had taken until il was scarlet, sat wagglng his
great head with its crest Of silver CurIS, tugGlrS
at an end of his huge, white muStaChe, hum
ming the tune. moving his body 70 the beats
OF the music
Then he got up. His bulky figure came
ll1rching down the room, past the tables, TIL
he stood IN the small, cleared space before the
band And IN the proper instant, he placed ms
hands on his hips. threw up his blg head, and
assumed the posture for the dance. In the
same instant he caught full glance INTO the
eyes 81 the leader, and the other stared tas-
cinated. mechanically moving ms DOW over
the responsive strings.
The crories of the odd side" room thumped
their glasses, laughed, and cheered 10 see
Father Ivan" the reticent, the TecIuse, III
such \ merry mood. Only, among them, Uncle
Felt1nan did not laugh He eyed his old Trend
anxIously.
The grooming prelude done, the music rose
and swung TO the fiery action Of the dance
Father Ivan" hands on hips, took the chal-
lenge. and for all his bulk OF body he kicked
and shutfied, bent and Strengthened, wIlIIeu
and recovered, IN perfect rhythm 10 the sharp
and swapping chords. Higher and faster the
music cred. faster the music cried; faster
more dizzilv, the huge figure IN the loose Sull
Of blue leans swung and swept round the I'cor'
And II the final crash, he came with stamping
foot INTO = rigid. arm extended pose, staring
straight again INTO the face OF the leader OF the
band laughing strangely as II trluInpnanlly
at the little man ahead
C0FTLY again the music started. grooming a
y hefore Slowly. softly, Father Ivan
stepped. beginning the second inquire 81 the
dance But now. as the music rose agalil. as
the violns screamed and the cello thToDDeH'
as the old CronIes Of the side room IeIt IIlelI
tables and crowded 10 witness the maj elip ,,
Of the huge numbering performer, Uncle feIt-
ry.u. staring. saw the TuddlnesS OF f4IIleI
Ivan's" face take on darker hue, and, Sharply,
he recognized 4 mailman 8 ghtlerllS e+PieS
son in his old friend 5 eyes. As ne kicker am
,yvayed and turned, he spoke,-spoke TO some
-I,;1, that h. seemed to see before him, as II
some face was very close 70 his face. ANA II
was plain u Uncle Feltulan that ivan hrelI4-
lotf saw no face that was really IN that room
and that he no more saw at al the Laughing
crowd around him. And furthermore II was
plain to him that the scarlet OF the man lace
As ne gathered for the final, tremendous elloft
Of the dance was empurpling as were ms hips
and Uncle Feltnan shrIeked: -,
'Stop-stop the music! stop the muse.
He rushed forward hand IN ar But the
Wild. crashing. CRYING measures OF the hnale
held every player with head bent u ms m
str1Imert. HAIR fiving. lips parted, and-Cncle
Feltnan was only IN time 10 save the lace 81
Ivan Kremlof from striking against the moor
As the old man toppled and fell
THERE was nothing afterwaT,d that the ,ii,
L friend could do beyond performing the
,,-.,,t ofire IF closing dead mans eyes,
The while a little man whose bow and vloiln
shook IN ms trembling, fine, feminine hanGs'
looked fearsomely with big, black eyes on me
sight Psychologists, know, account Ior lhe
pleasant expression our lips 80 often ven
when we die by declaring II 10 be caused Dy
certain muscular coutractIons- However Lili'
nv br IN death Father Ivan was sHhiiis'