tart of surprise, the
request coming from Blanch was so unexpected. She seemed confused, and
her face wore a troubled look. "I would rather not," she said at length,
glancing nervously about her at the company. She had heard the cruel
things that had been said of her of late and knew how ready those
present would be to criticize her anew.

"Do dance, Senorita; just to please me, if for nothing else," persisted
Blanch.

"To please you?" repeated Chiquita. A peculiar light came into her eyes
and she smiled as though pleased by the request.

"I hope I'm not asking too much?" continued Blanch. Again Chiquita
smiled.

"Do you know," she answered with warmth, "there's only one thing in this
world I wouldn't do for you?" and she laughed lightly, nervously opening
and closing her fan the while. Again she glanced around at the company,
wavering between assent and refusal. In the faces of the women she read
the jealousy and envy which filled their hearts toward her, and it was
perhaps that, not Blanch's request, which decided her to dance.

"Yes, Senorita," she said at length. "I'll dance for you this night--for
you only!" she repeated with emphasis. Yes, she would dance as she had
never danced before; for would not the most critical eye in the world be
watching her? It was worth while. Blanch gave a little laugh as she
returned to her seat by the side of Don Felipe.

Ah! the wiles of woman--subtle and illusive as a breath or a shadow--the
one thing her own sex fears most! Blanch knew that if there was a common
streak in her rival, it would be brought out in the glaring reality of
the dance, and the Captain should see it. She knew he could never marry
any one but a lady, and this was her reason for asking Chiquita to
dance. She had in mind, of course, the performances she had just
witnessed, or, to be more exact, the contortions of the ballet and the
modern music-hall artist with which we are all so familiar; the inane
balancing and pirouetting on the toes, the heavy hip and protruding
stomach, quivering breasts and bellowing and frothing at the mouth, and
colored light effects and _risque_ posing in scant attire, coupled with
a display of attractive lingerie. But Blanch forgot, or rather did not
know, that she had to do with genius over whose individuality most men
are prone to trip.

Chiquita's conception of plastic art was something different from vulgar
Salome creations and the cheap spring-song and lolling and caperi