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Wells, Carolyn, 1862-1942

"Patty's Butterfly Days"

There were no trees, and there were no blossoms, but
so exquisite was her portrayal of blossom time, and so lovely her
swaying arms and tossing hair that many were ready to declare they
could even detect the fragrance of the flowers. But when Patty
essayed to stop, the riotous applause that followed and the cries
of "Encore! encore!" persuaded her to dance once more, though very
tired.
More languidly this time the apple blossoms were plucked from the
branches, more slowly the springtime steps were taken, and before
she reached a point in the music where she could stop, Patty was
swaying from faintness, not by design.
Farnsworth saw this, and acting on a sudden impulse, he swung the
great folds of his trailing velvet over his arm, and with a few
gliding steps, reached her side, threw an arm round her, and
suiting his steps to hers, continued the figure she had begun. But
he supported her weary little form, he held her in a strong, firm
clasp, and, a fine dancer himself, he completed the "Apple Blossom
Dance" with her, which she never could have done alone. Then,
after bowing together to the delighted and tumultuously applauding
audience, he led her to a seat, and shielded her from the
unthinking crowd, who begged her to dance for them again.


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