Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-02-19

what 1t was"
Just then step sounded on the grav-
ell walk without. Laura hastily gather
ed up her papers; but before she could
reach the one Mr.. Alden was examin-
ing, a sudden gust of wind caught it,
and sweeping it outside the door, drop
ed it at Cindy's feet.
THAT is mine, Do not touch ir,''
cried Laura. But with quick start
and an exclamation of astonishment,
Cindy stopped down and picked it up.
at is mine,' said she calmly, while
her form dilated and her eye kindled
with sudden light. -'It is mine. Where
did you get it, Laura, And what right
have you to show my pencilings to Mr..
Alden?'
sit is not yours-it is mine," repeated
Laura, trembling like Il leaf and pallid
as ghost: 81 drew it to-day-this very
morning.
Cindy colored painfully. She had
spoken involuntarily; but now she
shrank, with womanly sensitiveness,
from exposing her cousin tnMf. Al
den's contempt.
''Let it pass, them she said, and
would have turned away.
But he stopped her, laying his hand
upon the portfolio. "rlIis can hardly
be IL mistake" he said, gently. at is
better to have an understanding on the
spot. DO you say this drawing is yours,
Miss Cindy -
She looked at Laura imploringly, but
the latter stood sullen and silent as y
statue.
"Is it yours, Miss Cindy:''
She took the paper from his hand
Down in one corner, following the out
line of Il plantain leaf, she showed him
certain minute characters.
''Read that she said. And he read
aloud-''Cinderella.''
"Would she be likely to have written
that ?" she asked.
Laura had vanished.
What passed for the next hour, Cindy
could never have told. 1t was all be-
wildering dream. Every sketch in the
portfolio was her own. They had been
taken one by one from the bureau draw
er. She had missed them; but suppos-
ed she carelessly mislaid them herself,
and had had no time to make thorough
search. In her sweet humility she would
not have dared to show them to Mr.. AL
den. But now he had seen them, had
praised them, had spoken the kindest-
dearest words of hope and encourage
ment. lie had recognized in her, un-
taught, unframed as she was, something
akin to his own genius. Was it any
wonder that at last she laid her head OH
the table and cried for very joy: Or
that he would have smoothed back her
brown hair and whispered
"Don't cry, Cinderella. You have
surely found your fairy godmotherr'
When they went into the house in the
deepening twilight, Elizabeth met them
at the door.
"Laura has told me all about it, she
said in constrained voice. aft she is
my sister, am compelled to say that il
was shameful, dastardly. But, Mr.. Al
den, it was to gain your good opinion
that she did it, and she has gone away
that she may not see your face again.
do not think she fully comprehend
ed the baseness of which she was guilty
Be as charitable As you can."
at shall be secret between us, pew
er to be spoken of" he returned kindly.
"Her exile will not be tor long, Miss
Elizabeth, for am going away to-mor-
row.
She gave him quick look of thanks.
Il have something to say to you, too.
Cindy,'; warmly clasping the hand ex-
tended to meet hers, "and | want Mr..
Alden to hear it. | am not in the mood
for many words, but | have been abomi-
nably selfish and unwomanly, Cindy. |
see it all now, and from this day for
ward there is to be new order of things
in this heuse. That's enough, isn't it:'
What Cindy whispered, as she threw
herself into Elizabeth's arms and kissed
her burning check, there is no need for
to tell.
You all think Cindy married Mr.. AL
den; and, as did not set about telling
Il love story, may as well say that she
did. But it was not at once. His friend
ship, and that of his sister, to whom he
did not fail to tell of the rare and beau
tiful gift he had found hidden in Mill
thorpe kitchen, opened doors for her
which she might have found 1t difficult
to open for herself; and the brave
strong little hands that had worked So
faithfully and patiently there, labored
no less assiiluously when the work Civ
en- them to do was no longer taskwOrk,
but the delight of an eager soul. II
was not until she had accomplished
much that she l0nged TO accomplish
not until, a girl no longer, the wand OF
her fairy god-mother had transformed
her into IA lovely, graceful, cultured
woman, in every sense his peer-thai
she became the. wife of Winthrop Al
den. and moved her easel into his studio.
From the AlGiRe for January.