Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-02-06


But this man was the embodiment of all
her dreams. lie did, with easy, careless
grace-the ease and grace of god, 1t SEEM
ed TO her-tho very things that she longod
to do. lie lived her own IDEAL life. ItiCds
hard to he in the kitchen doing the rough
work, while Elizabeth sat in the cool, shad-
ed parlor, leading Winthrop Alden on to
talk Of his work and its aspirations, Of ar
tist-lle, and its romantic icassociations- -ofall,
in short, that was dearest TO Cindy's soul.
1t was hard to be shelling peas for dinner
while Laura, in the prettiest of morning
dresses, wandered over the hills, or sought
out fairy hooks with her-drawiug-maste
One day she was washing tho dinner
dishes, trying vainly TO recall the blithe
content of former days, and wondering
whittier II had flown, when Mr.. Alden
passed through the kitchen. Pausing for
a moment in the shadow Of tho trumpet
honeysuckle, with his hand upon the door
post, he looked down the fragrant garden
paths and then back into the room from
which the heat Of the various culinary op.
erations had not yet escaped. Cindy's
checks were flushed, her hair lay low up
on her forehead in little moist brown iings,
her hands trembled, and she looked thor
oughly uncomfortable le.
"lt is very warm to-day, Miss Cinderel-
Ia" he said. Even genius can utter COM
monpaces.
"Cinderela ~ she cried, opening her
brown eyes at him, as she nearly dropped
atumbler. "What funny idea That's
not my name, Mr.. Alden"
at is not? beg your pardon. But they
call you Cindy-Cindy-do they not2 1
supposed it was for Cinderella"
at is not. II is for Lucinda-just plain
Lucinda, Mr.. Alden"
Lucinda - -Cinderella"-he repeated,
musingly, while his eye roved around the
room, taking quick note of everything.
from the pots and kettles on the hearth TO
the saucer Of panses on the windowsill, J.,
and the young girls tired face. ~ si-"nse
blunder of mine nat really supposed it
vas cinderella"
lie hesitated a moment, while a sudden
light broke over his face, and smile play
cd about his mouth.
"Cin-de-r el -la"-he said again, lingering
on the word. "We are not going to the
princes ball, Miss Cindy, but we arc GO
ing up the hill TO the pine woods. Those
cool green slences will be delightful such
a day as this. Won't you go with us?"
An, would they not be! She longed for
them unutterably. Winthrop Alden did
not see the hot tears that sprang to her
eyes, for she turned to the sink and bent
over her dish-pan as she answered, quiet
ly:
THANK you. But ii will not be couven-
lent to-day. Some other time, perhaps"
Why should she tell him that there were
clothes TO be folded down, and biscuit 10
be baked and raspberries to be picked for
tea, and divers other things to be done
What could he understand about it? And
the worst OF ii was, these things had never
seemed 80 burdensoTe so distasterul before
She had not realized, herself, until this
summer, how different life was hers from
that led by her cousins.
The Young man touched his hat and
walked away. But as soon as he was out
of sight, Cindy dropped her dish towel
and flew up stairs in sudden passion oi
tears. Cinderella, indeed! She saw it all
now. Yet there was no cross stop mother
there were no cruel sisters. Her aunt and
the girls were simply thoughtess, and,
maybe-shc did not like to say it-selfish.
That was ALL But, alas there was no fairy
rodmother either!
She wiped her ewes and came down stairs
again. The water was cold and the fire
had gone out. So much for quarrellin2
with fate, she thought. 1t was better to sc
quietly on and not fall into spasms. But
she had made up her mind during that
seemingly wasted hour. She would be her
own godmother! She would make nc
disturbance in the household this summer
| This Mr.. Alden did not belong to her world
He was nothing TO her, nor she to him
What was II TO her If he did seem to like
Elizabeth's conversation, or If he should
be entaugled in the meshes OF Laura's gold
EN- hair2
She was happier after this. Gradual
her vague plans began to take definite form
and shape. She scanned the contents o
her bureau-drawer with an eye that daily
gained strength and clearness. She strd
led every pencll-stroke OF Mr.. Alden's lha
fell in her way with intense eagerness
Day by day the conviction grew upon be
that though she might not paint great pic
lures for the world to wonder at, she nigh
still do something If she had chance
something in the doing Of which the bes
OF herself might find expression.
But If she could only share the lesson
about which Laura made such an ado-an
about which, it must be confessed, Cind
felt no little curiosity. Laura kept he
portfolio under lock and key. Cindy re
membered that when they were in schoo
she could hardly draw map or the sim
plest figure in geometry Was she devel
oping a new talent-one that she had hith