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

maker; Elizabeth locked herself int
her room, and gave orders that she wa
OH no account to be disturbed: Aun
Tilly went down street to see frien'
and do some errandS.
Now | have Il chance TO give VI
Alden's parlor thorough putting t,
rights" said Cindy to herself. ''It ha
needed it this long time" And, tyin:
Il handkerchief over her head, she forth
with went to work.
She was rubbing chairs and tables
with hearty good will when the doOl
suddenly opened.
Mr.. Alden lifted his hat, while 4 sud
den flush crimsoned his forehead. Ther
he stepped quickly into the room ant
took the dnster from Cindy's hand.
81 beg your PARDON" he said; ''bu
you do me too much honor. took ear,
of my own study when in college, ant
| can again. Let the dust gather III
inch deep, my lady abbess, before yor
don that becoming white head gear an
other time in behalf of a lazy fellow lik,
me-
THAT would be fine housekeeping
she cried, snatching off the handker.
chief and hiding it in her pocket Will,
she gained possession of the tabooet
duster. "What made you come back
Mr.. Alden: You were to be gone al
day"
''To catch you in the midst of youl
sins, Miss Cinderella he answered sol
emnly, wheeling Il large chair into po-
sition: ''and to intiict righteous judg-
ment upon you by compelling you to
sit still for half an hour while l show
you these" said he, unlocking port
folio of rare engravings.
Cindy's eyes sparkled and her cheeks
flushed. Then she toward the door.
"But the dinner, Mr.. Alden, /"
''Dinner be-dispensed with, lie said.
81 want nothing but z bowl of milk.
Confess, now. You did not think OF din
ner till | camer'
She cid not reply; and stood there,
with her hand OIL the door knOb-a pref
ty picture of irresolutiOn.
"No dinner for me-" he went oil.
care you fond OF pictures !? What shall
| show you? Figure pieces-landscapes ?
What do you like best?''
''I-hardly know" she faltered.-
''I have seen so few. Show me your
own work, Mr.. Alden; something you
are doing now. | shall be sure to like
that
lie hesitated, glanced at her curious
ly, half-laughed, and then laid his hand
on the cloth thrown over an easel near
the window.
''Did you lift this?' he asked. ''Did
you look at this picture:'
"Oh, no, nor she cried coloring.
GLOW can you ask it, Mr.. Alden? In
decd haye looked at nothing that yon
did not leave in plain sight
His own face flushed.
''T.is is 10 Blue Boards closet. Miss
Cindy. | should not have killed you if
you had looked. But, to make amends
for my impudent question, have hal I
a mind 20 let you see tlis-even ut the
risk of your diSpieasure. Look there,
It was Il quaint old kitchen; dim,
shadowy, lighted only by the embers on
the hearth. Leaning against the stone
jamb of the great fireplace, with Il
wearylook upon her young face,and her
hands clasped despondingly, stood an
unmistakable Cinderella.
Cindy took in nothing at first but Il
general idea of power and pathOs of the
picture, holding her breath tor very de-
light, while Mr.. Alden watched her eag-
erly. Her eye wandered over the can
vas, grasping detail after detail, until at
length. as If saving the best wine for
the last, it settled upon the dropping fig
ure in Uhe corner. For Il moment she
gaZed silently; then she uttered Il faint
exclamation, while the red blood fled
from her cheeks, and she burst into
tears. Cinderella's face was her own.
"Forgive NE; oh, forgive men' cried
Mr.. Alden, rs he saw her agitat ion. 81
could not help it, The name-and-
everything. Indeed, indeed, l did not
mean to wound you. But the idea has
haunted me for weeks, and l had 10
work it out. Tell me you are not hurt
mot angry, Miss Cindy, See. l will
tear tine picture in shredS, if you say
so,''
''No, nor' she cried. putting ont her
hand TO stop him. Leave it as it is.
do not care-I do not mind. But, Mr..
Alden, shall find my godmother some
time-er | shall make one for myself
and before he could dctain her she had
gone.
The next afternoon brought u heavy
mail to Mr.. Alden, and after tea he
strolled down TO the bottom of the gar
den, where there was II rustic summer
house with table and chair or two, to
look over the new monthlies. Present.
ly Laura followed him, with her port
folio.
II don't expect you want 10 see me
one bit,'' she said throwing back her
long curls with pretty, childlike toss
Not now, when you've just got news
from home, and everything. But Eve
come. nevertheless. do so want you
tell me what is the trouble with this
sketch. can't get it to suit me. Oh
Mr.. Alden - and she laid her white
hand upon his arm. appealingly, ''what
shall | do when you go away, and |
have no one to help,me? fou have ad-
ded so much to my llfe,"
He male no rcply-ungallant fellow
that he was--;.S he took the little sketch
or design, from her hand, and glanced
at it carelcssly. But in Il moment he
lost his listless air, pushed back the hair
from his forehead, laid the bit Of draw
ing-paper OH the table before him and
examined it carefully
"This design is remarkable for the
work of beginner, Miss Laura" he
said at length. ''You are perpetual
surprise to me. You have such Il way
of getting at the heart Of things. What
did you mean by this, Put your
thoughts in words.''
He WAS surpriSpI-DuZZleu. No man