The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-01-06

Let it pass, them she said, and would
have turned away.
But be stopped her. layrg his hand
upon the portfolio. This can hardly be
a mistake he said, gently. 1T is better
to have an understanding ou the spot
Do you say this drawing is yours, Miss
Cindy?'
She looked at Laura implo-iogly, but
the latter stood snllen and silent as n
statue.
is it yours, Miss Cindy?'
She took the paper from his hand.
Down in one corner, following the outline
Of II plantain leaf, she showed him Ger.
tain minute characters.
Read that she said. And be read
Cinderella
Would she been 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
drawer. She had missed them but sup.
posed she carelessly mislaid them herself,
and had no time to make thorough
search. Iu her sweet humility she would
not have dared to show them to Mr.. AL.
deu. But now he had seen them, had
praised them, had spoken the kindest,
dearest words of hope and encourage.
ment. He 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 on
the table and cried for very joy Or
that he should have smoothed back hor
brown bair and whispered
Don't cry. Cinderella. You have suro
ly found your fairy godmother
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 a constrained voice. IF sbe i,
my sister, am compelled to say that i,
was shameful, dastardly. But, Mr.. AL
den, Ii was to gain your good opinion
that she did it, aud she has gone away
that she may not see your face again.
do not think she fully comprehended the
baseness Of which she was guilty. Be a.
charitable as you can.'
1t shall be secret between US, never
to be spoken Of he returned kindly. 'Hel
exile will not be for long, Miss Elizabeth
for am going away Tomorrow
She gave him a quick look of thanks
1 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 moot
for many words. but have been abomi
nably selfish and unwomanly, Cirdy.
see it all now, and from this day forward
there is to be new order of things il
this house. That's enough, isn't it p
What Cindy whispered, as she threw
herself into Elzabeth's arms and kissed
her burning cheek, there is 10 need fol
to tell
You all think Cindy married Mr.
Alden; and. as l did not set about talliu.
dve iB52Iv BStv ID Wfy as sys well say that sh
friendship, and that OF his sister, t.
whom he did not fail 20 tell Of the rar,
and beautiful gift he had found bidder
in Millthrop kitchen, opened doors 70
her which she might have found it diff
cult to open for herself; and the brave
strong little hands that had worked e.
faithfully and so patiently there, labore'
no less assiduouslJ when the work give'
them 20 do was no longer task work, bu
the delight of an eager soul. 1t was no
until she had accomplished much that sh
longed to accomplish until, girl u
longer, the waDd of her fairy godmoth,
had transformed her into lovely, grace
iul, cultured woman, 10 every sense hi
peer-that she became the wife Of VIII
throp A Alden, aud moved her easel int
his studio.
From The Aidins for January.