Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-07-30
rConcluded from first page.l


eral idea of the power and pathos of tn
picture, holding her breath for very de
light, while Mr.. Alden watched her eager
". Her ewes wandered over the canvass
grasping detail after detail, until at length
as if saving the best wine for the last, !
settled upon the dropping figure IN TIM
corner. For moment she gazed silent
"; then she uttered faint exclamation
while the red blood fled from her cheeks
and she burst into tears. Cinderella lace
was her own. =,
Forgive me: oh, forgive me = ciled
Mr.. Alden, as he saw her agitation
could not help it. The name-and-eN-
ervthins9 Indeed, indeed, did MOI meat,
to wound you. But the idea has iiaunteu
me for weeks, and had 10 "ork 1t o..,
Tell me YOU are not hurt-not angry MISS
C;ndvi See will tear the picture in
INC MOI, she cried, putting out her
hord m stop him. leave it as it is.
10 not mind. But Mr.. Alden, | shall find
INV god-mother sometime or shall make
one for myself" and before he could de-
tain her she had gone.
Tim next afternoon brought heavy
mail to Mr.. Alden, aud after tea he strolled
down to the bottom of the garden where
there was rustic summer house, with a
table and chair on two, to look over the
new monthlies. Presently Laura followed
him, with her portfolio.
II don't expect you want to see me one
Bit" she said, throwing back her long
curls, with pretty, childlike toss. "Not
now when you've news from home, and
everything. But Eve come, nevertheless.
do so want you to tell me what is the
trouble with this sketch. | can't get 1t to
suit me. Oh, Mr.. Alden I" and she laid
her white arm appealingly, ''what shall |
do when you 90 away. and have no one
to help me You have added so much TO
my Afer'
He made no reply-ungallant fellow
that he was---as he took the little sketch,
or design, from her hand, and glanced at
1t carelessly. But in moment he lost his
listless air, pushed back the hair from his
forehead, laid the bit OF drawing paper on
the table before him, and examined it care
fully.
This design isremarkable for the work
of a beginner, Miss Laura" he said al
length. "You are perpetual surprise to
me. You have such way of getting at
the heart OF things. What did you mean
by this Put your thought in words"
He was urprised-puzzled. No man
could be blind:to Laura's beauty; he had
enjoyed it, as he enjoyed q lovely picture.
But he had soon discovered, or thought he
had. that with all her little gushes Of sem
timent, her artless candor, she had no
more soul than the Venus de Medici-1et
now for more than month, she had
brought to him day after day, designs and
sketches that betrayed power Of thought
depth of feeling and insight, pure wo-
anliness beyond his comprehension. The
execution was often very fanlty-5ut the
power was there undeniably.
..You meant something by this he
went on, as she did not speak. you
were not simply making picture. think
read your thought. But tell me what it
was"
Just then step sounded on the gravel
walk without. Laura hastily gathered up
her papers ; but before she could reach the
one Mr. Alden was examining, sudden
gust of wind caught it, and sweeping it
outside the door, dropped it at Cindys
feet
That's mine Don't touch i" cried
Laura. But with quick start and an eX-
clamation of establishment, Cindy stopped
down and picked it up.
lit is NINE" she said calmly, while her
form dilated and her eye kindled with Il
sudden light. ut is mine. Where did
YOU get it, Laura? And what right have
you to show my pencilings to Mr.. Alden p
ut is not yours-it is NINE" repeated
Laura, trembling like leaf and pallid as
ghost: II drew it to day-this very
morning.
Cindy colored painfully. She had spok-
en- Involuntary but now she shrank, with
womanly senstiveness, from exposing her
cousin to Mr.. Alden's contempt
.'Let it pass them" she said, and would
have turned away.
But he stopped her, laying his hand up
on the portfolio. This can hardly be
mistake" he said gently. at is better to
have an understanding on the spot. Do
you say this drawing is yours, Miss Gin
dy3
She looked at Laura imploringly, but
the latter stood sulen and silent rs Il
statue.
lis it yours, Miss Cindy?'
She took the paper from his hand.
Down in one corner, following the outline
of a plantain leaf, she showed him certain
minute characters.
Read that" she said And he read
Would she be likely to have written
that p' 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 supposed she
had 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.. Alden. But
now he had seen them, had praised them,
had spoken the kindest, dearest words OF
hope and encouragement. He had recog-
nized in her, untaught. 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 shonld 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, + izl1cth met them at
T.. the door.
al aura hos told me all about ii - she