Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-13

A dream OF fair women In impossible t3ilettes,
accompanied by handsome Guardsuen, drove
startled the simple village folk. The arrival OF
these great people put the finishing touch to
the ill-humor OF the Spicers. Both my step
mother and her daughters were I'm fever OF
anxiety, hoping for some notice. They were
forever throwing themselves in the way, long,
ing for admittance to the inner circle at the
Hall of which such delightful stories were told
by Jack, who was hand land glove with the
whole set. Long and loud were the disputes
between him and his sisters. and bitter their In
dignation at his refusal to get them into the
tableaus, OF which he was the Stage-manager.
Just like his Immature. Never were two
poor girls so little helped. They would have got
good husbands long ago il they had had kind
On the day OF the ball they were furious
Their dresses had come down from London: they
were very handsome, and. although more suited
fortune. The afternoon was spent in trying
them on. 1t was weary work on this fine sum
mer day, pinn1ng this, lengthening here, tight
ening there, hustled by one sister, scolded by
the other. My head was weary. my legs were
aching; felt utterly depressed and Inundated.
j had for the first time asked a favor and been
jeers. Jack had proposed taking me to see the
rehearsal OF the wonderful tableaus, arranged
after Mrs. Freake's style. i had prayed TO be
let go: Cornella had drawn me In front OF the
long glass, and she and Adelaide had laughed
over the notion OF my presenting myself in such
garb before the people at the Castle.
They would take you for kkchenmaid,"
Adelaide had said, still gigglIng.
Il can fancy Colonel de MolynS putting his
came fromr'
"Clndy thinks hersel, so lovely that every one
would bow down before her. Look at her face!
Oh child! what temper you have!"
Don't attempt to show me any OF your airs.
miss, says my stepmother. turning on me sud.
denly. 1--WE know why you want to go to the
rehearsal; don't we, girls. It's shame OF you
to turn son against his own motaer AMI sis
tiers. You are designing, ungrateful creature
and outside these doors you shan't STIR"
wouldn't give them the satisfaction of see
ing me cry; but, later On, when got away from
them, wept bitterly: | was so Disappointed;
Gid wish to see the tableauX-those beautiful
women as "Effie Deans" and 'Rebccca" and my
own dear favorite MARY Stuart knew them
all so well. sat down in the deep window seat
OF the hall and cried and cried again. Suddenly
the door opened and Jack came In quickly.
beside me.
let me go to the rehearsal. don't think can
bear it much longer, Jack; they are so very, very
unkind TO me-
Don't cry Cindy; you1l have the whip-hand
or them yet. never fear. ] say, what do you
think? I've settled it all. You are coming with
me tonight"
p, on, Jack cried, nonsense. How couldI9
They'll know nothing about 1t. You just
90 as tell you" And then he sat down aud
told me all about 1t. One Of the beautiful
all swollen and distigured and the tableau in
which she was to appear was spOilt. at was
Impossible to fill her place. so | promised that
you would do 1t. Jack went on. Its nothing
only just TO stand for minute She has her
uresS ready for you to put on, and youll see ali
the FUN afterWard, and no one will know you"
IL was really very tempting, and l couldn't
resist this glimpse OF the great world but l
think deserved ali the seedlings l got during
the toilette OF the sisters. My head was running
on what was to come and could not remember
where single thing was.
~ do believe the girl is feversh; look at the
Color OF her cheeks" heard CorAeia whisper
to Adelaide. But this idea did not make them
p.t more considerable in their demands.
At last they finished, and the sound of the
retreatlng wheels Of their carriage was like
music to my ears. flew 10 my own room and
made myself ready.
IL don't dom In the least remember how we got to
The hall 1t all seemed Ike dream. But pres
enlly 1ound myself In large bedroom, get
ting on somebody's dress, with tall. Quiet
woman helping me. She took 10 here and let
down little there, and the g0ssamer fabric
lifted as If it had been made for me. Then she
asked me to look at myself, and when stood
before the large mirror l started. Could this
m mo- at by Cornella and Adelaide Splcers-
tniS lovely apparit1on the shabby fearful
child, the Cinderella of the house?
sb pesen NY JACK came for nae, and his delight
"BravO, little Cindy' he said: 81 knew you
only wanted an fair play: All the women will be
w."
] don't think this prospect gave me as much
pleasure as he expected, but 1t was certainly a
delightful experience to find myself such an
ooIect OF general attention. My part in the
minutes behind gauZe with two other ladies
while Lord Lavender, as Paris, offered the apple
10 Do tne S center figure. very lovely girl. She
and great beauty" Jack whispered to me.
I'VE must have another set OF tableaux next
Week, SAID Lavender, coming up to us. III
your Ga sister VIII help us spcer. we could have
Beauty" and "Pygmalion and Galatea.r
HIS bright young face was a little flushed
WIN excitement and his dark eyes sought
mine with an expression that, novice as was,
L cOuId not misunderstood.
ia AFRAID there'll be too words to that
saidJack, laughing. "Cindy is kept In a glass
case; slipped her out by mere Chance. But.
again."
As soon as the tableaus were over had to
dol1 my borrowed garments, and make the best
OF my way home. | had had my glimpse OF Fairy
land and must return to Slavery agatha slavery
more uncomfortable now than ever | could
Eardly believe it was real when l found myself
at aa nome, waiting for the return of my step
mother and her daughters; still more unreal
uld IL seem when the morning light stole
through my windows and had TO take I'D NV
weary work again.
Z" It was all a dream" thought; Impossible
tnat all those compliments were paid to me- all
lnose ienGer speeches and loving looks. Ride
uIouS. But tnere. opposite, on my table, stood
Inc punch OF lovely roses given TO me by LORD
Lavender himself. 1t was all true, then! GOT
up: sang TO myself as l dressed. It was one
or Adeialde's songs, and the words were all of
love. Ihey had always seemed rubbish, but
no" they struck me as pretty.
Ihat morning all the talk was of the tab
leaUs. Inc Spfcers found fault with evarythinr
except .'Ihe Judgment of Paris" They held
iofln, at great length, Oh the beauty OF Lady
Eva Beau3hamp, and declared that She was far
handsomer than Lady Sybl Lennard.
Thats rldiculous!" said Jack isles nuite
a yQhIG thing. and Lady Sybll is a very fine
figure."
Lazy Eva's beautiful creature and every
one III the room said Lord Lavender was Ellite
emts. l am so glad Lady Sybil and the Drcness
tures., e'"'Nup 0ieS-
Lady Eva is as like Cindy as two peas " said
Jack miscbiesGgsly; $50 Pm glad you admire
her SO mucb'
Il indl! ntow absurb Lady Eva Is the most
I I,segant 1gure. Every one said she'll be the
eseituty next season."
"She Is like CYNTHIA said my father ,ui-
lenly; land That reminds me that Lord LayeD-
ier talked about coming here this afternoon. |
think he said he wanted to see Cynthia"
ICY nthia what nonsense! How can Won he
so ridiculous Sir William? It's Adelaide: he
admires her singing. Go to the music room,
Adelaide" '