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

ises before marriage are proyerbiaily un5ound,
perishable as pie crust Those made by the
Widow Spicer were singularly light pastry; be-
fore the honeymoon was over she forgot she had
made any, and thencef0rth her maternal care
OF me was dead letter.
My father was an embarrassed man. Mrs
Spicer brought him nothing but a ready ade
family: one son, Jack Spicer, already In the
army. and two daughters When they first
Joined our domestic circle Cornella and AIDE
laide Spicer looked to my juvenile eyes full
grown women; and yet it was curious fact
that nVe years later, when had changed from
a child to missy" OF twelve. they were still In
their teens and five additional years only
seemed to have the effect OF making them
younger.
The Spicer girls were no beauties. They took
after their mother; they were large-nosed shrill-
tongued women like her; they spent their lives
dressing and dreaming Ola possible marriage.
Dut each year seemed to make the struggle
more hopeless Between them they led my
poor father a miserable life. He had always
Deen meek little man, but from the moment
he fell under the yoke OF the Spicers he seemed
to lose his identity and to be merged In them.
IL was quite enough for Mrs. Spicer to say In
her stentorian voice: My girls must have a
season In town, William. enjoys schooling
must stand over for another year," and 50 it
oVef How picked up ds
only branch that received any attention was
millinery; the Miss SplcerS conceived that
had a nice taste for trimming, and KEEP
entine, the French mald transferred her
work to mel She could not stand the temper
OF secs rtettes Niles" she said, and after she lett
The constant drains made by the Splcers gen.
orally on my fathers purse were beginning to
empty that long-endurng article. The seasons
Ia town were becoming matters OF great diff
1culty, and each took a slice out of the poor
residue. Ny stepmOther was killing the goose
with vengeance, and the golden eggs were
spent for no good. Each season saw the return
OF the Miss SpicerS crOSSer. older, thinner
sourer. Sometimes they would bring with them
some man who was supposed to have taken
fancy to either Cornelia or Adelaide, and it was
hoped that country house life might fan the
languid flame into a healthy fire; but the old
saying, opportunity and importantly ;" seemed
10 nave the contrary effect on the Miss SpicerS'
admirers; they made great 1nroads on the lar
DER, Out no progress toward matrimOny.
During these visits had strict orders to re-
main In my own room. Ny stepslsters had
strong dislike to any OF their so-called admirers
seeing me. Men have unfortunately, a prefer
ence for fresh young faces, and, in spite of all
the nostrumS that the Spicers spent a little for
tune upon, each day increased the difficulty of
keeping up the fiction OF girlhood. To do them
Justice they worked hard. IL they had been a
little kinder to me | could have found it in my
heart TO pity them, for surely no labOrers put In
a severer days toll. Morning, noon and night
they were digging In ungrateful SOIL and the
harvest seemed never ripe.
Adelaide, being the youngest, was the most
shlng; she adOred dancing lawn tennis, pic,
MICS and billiards. Corneiia, On the contrary,
III,
church. She haunted the. rectory, where tue
Kew. Alfred Pringle dWelt solitary WidoWer
She made his life burden to him. and marriage
with her almost necessity; it was miraculous
My eldest girl is such help In the parish
my StepmotheF would say, her wide nOStrilS
SHINING the air; 'she leads the choir and teaches
the Infant school, and is president OF the mo-
Tiers meeting, the coal bag, and the Christmas
dlnner; you'd find 1t hard to get On without her,
Mr.. Pringle."
-, It's Wonderful how the children obey Miss
Clndy," the Reverend Alfred says, shyly
Do you mean Sir Williams unfortunate
daughter, Mr.. Pnngle? That girls a heart
Dreak," answers my amtable second mother.
IL the pains my girls take seem to 90 her no
"She's perfectly incorrigible," says Cornelia
With the air OF a martyr.
"a perfect tomboy," chimes In Adelaide.
"A horrid little BEAR" continues Cornelia
with more acrimoHy than before She has an
lntuitive feeling that the rector does not agree
10 these structures. Something in his express
Sion rouSeS the jealousy which is always burn
Ing in such natures as hers. No sooner ID the
door shut upon the rector than she bursts out:
IT,, mamma man that odious CIR, has been tamper-
Ing with PT1nglf."
Nonsense. Cornelfa; as If he would look at
5ueS child. Men OF his age like q sensible
woman for Wife"
They do no such thing, and you know that
ne that way?'
'.Cindy is as forward as she can be.n remarks
Adelaide V1ci0usly; land she's not such a Child
Either; l noticed Old Pringle watching her at
And why didn't you tell me?" retorts Corne-
Ia Hereby, land | would have sent her home.
us Just ike your Ill nature, adelaide. You are
IS jealous as ever you can be-"
Il jealous OF such buZuz as Old Pringle.
On, thank you. hope 1 shall get something
better than that"
:" sour grapes, my dear" returns Cornelia.
angling scornfully, ION, you needn't be SO
proud. 1 can tell you old Prlngle doesnl care
-Wo pence for you there!"
d" You ill-natured creature" cries Cornelia,
- Hold your tongues says their mother hur-
riedly; there's some one driving up the
avenue At once the SpicerS fell into po-
5lt1on Their training was perfect; the Gen
linen ia private.
just about tnis time young Lord Lavender
came home TO the Hall. Report said he meant
TO give series OF festivities-baIls, lawn-tennis
parties, and what not. The whole neighbor-
hood was In fiutter You must call at once"
10y stepmother said to my father; there's no
me me. 10 oe lost. We must get up dinner. Old
Lacy Iumbleto"erS told he to-day he is musl-
you haven't practiscd lately.n
II " nder II he Will take any interest in the
chools?" remarked Cornela musingly.
JACK Spicer wtnked at me-he was always
easing his sisters. and there was no love lost
between them. liked Jack; when he was at
home my life was shade more endurable, and
ne few treats that had enliyened my childhood
'CiC uUC w IL dlSU owed LQG nrSJ
eVelatlon so pleasing to every woman. Re
turning after long absence of three or four
Iears he blurted out: why, mother. Ciady
las grown 8 regular beauty--bring her up 20
own next season and she'll make you ali the
aShiOn,"
Don't fill the chiId's head with nonsense
ny stepmother said Grossly. Ii wouldn't have
'ulted her for my head to be filed with any-
hing By the making and mending OF her
Clothes; the ordering and arrange
nent OF the diGners, for which CornelIa and
adelaide got the credit of being such famous |
lo1sekeepers; ana the floral decorations. |
Snlch attracted even Lord Lavender'S rastfd- |
Gus eyes and drew from him the remark that |
hey must be the work OF perfect artist.
. Ny girls are both thoroughly artistic saws |
ny stepInotner. She hadn't quite made in hoo |
1lho winch OF them shOuld go In for the nri1a |
It was Htlle too young for either: but. After |
H. lew years more or less don't matter ~
ne long run, Adelaide Is our musician saa
as wonderful yoice-three octaves o.
egisteT smooth as velvet. She ..o LII me
' snJaEs sa,ssters every where. You IKE !
roc Dttoesn't Care rap for the finest voice in
arg tort Lavender, don't humbug my |
retty girl than examine PATHS register. BY |
he-Oy, where's Cindy:'
Gone to bed, should hope" returns my
tepmother in icy tones
"ConfOunded shame" mutters Jack usdar
us moustache: but this was no time for max
ng stand. He returned to the charge next
morning. N