The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-01-14

vn tnls nne summer day, pinnIng this,
lengthening here, tightening there,
hustled by one sister, scolded by the
I other. My head was weary, my legs
were aching; felt utterly depressed
and humiliated. 1 had for the first time
asked q favor, and been not only re-
fused, but refused with scofIs and ieers.
Jack had proposed taking me to see the
rehearsal of the wonderful tableaux.
arranged after Mrs. Freake's style.
had prayed to be let go Corneiia had
drawn me in front of the long glass, and
she and Adelaide had laughed over the
notion Of my presenting myself in such
a garb before the people up at the
castle.
"They would take you for kitchen
maid, Adelaide had said, still giggling.
81 can fancy Colonel de Molyns put
ting his eyeglass into his eye and won
dering where she came froml
"Cindy thinks herself 80 lovely that
every one would bow down before her.
Look at her faco Oh, child what o
temper you have |"
"Don't attempt to show me any of
your airs, MISS" says my stepmother,
turning On me suddenly. ave know
why you want to go to the rehearsal
don't we, girls. It's shame OF you to
turn son against his own mother and
sisters. You are designing, migrate
full creature, and outside these doors
you shant STIR"
wouldn't give them tho satisfaction
Of seeing me cry; but, later on, when
got away from them, wept bitterly.
l was SO disappointed 1 did wish to see
the tableaux-those beautiful women as
"Effie Deans" and "Rebecca" and nv
own dear favorite "Mary Stuart - /
knew them all SO well. l sat down in
the deep window seat Of the hall and
cried and cried again. Suddenly the
door opened and Jack came in quickly.
"Cindyi" butt didn't stir till he came
and stood beside me.
1t was no use, jack" said; "they
wouldn't let me go to the rehearsal. /
don't think 1 can bear it much longer.
Jack; they are so very, very unkind to
me |"
"Don't cry, Cindy; you'll have the
whip-hand of them yet, never fear. ]
say, what do you thinkP I've settled it
all you are coming with me tonight |"
"Oh, Jack p 1 cried, "nonsense
How could 1? They'd never let me-"
"They'n know nothing about it:
you just do as tell you" And then he
sat down and told me all about it. One
OF the beautiful women had got bad
toothache her face was all swollen and
disfgured, and the tableau in which she
vas to appear was spoilt. cit was i'm.
| possible "a Ill: irr plwc, so promised
that yon should ilo it," Jack went on.
ITS nothing; only just to stand for
minute. She has her dress ready for
you to put on, and you'll see all the fun
afterward, and no one will know you"
1t was really very tempting, and
couldn't resist this glimpse of the great
world, but deserved all the seedlings
| got during the toilet Of the sisters.
My head was running on what was to
come and l could not remember where
single thing was.
| al do believe the girl is feverish;
look at the color of her cheeks" I heard
Cornelia whisper to Adelaide. But this
idea did not make them bit more con-
siderate in their demands.
At last they finished, and the sound
Of the retreating wheels Of their car
riage was like music to my ears. I flew
TO my own room and made myself ready
don't in the least remember how we
got to the hail. 1t all seemed like
dream. But presently found myself
in large bedroom, getting on some
body's dress, with tall, quiet woman
helping me. She took in here and let
| down II little there, and the gossamer
fabric fitted as if it had been made for
me. Then she asked me to look at my
self, and when l stood before the large
mirror / started. Could this be the
same girl who a few hours ago had been
mocked at by Cornelia and Adelaide
Spicer? This lovely apparition the
shabby, fearful child, the Cinderella of
| the house?
Presently Jack came for me, and his
delight showed that my vanity had not
deceived me.
"Bravo, little Cindy," he said; al
knew you only wanted fair play. All
the women will be madly jealous o!
you"
don't this prospect gave me as much
pleasure as he expected, but it was
certainly delightful experience to find
myself such an object of general atten.
ton. My part In the tableaux was not
much. Once stood for few minutes
behind gauze with two other ladies'
while Lord Lavender, rs Paris, offered
the apple to tho center figure, very
lovely girl. She was Lady Sybil Len
nard, "a dukes daughter and great
beauty" Jack whispered to me.
1--WE must have another set of tab.
leaux next week" said Lord Lavender.
coming up to us. "If your sister will
help us, Spicer, We could have Faust
and Marguerite and THE Sleeping
Beauty and Pygmalion and Galatea."
His bright Young face was littlo
flushed with excitement and his dark
eyes sought mine with an expression
that, novice as l was, could not mis-
understand.
"Pm afrnid there'll be two words to
that" said Jack, laughing. "Cindy is
kept in q glass case; slipped her out
by mere chance. But, listen they're
calling for THE Judgment again np
AS soon as the tableaux were over
l had to doff my borrowed garments
and make the best of my way home. II
had had my glimpse of fairyland and
must return to slavery again-a slavery
more uncomfortable now than ever. r
could hardly believe it was real when
found myself at home, waiting for the
return OF my stepmother and her daugh-
ters; still more unreal did it seem when
the morning light stole through my
windows and had to take up my weary
work again.
at was all droam," / thought;
"impossible that all those compliments
were paid to me, all those tender
speeches and loving looks. Ridicu-
lous~ But there, opposite, on my
table, stood the bunch OF lovely roses
given to me by Lord Lavender himself.
1t was all true, theni got up; sang
to myself as / dressed. 1t was one Of
Adelaide's songs and the words were
all of love. They had always seemed
rubbish, but now they struck me as
pretty.
That morning all the talk was OF the
tableaux. The Spicers found great
fault with everything except "The
Judgment OF Paris" They held forth
at great length ON the beauty of Lady
Eva Beauohamp and declared that she