The Portland daily press., 1881-02-05

IHio inJuuiCiotS epceCu scdleu my idco 40
regarded the Lavender gaietes-that Is, if
was kept more closely to my needle than ev
er. Indeed, it was in constant requisition,
for the demands of my amable sisters were
Never had known them to be
SO exacting Everything seemed to be 60
ing wrong with them. From all their gale
ties they returned out of sorts, and their ill
humor and disappointments were vented
upon met was all the fault of my bad
dressing, my bad taste, my ill-natured ad-
vice.
Meanwhile Lord Lavender conv vulsed the
whole county by issuing invitations for a
series of festivities. Morning parties,
ball, tableaux were to succeed one another.
A covey of relations descended in fight to
assist the young lord in astonishing the pro-
and astonish them they did.
A dream of fair women in impossible toi-
lets, accompanied by handsome guardsmen,
drove and rode about the simple country
roads and startled the simple village folk.
The arrival of these great people put the fin
ishing touch to the ill-humor of the Spicers.
Both my stepmother and her daughters
were in a fever of anxiety, hoping for some
notice. They were forever throwing them
the circles at the hall, of which such de
lightful stories were told by Jack, who was
hand and-glove with the whole set. Long
and loud were the disputes between him
and his sisters, and bitter their indignation
at his refusal to get them into the tableaux,
of which he was the stage manager.
''Just like his ill-nature. Never were
two poor girls SO little helped. They would
have got good husbands long ago if they had
had kind BROTHER" and so on.
On the day of the ball they were furious.
Their dresses had come down from London; !;
they were very handsome, and although
more suited for sixteen than six-and-thirty,
had cost little fortune. The afternoon
was spent in trying them on. 1t was weary
work on this fine summer day, pinning this,
lengthening here, tightening there, hustled
by one sister, scolded by the other. My
head was weary, my legs were aching;
felt utterly depressed and humiliated.
had for the first time asked favor, and
been not only refused, but refused with
SCOTS and jeers; 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; .Cornelia
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 putting
his eye-glass into his eye and wondering
where she came fromv'
sCindy thinks herself so lovely that every
one would bow down before her. Look at
her face! Oh, child! what a temper you
havep'
''Don't attempt to show me any of your
airs, MISS" said my stepmother, turning on
me suddenly ''We know why you want to
go to the rehearsal; don't we, girls? It's a
shame of you to turn son against his own
mother and sisters. You are a designing,
ungrateful creature, and outside these doors
you shan't stir.''
l would't give them the satisfaction of
seeming me cry; but, later on, when 1 got
away from them, wept bitterly. was so
disappointed; l did wish to see the tableaux
these beautiful women as "Efie Deans,"
and "Rebecca," and my own dear favorite,
"Mary Stuart;' but knew them all so very
well. sat down in the deep window seat
of the hall, and cried and cried again. Sud
denly the door opened and Jack came in
quickly. "Cindyp' but didn't stir till he
came and stood behind me.
"It's no use, Jack, they would't let me
60 to the rehearsal. 1 don't think can
stand it much longer. Jack; they are SO
very, very unkind to me-"
sDon't cry Cindy; you'll have the whip
hand of them yet, never fear. say, what do
you think? Pve settled it all; you are COM
ing with me tonightw
"Oh, Jackp' / cried nonsense! How
could 1? They'd never let me''
"They'll know nothing about it; you
just do as I tell you.' And then he sat down
and told me all about it. One of the beau
tiful women had got bad toothache; her
face was all swollen and disfigured, and the
tableau in which she had to appear was
spoilt. sit was impossible to fill her place,
so promised that you would do it," Jack
went on. cts nothing; only just to stand
for moment. She has her dress ready for
you to put on, and you'll see all the fun af-
terward, and no one will know you"
1t was really very tempting, and could
not resist this glimpse of the world, but /
think deserved all the seedlings got DUR
ing the toilet of the sisters. Ny head was
running on what was to come and could
not remember where single thing was.
''I 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 considerate in their
demands.
At last they finished, and the sound of the
retreating wheels of their carriage was like
music to my ears. flew to my room and
made myself ready.
don't in the least remember how we got
to the hall. 1t all seemed like a dream.
But presently found myself in a large bed
room, getting on somebody's dress, with a
tall quiet woman helping me. She took in
here and let down a little there, and the
gosamer fabric fitted as if il had been made
for me. Then she asked me to look at N.Y.
self and as stood before the large mirror I
started. Could this be the same girl who a
hod hno Iyod bu ali
and Adelaide Spicer?-this lovely apparition
the shabby, fearful child, the Cinderella of
the house?
Presently Jack came for me, and his de-
light showed that my vanity had not de-
ceived me.
"Bravo, little Cindy," he said; 81 knew
you only wanted fair play. All the women
will be madly jealous of you."
/ don't think this prospect gave me as
much pleasure as he anticipated, but it
was certainly delightful experience to
find myself such an object of general at
tention. My part in the tableaux was not
behind gauze with two other ladies,
while Lord Lavender, as Paris, offered
the apple to the center figure, very lovely
girl. She was Lady Sybil Lennard, "a
dukes daughter and great beauty" Jack
whispered to me.
''We must have another set of tableaux
next week." said Lord Lavender, coming
up to US. eff your sister will help us, Spicer,
we could have Faust and Marguerite and
The Sleeping Beauty and 'Pygmalion and
His bright young face was little flushed
with excitement, and his dark eyes sought
mine with an expression that, novice as l
was, could not misunderstood.
''Pm afraid there'll be two words to that"
said Jack, laughing. "Cindy is kept in a
glass case; I slipped her out by mere chance.
But, listen! they're calling for The Judg-
ment' again"
As soon as the tableaux were over I had
to doff my borrowed garments and make the
best of my way home. had had glimpse
of Fairyland and must return to slavery
again-a slavery more uncomfortable now
than ever. / could hardly believe it was
real when found myself at home, waiting
for the return of my stepmother and her
daughters; still more unreal did it seem
wheo the morning light stole through my
windows and had to take up my weary
work again.
SIT was all dream" I thought; sim
possible that all these compliments were
paid to me, all those tender speeches and
loving looks. Ridiculousp' But there oppo-
site, on nay table, stood the bunch of lovely
roses given to me by Lord Lavender him
self. 1t was all true then! got up; 1 sang
to myself as I dressed. 1t was one of Ad-
elaide's songs, and the words we're all of
love. They had always seemed rubbish, but
now they struck me as pretty.