The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-02-10


"Cindy thinks herself 80 lovely that
every one would bow down before her.
Look at her face! Oh, child, what q
temper you havep
sDon't attempt to show me any of
your airs, miss, says my stepmother,
turning on me suddenly. eve know
why you want to go to the rehearsal;
don't we, girls? Its a shame of you to
turn son against his own mother and
sisters. You are designing, migrate
full creature, and outside these doors
you shan't STIR
I wouldn't give them the satisfaction
OF seeing me cry; but later on, when l
got away from them, wept bitterly. l
l was so disappointed; did wish to see
the tableaux-those beautiful women
as :Efie Deans and "Rebecca and
nay own dear favorite Mary Stuart"
1 know them all so well. I sat down in
the deep window seat Of the hall and
cried and cried again. Suddenly the
door opened and Jack came in quickly.
" Cindyw but I didn't stir till he came
and stood beside me.
at was no use jack" said; they
won't let me go to the rehearsal. I
don't think I 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. l
say, what do you think? I've settled it
all: you are coming with me tonight
"Oh, jack 1 cried, nonsense .
How couldI? They'd never let me-
They'll know nothing about it; you
just do as 1 tell YOU" And then he sat
down and told me all about it. One of
the beautiful women had got q bad
toothache; her face was all swollen and
dishgured, and the tableau i'll which
she was to appear was spoilt, 1T was
impossible 10 ill her place, so prom
ised that you would do it," Jack went
on. Its nothing: only just to stand
for moment. She has her dresss
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 l
couldn't resist this glimpse of the great
world, but l think | deserved all the
seedlings I got during the toilette of
the sisters. My head was running on
what was to come and I could not re
member where single thing was.
- do believe the girl is feverish !;
look at her cheeks" heard Cornelia
whisper to Adelaide. But this idea did
not make them Il 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 own room and made myself ready
[ don't in tie least remember how
we got to the hall. 1t seemed like a
dream. But presently l found myself
in a large bedroom, getting on some
bodys dress, with a tall, quiet woman
helping me. She took in here and let
down little there, and the gossamar
fabric fitted as if it had been made for
me. Then she asked me to look at
myself, and when / stood before the
mirror | started Could this be the
same girl who few hours ago had
been Knocked at by Cornella and Ade-
laide 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," h said: 81
know you only wanted fair play.
All the women will be madly jealous of
you"
I don't think this prospect gave me
as much pleasure as he expected, but
it was certainly delightful experience
to find myselfsuch an object ofgeneral
attention. My part in the tableaux was
not much. Once l stood for a few
minutes behind a gauze with two other
ladies, while Lord Lavinder, as Paris,
offered the apple to the centre figure, a
very lovely girl She was Lady sybil
Leonard, "a dukes daughter and a
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, Spincer, we could have Faust
and Marguerite and The Sleeping
Beauty and 'Pygmalion and Gelatea. ("
His bright young face was little
flushed with excitement and his dark
eyes sought mine with an expression,
that, novice as l was, l could not mis-
understand.
I'm afraid there'll be two words to
that" said Jack laughing. 'sCindy is
kept in glass case; l slipped her out
by mere chance. But listen! they are
calling for The Judgment again!''
AS soon as the tableaux were over !
had to doff my borrowed garments and
make the best of my way home. I had
had my glimpse of Fairyland and
must return to slavery moro unendur.
able now than ever. I 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 when the
morning light stole through my win.
ldOws and l had to take I'D nv weary
work again.
cit was all a dream" thought; sim.
possible that all those compliments
were paid to me, all those
tender speeches and loving looks
Ridiculous But there, opposite, or
my table, stood the bunch of lovely
roses given me by Lord Lavender him.
self. 1t was all true, then! I got up
l sang to myself as I dressed 1t was
one of Adelaide 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 grea,
fault with everything except 1.-THE Judg.
ment of Paris" They held forth al
great length on the beauty Of Lady Eva
Beauchamp and declared that she was
far handsomer than Lady Sybil Len
lnard
| Chats ridiculous." said Jack.
"She's quite a young thing, and Lady
sibly is very fine girl-such fgureP
"Lady Eva's beautiful creature
and every one in the room said Lord
lavender was quite epris. l am SO
glad Lady Sibly and the Duchess will
be disappointed-nasty, stuck up crea-
tures!"
sLady Eva is like Cindy as two
peas" said Jake mischievously; sso
Pm glad you admire her so muchv'
"Cindy! how absurd Lady Eva is