New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-02-06
A MODERN CINDERELLA.

---George Macdonald.
A MODERN CINDERELLA.
"Good-night!'' said Mrs. Carson.
She prided herself on her politeness.
She would not tor worlds have omitted
saying farewell for even the briefest pc
Rod, though just now her tone of icy
displeasure was decidedly more chill
ing than would have been the most
stony silence. :, .tThere, there! another
time! Be good child don't bother!''
murmured kindly enough meek, ner-
vous, apologize Mr.. Carson, Juggling
desperately at his ecru kid gloves and
prancing aside to avoid stepping on his
wife's voluminous satin train as that
lady swept majestically by him and out
into the hall.
Miss Eustachia Carson paused for a
last. deliberate look into the pier-glass.
She was small, but Nature had atoned
for her niggardliness in regard to
height by generous; if unsylph-like
breadth. She had q pretty-featured,
languishing, insipid face, like the Wis
age of q faded wax doll.
This evening she had dressed with
conscientious. regard as to effect. And
effect enough there certainly was, but
as Miss Carson 8 taste was not the most
artistic in'the world it was rather start
ling than admirable. She wore an
elaborate dress of heliotrope satin
brocaded in crimson velvet flowers,
an opcra-cloak Of light blue surah and
swansdown, and pink kid gloves very
long and very wrinkled.
some people. That glance in the mir
ror absolutely thrilled her with intense
satisfaction. Deigning neither nod nor
look to the dark-clad young figure
standing on the hearth-rug she swished
round her train, swooped to catch it,
and sailed out of the room, leaving be-
hind her an almost oppressive sugges.
ton of Lubin.
Mr.. Carson, still engaged in val
liant struggle with his gloves, glanced
furtively after the Respondent retreat
ing forms of his wife and daughter,
then sidled across the carpet in man
ner positively stealthy to where his
niece still stood.
'Ruby!' in quite ponderous whis-
per, and laying one hand (ecru as to
the half-gloved fingers, the rest being
as red as a boiled lobstcr), gently
enough on the girls dusky head, II
wish could let you 90 in my place
Lord, 1 do! Plays, theaytres, and
sech like don't suit me, nor me them.
But for young cretur like you it's
material, oh, it's material! Tell we what
I'll do, Ruby. I'll get we matiney tick
cts on the sly and We can 90 after all,
unbeknown to 'em. Yes, Adelia, yes,
my dear; Pm a-comin'!' And in re-
Spouse to Mrs. Carson's shrill summons
he hustled off.
Ruby laughed half sadly to herself
On the sly! In a state of what subiec-
ton the poor little man was to be sure!
He could not do her the slightest kind
ness except in fear and trembling.
She was his dead sisters only child,
and he was very fond of her, would
have been very good to her had he suf-
ticient moral courage to assert himself
and his rights occasionally. AS it was
he was a mere fgure-head in his own
households very humble-visaged,
low-voiced, nervous little figure-head
at that.
And Ruby?-well, she was only a
child after all, just past 16. For he1
the tinsel and glitter of the footlights
had not yet lost their charm. She was
young enough still to feel quicker
as the first bars of the or
chestra resounded, young enough to
like to watch the gay crowds surging
down the aisles, young enough when
the curtain rolled upward at last to
lose herself in the mimic life before
her, forgetful of all her small daily
griefs, Mrs. Carson's icy politeness,
and Eustachia's ungentle disdain, while
.as poor Charles Lamb puts it-''with
Rosalind in Arden, or Viola at the
Court of nlyria."
And so tonight it was no wonder
that the pretty mignonne face grew so
doleful as the minutes licked on.
It was so still in the great gorgeous
house, too-gorgeous, though every
shining gilt frame and bright plush
portiere and cabinet of bric-a-brac,
chosen with execrable taste, spoke
''parvenu" as plainly as tongue could
have said it.
And they had box, the little browr-
clad lady rocking vigorously in low
chair before the open CRATE, told her.
self gloomily. One more might just
as we'll have gone as not, and she did
so admire Modjeska.
How far had the play proceeded now?
Was Rosalind saying to Orlando in the
sweet foreign voice of the Polish act
ress, ''Sir, you have wrestled We'll and
overthrown more than your enemies"
Or had it progressed farther? Was
Jacques asking, "Of what stature is
your iove?'' and Orlando answering
gallantly, 'Just as high as my HEARTH
"Good gracious!' Miss Ruby sprang
bewilderedly to her feet. ''Why
doesn't he pull the house down?''
And indeed the resonant peal which
startled her was something terrific,
long, loud, brisk, imperious. She heard
the door opened, shut, a brief colloquy,
then the portieres draping the par.or
entrance were thrust aside and a gentle
man walked into the room bringing
with him a Whit Of the frosty outer
world. A young gentleman-a very
young gentleman, overcoated
up to the chin, with pair of dark blue
eyes cleaning from under the shadow
Of his Russian cap, which latter he re-
moved with alacrity as he perceived
the other occupant Of the apartment.
For bare moment they regarded
each other in silence, Miss Ruby's bril-
liant glance measuring the stranger
from head to feet.
Swell, I declared
That was all she said. The way she
said it would have disconnected any
ordinary man. But Paul Durand was
not an ordinary man, or so his friends
asserted.
II beg your pardon!" in most pro-
found contrition. 81 was not aware
The room was occupied. The servant
said the family was from home, and
entered to await Mr.. Carson's re-
turn.''