Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-01-24
A Modern Cinderella.

"Good-nightls said Mrs. Carson. She
prided herself on her politeness. She
would not for worlds have omitted say
ing farewell for even the briefest period,
though just now her tone of icy dis
pleasure sewas decidedly more chilling
than would have been the most stony
silence. "There, therel another time
Be good child-don't botherp' mur-
INJURED kindly enough meek, nervous,
apologetic Mr. Carson, tugging desper-
ately at his ecru kid gloves and pranc1ng
aside to avoid stepping on his wife's
voluminous satin train as that lady
swept majestieally 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 pretty-featured, languishing,
insipid face, like the visage Of faded
wax doll.
This evening she had dressed with
conscientious regard as to effect. And
effect enough there certainly was, but as
Miss Carson's taste was not the most ar
tistic in the world it was rather startling
than admirable. She wore an elaborate
dress of heliotrope satin brocaded in
crimson velvet flowers, an opera-cloak of
bright blue surah and swansdown, and
pink kid gloves very long and very
wrinkled.
1t is curious the things which satisfy
some people. That glance in the mirror
absolutely thrilled her with intense sat
isfaction Deigning neither nod nor look
to the dark-clad young figure standing
on the hearth-rug she swished round her
train, stopped so catch it, and sailed out
of the room, leaving behind her an al
most oppressive suggestion of Lubin.
Mr.. Carson. still engaged in valiant
struggle with his gloves, glanced fur
lively after tho respondent retreating
forms Of his wife and daughter, then
sidled across the Garnet in manner posi-
lively stealthy to where his niece still
stood.
'sRuby" in quite ponderous whis-
per, and laying one hand (ecru as to the
half -gloved fingers, the rest being as red
as boiled lobster gently enough on
the girls dusk head. Il wish I could
let you go in my place-I dol Plays.
theaytres, and sech-like don't suit me,
nor me them. But for a young cretur
like you it's material, oh, it's nateral Tell
ye what I'll do, Ruby, rll get ye matiney
tickets on the sly, and ye can go after
j all, unbeknown to 'em. Yes, Adelia,
yes, my dear; I'm a-comin'r" And in
response to Mrs. Carson's shrill summons
he hustled off,
Ruby laughed half sadly to herself. On
the slyl In state Of what subsection
the poor little man was to be surei He
could not no her the slightest kindness
exceptin 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 sufficient
moral courage to assert himself and his
rights occasionally. AS it was he was a
mere figure-head in his own housc-a
very humble-visaged, low-voiced, ner-
vous little figure head at that.
And Ruby9-well, she was only child
after all, just past sixteen. For her the
tinsel and glitter of The footlights had
not yet lost their charm. She was
young enough still to feel quicker
heart-throb 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 cur
tain 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-s'with Rosalind in Arden, or
Viola at the Court of nlvria."
And 50 tonight it was no wonder that
the pretty mignonne face grew so doleful
as the minutes ticked on.
1t was so still in the great gorgeous
house, too-gorgeous, though every shin
ing gilt frame and bright plush portiere
and cabinet of bric-a-brac, chosen with
execrable taste, spoke ''parvenu'' as plain
ly as tongue could have said it.
And they had box, the little brown
clad lady rocking vigorously in low
chair before the open CRATE, told herself
gloomily. One more might just as well
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 actress,
.'sir. you have wrestled well and over
| thrown more than your enemies. On
had it progressed farther9 Was Jacques
asking, ssof what stature is your lovef''