Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-01-09
From the Chicago Tribune.I
A MODERN CINDERELLA,
BY K. NJ PHELINI.

Goodnight" said Mrs. Carson. She
prided herself on her politeness. She
would not for worlds have omitted saying
farewell for even the briefest period,
though Just now her tone oficy displeas-
ure was decidedly more chilling than
would have been the most stony silence.
F'There, therel another time! Be a
good child-don't botherp murmured
kindly enough meek, nervous, apollo
getic Mr.. Carson, Juggling desperately
at his ecru kid gloves and prancing
around 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 niggardiiness in regard to height
by generous if unsylph-iike 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 heiiotrope satin brocaded In
crimson velvet flowers, an opera cloak of
bright blue surah and swansdoWn. and
pink kid gloves very long and very
Wrinkled.
It is curious the things which satisfy
some people. That glance IN the mir
ror absolutely thrilled her with intense
satisfaction. DeigDing 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 suppressive sugges-
ton OF Lubin.
Mr.. Carson still engaged IN a valiant
struggle with his gloves, glanced fur
lively after the resplendent retreating
forms Of his wife and daughter, then
sided across the carpet in a manner
positively stealshy TO where his niece
still stood.
Ruby IL quite ponderous whis-
per, and laying one hand (ecru as to the
haIf-gloyed fingers, the rest being as red
as boiled lobster gently enough on
the girls dusk head, 81 wish [ could
let you go IN my place-Lord, I 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 nat
eral Tell We what I'll do, Ruby. I'll
get We matiney tickets on the sly, and
ye can go after all, Unbekpown to 'em.
Yes, Adelia, yes, my dear, I'm COM
In And IN response to Mrs. Car
sons shrill summons he hustled off.
Ruby laughed half sadly to herself.
On the sly! In a state of what subiec-
tion 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 ne suf-
fcient moral courage to assert himself
and his rights occasionally. AS it was
he was mere figure-head in his own
house-a very humble-visaged. low
voiced, nervous little figure head at
that.
And Ruby ?-weil, she was only a
child after all, just past Is. For her the
tinsel and glitter OF the footlights had
not yet lost their charm. She was young
enough still to feela quicker heart throb
as the first bars of the orchestra re-
sounded, young enough to like to watch
Vic Gay NAOWA6 OAt4 sSk-S5 OOHA bAC d1b16Ss
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. Carsou's icy
politeness, and Eustachia's ungentle dis
dain, while-as poor Charles Lamb puts
it" with ROsalind III Arden, or Viola
at the Court of Illyria. +"
And SO tonight it was no wonder that
the pretty mignonne face grew SO dole
full as the minutes licked on.
1t was so still in the great gorgeous
house, too-gorgeous, though every
shining gilt frame and bright plush por-
there 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 brown
clad lady rocking vigorously in a 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.
Howfar had the play proceeded now?
Was Rosalind saying to Orlando in the