McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-04-30

other impressions were blotted out by
the strange happenings OF time.
Meanwhile Aunt. Aphrodite had
drawn from the chest dress of filmy
white lace OF fine intricate pattern,
a scarlet satin bodice whose graceful
curves might have been made to fit the
slight simple form of Cecil herself, &
dainty pair of white slippers, and last
of all a jewel case in whose velvet-lin-
ing lay jewels that any princess might
wear.
But Cecil laughed her old, careless,
happy laugh half an hour later as
standing before the long mirror she
saw looking back at her strangely
beautiful image resembling herself,
still unlike the half-frightened little
girl who had stood mute with surprise
and abated breath, during the resur-
recting of those articles which had
transformed her into a vision of love-
illness.
"Do you see the dewdrops lying in
the heart of those blossoms?" Aunt
Aphrodite said, taking long spray of
white blossoms from among the jewels.
each dewdrop is a diamond. You
must be very careful with them;
should so hate to lose one, and this
flower is little loose, but | will fasten
it securely in your hair. Here is your
fan and wrap and the carriage is wait
ing at the door"
at is just like the fairy tale of Gin
derella, Aunt Aphrodite," Cecil said,
fn,. fhn ctn
steps, land you are my good, fairy
godmother; only, l don't believe poor
Cinderella was half as happy as l for
after the ball she had nothing but Gin
ders to return to, that is, if the Prince
had not found the slipper"
Cecil clasped her small gloved hands
together in an extacy of bliss as she
felt herself being borne away to that
scene pictured but feebly in her imagi-
native mind. What music the creak-
ing OF the wheels was to her ears now
she too was receeding with the sound
as they roOled away from the silent
house which had but half an hour be-
fore held her Z prisoner.
Had she not sobbed convulsively and
thought the world as black as the star
less pail without, and everyone as
unklnd, ali! so unkind to her. Yet
now those sobs were forgotten, and the
blacEness had given away to light;
and if any one had been unkind she
had been compensated for all, in the
twofold goodness and sympathy of
Aunt Aphrodite. So runs the world; SO
together are ever woven the sunbeams
and shadows of life. So true it is
''Laugh and the world laughs with you,
Weep AID you weep alone"
AS the carriage neared the great
amusement hall and the cold shlvers
caused her teeth to chatter uncon-
trollably, Cecil with almost nerveless
fingers slipped the mask over her face,
fearing when she stepped from the
carriage she might be recognized.
"Would anyone ask her to Dance"
Cecil questioned herself. All to be
sure, if Mr.. Silas Pepperton were there
he would, for were not the diamonds
she wore most magnificent, and her
dress of extreme loveliness as well as
richness, and Mr.. Pepperton had
great pencheant for costly fabrics. In
deed, he never could see anything in
woman to admire whose clothes were
cheap or fashionable. If Professor
Megs was there and he had the least
suspicion of her presence he would be
sure to seek her as a partner. But then
he was such an abominable dancer, al
ways choosing his partner feet rather
than the floor to dance upon. Then
there was Mr.. Jack Thurston, who
came to see her cousin Alice oftener
than mere friendship would warrant,
much to the disapproval of ambitious
designing mammas with marriageple
daughters. Cecil had spoken scarcely
half dozen words to him during his
frequent visits ut the house; if his ac-
quaintance with her was so slight
without her mask, he would not
likely recognize her beneath the dis
9uise.
The carriage stopped suddenly, and
the door was thrown open. ''NOw
John don't forget, half past II exactly
and solemn promise to secrecy"
Cecil said as the man passed her
through the great entrance and up the
crowded stairway to the dressing
room. AS Cecil stood for a moment
watching the brilliant scene before en-
tering the room, she suddenly became
conscious that two men were watch
ing her. They stood together a little
at her right. She turned involuntarily
and met the steady gaze of her uncle.
and Jack Thurston, the latter still
wearing his overcoat, the collar of
which was turned up about his ears,
for the night was very cold and he had
just arrived.
Surprised and little dismayed at
the encounter, Cecil quickly sought
another quarter of the crowded room.
Had she been recognized, she Won
dered. Impossible. Yet as she turn
ed to cast backward glance at her
uncle she saw that his eyes were fol-
lowing her, but his companion had
disappeared.
Cecil pressed hurriedly forward to
lose herself in the crowd, but she stum-
bled and fell with some force against
Prussian officer, who was just entering
one of the exits, and who, with that
gallantry in accordance with his call
ing, assisted her to her feet. She apol-
oeized confusedly and hurried away,
and vuhan at q safe distance turned to