The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-23
CINDERELLA.

her aunt and her two cousins to the
charity ball, a fancy dress affair, more
profuse became Cecil's tears, and
heart-broken her sobs, for they had
left her behind alone with nobody but
the servants and Aunt Aphroditc. a
cripple, but the only one in the great
gray stone mansion who ever thought
Of her youth and her great longing for
a bit Of enjoyment, but she was by
nature sympathetic and had been
yOnng once herself.
AsEthe sound of the carriage wheels
was lost amid the tumult Of the noisy
street, q sob louder than the rest. u
sob in which her entire grief seemed
to be concentrated, invoke Aunt
Aphrotite from a deep slumbcr, and
she sat bolt upright in her chair and
rubbed her eyes in a dazed sort of
way until they fell upon Cecil's bowed
head. why. dear me, Cecil Aunt
Aphrodite said. II had such a terrible
dream, but it must have been your cry.
ing. but it Is too bad" Her voice
growing tender and full OF sympathy.
ssItie all nonsense and selfishness that
Maria and the girls didn't take you
along. Your cousins both deserve to
marry poor men. and then wonderhow
they would like to DO denied pleasure,
and all that money will bring, though
goodness knows both r transient
enough
But. Aunt %Aplirodite, / am sure
they did not know how much / wanted
to 20.
.Fiddlcsticks, Cecil. they did know,
only they wnnt the best the market
affords Tor themselves, thew have no
fancy for a rival, and one produced by
their own fathers house. But SEQ
here. child" she said, MS if Il sudden
idea had struck her, II bought a ticket
just for. sweet charity's sake. and if /
did not fear the consequences. or that
something might happen to you, I
would say, take il, buy a mask and go
and dance to your hearts content. But
OF course when they unmasked you
would be obliged to make your adieu.
like Cinderella in the fairy tale"
Cecil spraDg up, all yistage Of sobs
dying out OF her voice az she clasped
her hands together, sgo to the charity
bnll, Aunt Aphrodite,"' she said ex-
citedly. Are you really in earnestp''
Then shc fell back again a detected
little droop Of the head and shoulders.
You are too kind, Aunt Aphrodite,n
Cecil said. But it is to be. q fancy
dress ball and I have no costume, not
ven a garment that would represent
domino. unless it is Uncle Padding
tons rain gossonler."
Aunt Aphrodite was silent for a mo-
ment, II didn't think of that" she re-
turned, ..bnt. nh! I have it, give me
my cane, dear. and bring a light, and
then give me your arm to the garret.
You shall be made as fair as any maid
EN- who will grace the floor, but you
must promise me solemnly, never to
teIl."n
Aunt Aphrodite," said Cecil, with
a suspicion Of scorn in her young
voice. .have / over betrayed any OF
your confidence by either word OF
look?"
$40 my DEAR Aunt Aphrodite re.
turned smiling. aabut this is most
especially y profound secret
.aOf course. Aunt Aphrodite." Cecil
replied. .conspirators seldom betray
each other"
Up the three flight Of stairs wen
Cecil and her aunt to the garnet, tina,
great receptical for queer looking
chests and boxes containing treasures
perhaps, and discarded clothes. rich
but made worthless by the stamp O
fashion of past years. Aunt Aphro,
dite feeling the sensation of pleasure
in the possibility of making her niece
happy as keenly as did Cecil in the
anticipation OF the Joy in store for her
tOs course il Maria should ever dis
cover that j had been the means o
your attending the charity ball, sh,
would never a reproducing me foI
my folly and accuse me OF giving yo,
4 the first start upon the road to dis
truction, butt do hate to see young
people deprived of pleasures which il
after years are sure to loose some o
their charms
As Cecil turned the knob of the at
tic door, it crcaked solemnly upon it,
hinges az il opened, making the flame
of tho small lamp flare, then go quit,
out. But it was soon lighted again
and when once within the gloom o
these upper rooms the dim light o
the lamp seemed to make the darkness.
even more appalling. Aunt Apliroditt
walked directly into the second room
and knelti down before a large iron
bound oak chest. one in which Ceci
Thought young Lovel's hapless bride
might have hiddenon that fatal christ
mas. As the key turned hard in the
rusty lock and the great lid with {
sort of groan slowly opened, Ceci
closed her eyes and for a moment helt
her breath. Young and g fol
pleasure as she was. the inciduou!
odor of musk that suddenly pervadct
the room and settled like q pail abon
her, made her SILVER and feel almos
o. II she mustse the pale face of til,
bride of long ago, still arrayed in he
nuptial robes, rise from tho dark re
cess Of the old oak chest. The mo
ment she stood there was brief enough
but the imaginings Of that tieetin.
time were engravedupon her memory
there to remain inefacible though sh
lived to be as old as Methusela, wheI
other impressions were blotted out b,
the strange happenings of time.
Meanwhile Aunt Aphrodite ha,
drawn from the chest q dress of film,
white lace OF q fine intricate pattern
. scarlet satin bodice whose graceful
SuEvcS ullEuG laws U00u llau0 10 III I'll
slight simple form OF Cecil herself,
dainty pair OF white slippers, and las
OF all q jewel case in whose ~velvet-lin
ing lay jewels that any princess Nigh
wear.
s But Cecil laughed her old, careless
happy laugh half an hour later a
standing before the long mirror sh
saw looking back at her a strangel
beautiful image resembling herself
still unlike the half-frightened lit.
girl who had stood mute with surpris