River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-05-21
CINDERELLA.

She could not help it, poor little
Cecil though young and light-hearted,
the tears would come unbidden and
uncomfortable, and as more distant
grew each turn Of the carriage wheels
creakng over the frozen snow; bearing
her aunt and her two cousins to the
charity ball, fancy dress affair, more
profuse became CcciFs tears, and
heart-brOken her sObs, for they had
left her behind alone with nobody but
the servants and Aunt Aphrodite, q
cripple, but the only one in the great
gray stone mansion who ever thought
Of her youth aud her great longing for
a bit Of enjoyment, but she was by
nature sympathetic and had been
Young once herself
As the sound OF the carriage wheels
was 10 [ amid the tumult of the noisy
street, sob louder than the rest,
sob IN which her entire grief seemed
to be concentrated, awoke Aunt
Aphrotitc from a deep slumber, and
she sat bolt upright in her chair and
rubbed her eyes in dazed sort of
way until they fell upon Cecrs bowed
head. ''Whv. dear me, Cecil" Aunt
Aphrodite said. Il had such terrible
dream, but it must have been your cry
ing, but il is too bad. Her voice
growing tender and full Of sympathy.
1T is all nonsense and seltishnes5 that
Maria and the girls didn't take you
along Your cousins both deserve to
marry poor men, and then wonder how
they would like TO be denied pleasure,
aud all that money will bring, though
goodness knows both are transient
enough.
But, Aunt Aphrodite, | am sure
they did not know how much l wanted
TO 20,
"Fiddlesticks. Cecil, they did know,
only they want the best the market
affords for themselves. they have no
fancy for a rival, and one produced by
their own fathers house. But see
here, child. " she said. rs if a sudden
idea had struck her, Il bought ticket
just for sweet charity S. sake, and if |
did not fear the consequences, or that
something might happen to YOU, l
would say, take it, buy mask and 90
and dance to YOUR hearts content But
of course when they uumasked YOU
would be obliged to make your adieu
like Cinderella in the fairy tale y
Cecil sprang up, all yistage of sobs
dying out Of her voice Us she clasped
her hands together, 90 to the charity
ball, Aunt AphrOdite,' she said eX-
citedlY. Are You really in earnest?"
Then she fell back again u detected
little droop OF the head and shoulders.
You are too kind. Aunt Aphrodite, "
Il 70 fn
dress ball and have no costume, not
even a garment that would represent
a domino, unless it is Uncle Padding
ton 5 rain @ossomer.
Aunt Aphrodite was silent for mo-
ment, Il didn't think OF that. she re-
turned, but, ali. have it, give me
my cane, dear, and bring 4 light, and
then give me your arm to the garrett
You Shall be made as fair rs any maid
en- who will grace the floor, but you
must promise me solemnly, never to
tell. F."
Aunt AphroIi'e, said Cecil, with
suspicion of scorn in her young
voice. ''havc ever betrayed any of
your confidence by either word or
look?'
NO my dear" Aunt Aphrodite re-
turned smiling, '.5ut this is most
especially 81 profound secret"
.'Of course, Aunt Aphroditc," Cecil
replied, "cOnspirators seldom betrav
each other
Up the three flight Of stairs went
Cecil and her aunt to the garnet, that
great rcccptcaI for queer looking
chests and boxes containing treasures,
perhaps. and discarded clothes, rich,
but made worthless by the stamp OF
fashion OF past years. Aunt Aphro.
dte feeling the sensation Of pleasure
in the possibility of making her niece
happy as koenly rs did Cecil in the
anticipation %! the ioY in store for her.
..Ot course if Maria should ever dis
cover tGat | had been the means Of
vour attending the charity ball, She
would never cease reproaching me for
my folly and accuse me OF giving You
the first start upon the road to dis
Traction, but do hate to sec young
people deprived of pleasures which in
after years are sure to loose some of
their charms.
Astecil turned the knob Of the at
tic door. II creaked olcmnly upon its
hinges rs it opened, making the flame
of the small lamp llare, then go quite
out Bat il was soon lighted again,
and when once within the gloom of
these upper rooms the dim light of
the lamp seemed to make the darkness
even more appalling Aunt Aphrodite
walled directly into the second room
ann E II Inwu before a large iron
bour oak hest, one in which Cecil
Though Young I.oyeDs haple>s bride
nigh; have hidden on that fatal christ
mas A. the KEY turned hard i'll the
rust lock aud the great lid with a
sort 60 ,roan slowly opened, Cecil
closed her eyes and for a moment held
her breath Young and eager for
pleasure as she was, the inciduous
odor of musk that suddenly prrvaded
the room and settled Ike Il pail about
her. made her Shiver and feel almost
As If she must see the pale face of the
bride of luug %, still arrayed in her
nup(ial ro.cs. rise from the dark re-
cess of tuc old oak chest Tho mo-
ment She stood there was brief enough,
but the imagiuings of that ileeting
time were engraved upon hermemory,
there r. remain inelacible though she
Ii cd 10 Dec Is old rs MethuSela, when
other impressions were blotted out by
the strange happenings OF time
Mcau~h ilc Aunt Aphuodite had
drawn f.om the chest a dress of hlmy
white lace al a iiHe intricate pattern,
a scHr.et sat bodice whose graceful
curves m;-ht have been made to hit the
slvht simple form Of Cecil herself, s
dainty pair OF white slippers, and last