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

he tears would come unbidden and
lncontrolably, and as more distant
grew each turn of the carriage wheels
,reaking over the frozen snow; bearing
Ter aunt and her two cousins to the
charity ball, fancy dress affair, more
orofuse became Cecil's tears, and
leart-broken her sobs, for they had
eft her behind alone with nobody but
he servants and Aunt Aphroditc, a
cripple, but the only one in the great
yray stone mansion who ever thought
If her youth and her great longing for
bit of enjoyment, but she was by
nature sympathetic and had been
'oung oEce herself.
AS the sound of the carriage wheels
Vas lost amid the tumult of the noisy
street, a sob louder than the rest, a
cob in which her entire grief seemed
20 be concentrated, awoke Aunt
Aphrodite from deep slumber, and
she sat bolt upright in her chair and
dubbed her eyes in a dazed sort of
way until they fell upon Cecil's bowed
head. ''Why, dear me, Cecil" Aunt
Aphrodite said, Il had such terrible
lream, but it must have been your cry
ng, but it is too bad" Her voice
growing tender and full of sympathy.
1T is all nonsense and selishness that
Maria and the girls didn't take you
along. Your cousins both deserve to
marry poor men, and then wonder how
hey would like to be denied pleasure,
and all that money will bring, though
goodness knows both are transient
enough"
''But. Aunt AphroGite, l am sure
hey did not know how much | wanted
% GO
"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
heir own fathers house. But see
here, child" she said, as if sudden
dea had struck her, Il bought ticket
lust for sweet charity's sake, and if l
lid not fear the consequences, or that
something might happen to you, L
would say, take it, buy a mask and 90
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 sprang up, all vistage of sobs
lying out of her voice as she clasped
ner hands together, go to the charity
ball, Aunt Aphrodite," she said eX-
Eitedly. '.Are you really in earnest?"
Then she fell back again detected
little droop of the head and shoulders.
You are too kind, Aunt Aphrodite,"
Cecil said. ''But it is to be fancy
dress ball and | have no costume, not
even a garment that would represent
domino, unless it is Uncle Padding
IONS rain gossomer.
Aunt Aphrodite was silent for a mo-
ment, Il didn't think of that" she re-
turned, ''but, all! have it, give me
my cane, dear, and bring a light, and
then give me your arm to the garnet.
You shall be made as fair as any maid
en- who will grace the floor, but you
must promise me solemnly, never to
tell"
''Aunt Aphrodite, said Cecil, with
a suspicion of scorn in her young
voice, .'have l ever betrayed any of
your confidence by either word OF
lookup
''No my DEAR" Aunt Aphrodite re-
turned smiling, 'sbut this is most
especially profound secret"
'Of course, Aunt Aphrodite, Cecil
replied, ''conspirators seldom betray
each other"
Up the three flight of stairs went
Cecil and her aunt to the garnet, that
great receptical 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-
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.
.'Of course if Maria should ever dis
cover that l had been the means of
your 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
truction, but | do hate to see young
people deprived of pleasures which in
after wears are sure to loose some of
their charms"
As Cecil turned the knob of the at
tic door, it creaked solemnly upon its
hinges as it opened, making the flame
of the small lamp flare, then 60 quite
out. But it 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
walked directly into the second room
and knelt down before large IRON
bound oak chest, one in which Cecil
thought young Lovel's hapless bride
might have hidden on that fatal christ
mas. As the key turned hard in the
rusty lock and the great lid with a
sort of groan slowly opened, Cecil
closed her eyes and for 4 moment held
her breath. Young and eager for
pleasure as she was, the inciduous
odor of musk that suddenly pervaded
the room and settled like pail about
her, made her shiver and feel almost
as if she must see the pale face of the
bride of long ago. still arrayed in her
nuptial robes, rise from the dark re-
cess of the old oak chest. The mo-
ment she stood there was brief enough
but the imagininss OF that fleeting
time were engraved upon her memory
there 20 remain .psilacihie though she