Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-12

AS SOOu DIS The QOOI ClUStu nifty, Will
eyes like diamonds and cheeks like roses.
locked herself in her own little room. II
was not long before her simple toilet was
completed, and no one would have dreamed
the old muslin would have come cut so fresh
and white. Johnny had been taken into heI
confidence, and now that his eyeballS had
| got back into their sockets sat outside, with
his hands in his pockets, ready to give the
signal for Kitty to appear. Hark! A long
| shrill whistle. With her cloak around heI
she stole down the stairs, her heart in her
mouth at every creak, though she knew
| Charlotte was in bed. There at the curl
stood the carriage, and the footman opened
| the door and handed her a small box with
| bow low enough for Princess.
What lark" said Johnny. THAT top
knot of yours is tremendous. Keep up yom
| spirits, Kitty. I'll bet on you every time.
And if you see such thing as peanut
there, bring it home with you"
! In the box Kitty found the flowers she
| was to carry, a handful Of tea-roses laid un-
derneath white satin mask. This she put
on as the carriage rolled up in front of the
| stately steps, and with little sigh and
| shiver of mingled delight and fear she fol-
| lowed the footman into the hall and slipped
| into the cloak-room he pointed out.
| The strains Of music and the sound of
many ightly-tripping feet came to her ears
as she Invested herself Of her cloak and
shook out her dress before the pier-glass.
"a cat in strange garrett is poor com.
parison for this little Kitty as she stood
alone, half-frightened, in the dimly-lighted
! room. She could catch now and then a
| glimpse of Juliet's red velvet train sweep
ing through quadrille. Should she even
muster courage enough to open the doc,
leading to the little side room! The rustling
| of dress near the clOall-rOOm door decided
| her, and in trice she was in the next room
| It was warm, f1Ower-Scented retreat, and
Kitty stood in the middle of it smelling hel
roses when her host, respondent in velvet
coat, silk stockings, diamond shOe-buckles
and lace ruffies, appeared beside her as if by
magic. In truth, it seemed to Kitty as if i
were all dream or fairy tale, and she
would not have been very much surprised il
on sudden the splendidly -attired ladies
and gentlemen were changed into scamper
ing rats and mice, or she found herself open.
ing her eyes in her little white bed at home
But the voice sounding on her ear was un.
mistakably realistic.
'NoblesSe oblige. | have been expecting
you. l thought [ should never get away
from the StOutest of the three Misses Nc.
Bride-l have been pulling her around in 2
duty dance. Is not this a snug little place.
| We cannot keep it to ourselves long, and ]
| want to see how your face looks withOui
| your mask" whereupon he removes it.
''Will do? Does my gown become?'
''It is charming, Cinderella. Do you know
wish l were the Prince?' So saying, hs
draws her, half-resisting, into his arms
There is crash or two, and then a pause
the music. Laughter ripples in the halls
rustling dresses.
The dance is over, but ere their retreat
| invaded Cinderella has whispered some.
thing so extremely confidential to the second
button Of the Princes coat that the Prince
himself scarcely catches it, though his head
is bent low.
Cinderella feels that light, silky touch
again. but this time brushing her lips, and
then the masks are resumed, not minute
too soon, for as they go arm in arm into
the ballroom the little room behind them
fills with bevy Of chattering girls, each one
of whom would have given her bright eyes
to have been Cinderella in the tableau vivani
| just concluded
Poor Kitty has not danced twice in success
sion with her Prince before she is uncom,
fortably aware of being the observed of al
observers. Juliet'S eyes scrutiniZed the
small, slight figure sharply. Had the new
conner not curiously familiar way Of turn
ing her head obliquely when she spoke, like
a robin? More than that; could she be mis-
taken in that dress? No one but little
simpleton like Kitty would appear at fancy,
dress ball in a washed muslin, hardly fit to
wear afternoons. Her startling discovery
was communicated to Mrs Cole, who coald
scarcely believe her ears and eyes.
81 muSt see Winchester at once - and she
went in search of her liege, who, arrayed as
a courtier of Louis XIV, was found sitting
(bored half to DEATH in corner with the
Queen of Night.
Half an hour later family meeting took
place in the library. 1t was brief. No one
of the merry crew outside missed the court
Ter, the Duchess, Mary Queen of Scots Gin
derella, or the Prince. In few moments
the elder Grahame, dressed as an officer in
the English army, entered, masks were re-
moved, and Kitty found herself again the
centre of attraction.
Perhaps you will kindly explain youl
presence" said the Duchess, with manner
doing credit to the character.
| with your kind permission, Mrs. Cole,
will do tnat," said the Prince, looking al
Cinderella encOuragingly.
He told them in few words how he haC
inveigled Kitty into giving her promise.
Father, believe there was an under
standing between you and our FRIEND" in
dicating the courter with wave of his
hand, that some day his daughter and
should marry, provided the match seemed
as suitable when we were of the right age as
it bid fair to be when we were children"
There certainly was, Mr.. Grahame surely
remembers it?' The CLEAN OF the Duchess
fine eyes was worth seeing.
well, well, come to the point; come tc
the point. Won't she have him?' Mr.. Ora
hame Sr, looked wonderingly from Juliet
who was pale with rage and notification
for she saw how things were tending-to
Kitty no less pale and frightened at this ar
raignment.
will she?" Lester turns suddenly tc
Kitty and draws her toward his father.
This is Mr.. Coles own daughter, father
and the one | mean to marryif she will have
me. Look at him, Kitty he is no ogre" and
he kissed her before them all and made his
father do likewise. Juliet and Mrs. Cole
were fain to accept the situation with the
best grace at their command and when
Mary Queen of Scots trailed in her velvet
folds again among the jewellers none had
reason to suspect aught had gone amiss with
her.
AS for Cinderella and the Prince, what is
there left to say beyond land they lived
happy with Charlotte and Johnny ever
after"
| ri IkNeE F1YRiIlY9 p40TEG[E