Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-12-18
A MODERN CINDERELLA
BY SHIRLEY BROWNE.


An artists studio, on a delicious June
day. 1t was like picture, with the
streams Of gold and violet light pouring
down from the Odd-shaped easements,
aud the treasures of art that were scat
tered here and there, from a tapestry
brought from Armenian looms to an an.
cient suit of armor wrested from the
keeping Of some old Italian family--and
Ernest Evaudale was himself the hand
soonest feature of all the sumptous room.
An artist need not necessarily be an
Apollo But su Apollo in garrett
velvet neglige coat, with wsvy hair, and
eyes like pools Of brown water, ought,
by all the indications of nature, to be an
artist-aad Ernest Evandale had full
filed his destiny, Just at present he
was absorbed in a reverie, apparently in.
duced by the letter which he held in
one white, shapvly hand, while the
brown eyes were fixed thoughttully on a
gorgeous stuffed peacock in the auglc of
the wall
ITO marry he said to himself, "or
not to marry-that IS the question: She
is assurediy pearl among women; and
yet. harg it all' matrimony is such q
perilous business, and, once embarked on
the stormy wave, there's no back ward
tide. Shc is beautiful-thats positive
necessity il au artists bride; she belongs
20 the Brownies of Browne Barton; she
IS well connected, aud she has a disDo.
siion like an angel. All these are win
ming cards. Yes, believe the 'to mar.
rys' have it. Here's her letter, written
on monogyammed paper and perfumed
with heliOtrope, limiting in the prettiest
fashion how much she would be pleased
TO have ne visit Newport while she j,
there with the Van Der Heydens. A
guest Of Mrs. Van Der Heydeu must
surely command any place in the social
scale-and really believe am as
nearly in lore with Belle Browne as a
man needs to be. It's scarcely a year
since first she came to my studio to take
lessons, yet it seems now as if had
known her for hall a life-time-my
eueealy Belief
He rose, soft light shining in the
dark eyes, and took photograph from
his desk drawer, inteutly scrutinizins
i.
You almost speak to me, Sweetlips.' -
lac nurmured. "What is that you would
say' Will you be mine, now aud for
ever1
Even as ne spoke the words, the sun,
suddenly emerging from behind cloud,
threw a CLEAN of light over the picture.
Ii was as il the fair face smiled back au
answer.
'Iaccept the omen, ne said, ,radiantly,
and in the same moment there came a
soft tapping at the door.
"Enter." he called out, and a tall,
slim young girl came hesitatingly in.
Tall, slim, young; yes, aud very
pretty--iu strange, gypsy fashion
with long-lsshed blue eyes, peachy
cheeks and scarlet lips curved like
Cupid bov. She was dressed after an
unconventional fashion, in a gown much
too dark aud severely made to suit her
youth and freshness. The lace collar she
wore lag over ber shoulders like a
costume limned by Sir Joshua Reynolds,
and her pretty hands were cased in black
lace mitts embroidered after the style of
our craDdmothers. Mr.. Evandale looked
at her in a puzzled way. 1t seemed as if
he knew her well; yet he was equally
certain that ne never hal set eyes on her
before. Legged her curiously, wonder
ing if sac had stepped out of tac frame
Of an old engraving. She returned his
gaze with solemn in,cntness. as a child
might have done.
i bes your pardon, said Mr.. Evan
dale, by ayof breaking the spell.
'Ob, be yours, said the girl, sud
denly arousiny herself. ''Is this Mr.
Evandse, the great artist -
.Ny ulme is Evanjale," he returned,
half a,ghiug, and I am an artist. In
wh4' en- serve von;'
..e..c. s5s began, hurriediy, twill
,cl ..,ic - our hoascl There has been
--o,. .icl terrible accident there, and
il was al my fault
rcc loand csiu quivered; dew Of
iesrs obscured the dsrk-blu, eyes with
:, rag sasae',