The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-13
A CINDERELLA.


mired Mr.. Laurence's portrait and had
hoard so much in his praise from Cousin
Dick that she had quito expected TO tall in
lovo with him.
They met first at Mrs. Pickering's din
Nor, and she was led in to table by him.
Unfortunately, during the progress Of the
meal, she had arched her instep in such q
way as to lose her dainty little slipper
She tried in vain to reeovShit with the aid
of the toes of the semidenuded foot, but
had succeeded only In pushing It so far
away as TO lose IL. She left the table with
out the slipper, and the result had been
that Mr.. Laurence had found himself bored
In the company Of a young woman who
had fldgeted and appeared intensely preoc-
cupied.
1t was several months later, when they
met as members Of a yachting party to the
Bermudas that they came together again.
And now Q Mr.. Arthur Stephenson was
Lucia's inseparable gallant.
At last Laurence understood why Lucia
was admired. He could not be on board
ship many days without seeing that she
was mot only beautiful, but very charm
ing and interesting as well.-the only thing
that puzzled him was her lack of wit and
Sparkle tho night he first met her She
was SO very ordinary then-except for her
beauty, Of course.
Now 1t was all SO different, and he
would give good deal to feel sure of her
favor and friendship, but she seemed to
repel all advances.
She was tho life of the party. She played
tho guitar and sang Spanish love songs on
deck moonlight nights She arranged i'm
promptu drainatics In the saloon when the
weather was not suitable for sitting up
stairs. She knew all sorts of games, was
the most graceful partner in dancing and
the best sailor he ever knew, and she grew
more beautiful each day.
The mutinous feeling against Arthur
Stephenson grew. They wcro only three
days out from Bermuda, and they decided
to sail for Nassau Happy opportunity!
Now he would succeed But she wus al
ways surrounded.
One night tho skipper came up and said
few hurried words to Mr.. Jackson, the
owner No one noticed IL until the yacht
seemed to go slower and slower. Then u
shock came, and it was known that she
had struck q bar.
Fortunately Cape Fear had been passed.
Then something went wrong with the en-
gines, and tho skipper had steered for some
near port, but had gone aground. There
was nothing TO fear The sea was calm,
and plenty of ships passed near every day,
But two days had gone by, and they had
seen no vessel. The clouds were growing
black. A storm was near. 1t broke in fury
at midnight, and those on board the yacht
could only watch and wait and hope.
The waves dashed over the deck and beat
heavily against the sides. Then some way
they saw the yacht had been driven of
the bar and they were drifting helplessly
out to sea-
1t was fearful night, and it seemed as
II morning would never coine-that every
moment the yacht would be wrecked
when shock came, and they knew they
were either driven upon some reef or had
collided with an ocean ship.
Mr.. Laurence went swiftly to Lucia and
took her by tho arm, saying;
Some with motto boat Is filling with
wateri''
The confusion was horrible; the sailors
were shouting, running TO and fro the
women were palo and weeping.
Lucia alone was calm.
Mr.. Laurence half carried her to the
deck, and In the darkness they saw @
great ship-the ono that hnd run them
down. But, oh, joyi II had stopped, and
even in the fury of the storm was sending
boats to rescue those on board tho yacht
1t was mono too soon, md it was per
ilous journey in the hfcboats, but in spite
Of wind and wavo all were saved and tax
en- on board the ship, which proved to be {
steamer from Jacksonville to Now York.
The rest Of the journey 1t was no loneni
Mr.. Stephenson who WIS always at Lu
oih's side, but Mr., Lanrcnce
The last night before home was rcache6
Lucia was standing by the side Of tho vos
sei shen EF--Astsssssss-ess.ss-ssS Y~sas- hes,
! Her color rose, and she only asked;
Are you sorry the journey is overt"
| He was struck By her new expression
Her eyes had dreamy look, and there wa
q touch Of sadness in her face.
| The moonlight was shining upon then
then suddenly cloud veilcd the light
and ho bent near, looking down at her ton
DERBY.
at has been the happiest and the mos
wrotched month Of my life rs indeed ha
tho whole year since met YOU" he wills
percd.
Her head dropped little.
\ Look at me, Lucia; l love you sol Jsool
4 at me. II could hope--do not treat In
SO proudly. 1 have loyed you from th
first"
But her light laugh rang out. 3D..
| "No, no! Do not pcrjuFe yourself!'
"Bat did l doi'' he cried, inpetuous
~ taking her in his arms
"Oh DO not speak of that first night; /
was dreadful. lost my slipper and wa
so stupid" she exclaimed little later.
"WhatT' he asked In astonishment, ant
then the story was all told, and he call
4 her his Cinderella and keeps the slippe
safe in little glass case Ia his smoking
room.-Now York Journal