Democratic messenger., 1894-07-28
A CINDERELLA.


pected to fall in love with him.
They met first at Mrs. Pickering's
dinner, and she was led in to table by
him. Unfortunately, during the pro-
gress of the meal. she had arched her
instep in such way as to lose her
dainty little slipper. She tried in
vain to recover il with the all Of the
toes OF the semidenuded foot, but had
succeeded only in pushing it so far
away rs to lose it. She left the table
without the slipper, and the result had
been that Mr.. Laurence had found
himself bored in the company of Il
young woman who had iidgeted and
appeared intensely preoccupid,
II was several months later, when
they met as members OF yachting
party to the Bermudas, that they came
together again. And now Mr..
Arthur Stephenson was Lucia's insep
arabic gallant.
At last Laurence understood why
Lucia was admired. lie could not be
ON board ship many days without
seeing that she was not only beautiful,
but very charming and interesting as
well-the only thing that puzzled him
was her lack Of wit and sparkle the
night he first met her. She was so
very ordinary then-except for her
beauty, of course.
Now it was all so different, and he
would give a good deal TO feel sure Of
her favor and friendship, but she
seemed to repel all his advances.
She was the life of the party. She
played the guitar and sang Spanish
love songs on deck moonlight nights.
She arranged impromptu dramatics in
the saloon when the weather was not
suitable for sitting up stairs. She new
all sorts of games. was the most grace
fal partner in dancing and the hest
sailor he ever knew, and she grew
more beautiful each day.
The mutinous feeling against Arthur
Stephenson grew. They were only
three days out from Bermuda. and
they decided to sail iur Nassau.
Happy opportunity. Now he would
succeed. But she was always SUR
rounded.
One night the skipper came up and
said few hurried words 10 Mr.. Jack.
son, the owner. No one noticed it
until the yacht seemed TO go slower.
Then a shock came, and it was known
that she had struck bar.
Fortunately Cape Fear had heen
passed. Then something went wrong
with the engines, and the 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 off the bar and they
were drifting helplessly out To sea.
1t was fearful night, and il seemed
as if morning would never come-that
every moment the yacht would be
wrecked-when a 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 the arm. saving:
''Come with me-the boat is filling
with waterw
The confusion was horrible; the
sailors were shouting, running to and
fro; the women were pale and weeping.
Lucia alone was calm.
Mr. Laurence half carried her to the
deck, and in the darkness they saw a
great ship-the one that had run them
down. But, oh, joy! it had stopped,
and even in the fury of the storm was
sending boats to rescue those on board
the yacht.
1t was none too soon, and il was a
perilous journey in the lifeboats, but
in spite of wind and wave all were
saved and taken on board the ship,
which proved TO be steamer from
Jacksonville to New York.
The rest of the journey il was no
longer Mr.. Stephenson who was always
at Lucia's side, but Mr.. Laurence.
The last night before home was
reached Lucia was standing by the
side of the vessel when Mr.. Laurence
came toward her.
Her color rose, and she only asked:
Are you sorry the journey is over?"
He was struck by her new express
sion. Her eyes had a dreamy look,
and there was a touch of sadness in
her face.
The moonlight was shining upon
them-then suddenly a cloud veiled
the light, and he bent near, looking
down at her tenderly.
ut has been the happiest and the
most wretched month Of my life, as
indeed has the whole year since met
you," he whispered.
Her head dropped little.
Look at me. Lucia; | love you So,
Look at me. If | could hope-do not
treat me so proudly. ! have loved
you from the first
But her light laugh rang out.
"No, no. DO not perjure YOURSELF"
but | did, dow he cried, i'm
petuously. taking her in his arms.
"Oh, do not speak of that first
night; it was dreadful. lost my
slipper and was so stupid" she ex-
claimed little later.