Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-12-12
A MODERN CINDERELLA.
Chapter l.
BY Lille Harris.

81 lLS pI illSS lOOh S"SStt SAooAAAS
Cinderella in his arms and said: You,
dear love, shall be my precious WIFE
and then her rags fell off, and 10! she
was beautifully gowned in white satin
and the diamonds that glistened on
her neck were not whit brighter than
the glass slipper that twinkled on her
tiny foot and"
Bessie, Bessie, what are you doing
no gas alight and the tea things not
cleared away YETI"
Mrs. Hargraves hustled into the Cozy
nursery and at once silence fell on
the little group round by the fire.
"Oh, mother" sighed Ida, why
didn't you stay away just little
longer? Bessie was telling about Gin
derella, and you have interrupted US
in the most interesting place, where
the prince has told her that he will
marry her. | wanted to know if the
proud sisters were not just mad about
it,"
Mrs. Hargraves laughed. Bessie had
jumped up, quickly lit the gas and
was now busily piling cups and sau-
GERS on the tray.
Il am sorry if | interrupted the
narrative" she said, but perhaps Bes-
present, l wish to speak to her, so
please, children, be quiet"
Yes, auntie, what is it," replied
the girl with a cheerful smile that
frightened heI small, pale, tired face.
L have finished Maudies dress, all
but lacking the lace in the neck and
sleeves"
That's right" said Mrs. HargraNes,
approvingly. She was tall, fine
woman with a handsome, cold face,
steel-blue eyes, and a thin mouth and
square chin thai augured i'll for any
one who dared to cross her will. For
the rest she was elaborately and be-
comingly gowned and looked exactly
what she was, rich, prosperous ma
iron, without care or trouble. You
really are very sB llful with YOU
needle.
Bessie gasped; she was both trou-
bled and gratited gratitied at the un-
wonted praise and troubled because
she knew by experience that some
thing distasteful was sure to follow.
81 hope" she thought, that l have
not another dress to do up this week
for Maud. Perhaps auntie wants her
lace washed ! do hope that l haven't
to go down this evening and play;
am sick of dance music She glanced
at The Newcomes. All the long
weary day she had looked forward,
while busily stitching, for the hour
when her work would be done, to
spend with Col NeWcome, surely the
most perfect hero of fiction.
Your uncle has received a letter
from Edward Hargrayes, the only
child, you know, of his eldest brother"
continued Mrs Hargraves, in her clear,
well-bred voice He writes that he is
leaving Africa and intends settling
down in England. There has been
some unaccountable delay in the mails,
or we should have received his letter
long before this
Yes" said Bessie, interrogatively,
as Mrs, Hargraves paused for mo-
ment. ut is annoying How delight
full though, 20 see our colonial cousin.
He is very wealthy, isn't he?"
Exceedingly so" laconically an
wered Mrs. Hargraves. Your Uncle
James was one of the richest men in
Johannesburg, and at his death every
thing was left to Edward. Not a sin
rr1n l.,
the will, though | did think that he
might have remembered his only sur
viving brother and he ought to have
left you something"
Uncle Jim was offended when, after
poor papa's death, l accepted your
inc offer to live here instead of go
.ng to Africa, as he wanted me TO-"
replied Bessie with a faint sigh.
Sometimes she wished that she had
not been persuaded to decline the Of
fer. Her life could not have been
buster and it would certainly have
been less monOtonous
1t was an absurd idea to expect that
young girl of Is could go and live
with a widower uncle and bachelor
COUSIN was the sharp answer Not
for the world would Mrs. Hargraves
have owned that the true reason that
prompted her to offer a home to her
husbands orphan niece was the fear
that otherwise she would have gone
to Africa and in all probability have
married her millionaire cousin-an
eligible parti that was wanted for
Maudie
Bessie received the rebuke silently
and waited patiently for the real out
come of her auntie's visit TO the upper
regions. 1t was surely not to tell Ter
OF Edward Hargraves' approaching
visit, for the probabilities were that
she would only see him occasionally,
for visitors rarely found their way up
to the roomy coy nursery where the
principal part of Bessie's life vas
spent
ut is rather awkward his coming
Just now, continued Mrs. Hargrayes,
in slightly aRgrinyed tone: for the