The Minneapolis journal., 1901-03-23
CINDERELLA
BY EUGENE UHLRIeH.

house was hers in effect. And, she, the
friendless and kinless Kindergarten, must,
of course. have felt 1t good fortune to be
saved the lot of the boarding house, and
given the companionship of pleasant and well
set up people. All the other young women
she knew told her so over and over again, and
reminded her that she ought to be grateful
for her mercies
1t is true that if Mrs. Hetherington's oldest
daughter had not married and gone to live in
a distant city and her youngest had not died
she, perhaps, would not have felt the need
OF girlish presence in the house enough to
take in Winifred.
Winifred watched Hugh Hetherington lift
his fine length and move across the room
after light for his pipe. AS the match
fare tiickered on his clean features, she
thought, as any woman must have, what a
handsome fellow he was. But Winnie thought
also that il her own mouth had not been so
big her tendency to freckle so hopeless and
the tint OF her hair so uncompromisingly red
Mrs Hetherington might not have liked her
quite so well. Moreover, she looked a bit
older than Hugh, too. though she had care
fully figured out that she, in fact, was a
year younger
But, then Hugh's childhood had passed in
the flush of pleasure and the sunshine of af-
Iectlon and hers? She was too humble to
be sorry for herself and too wise not to see
in the worst that had ever happened her the
possibilities of still worse, and thus be thank
ful for the providence that had kept her in it's
hand.
But yet this evening she thought more
sharply than usual of another girls sym-
metry, her gowns, her accomplishments, her
opportunities, all the things that are dear
to the heart of woman. And why not? Venus
herself was not irresistible until she put on
the right grdle. Hugh had asked her help in
comparing some lists, and she knew very well
that every minute OF help she gave him this
evening was an extra minute for the other
girl.
She bent her head over the papers before
her, for the things she was thinking must
steal Into her face in spite of herself
Are you very tired?" said Hetherington
kindly, but yet altogether impersonalIy. She
raised her head and smiled. What was the
use? II it were not this misery it would be
something else for a waif such as she. .Oh.
not at ALL she said
i do not believe that there is another girl
who would be as patient as you are with all
my tiresome stuff, and with me, too. Even
mothers endurance gives out once in a
while and she scolds about my den If it
weren't for you l don't know what would
happen. If you're really not too tired want
70 go over these lists with you now, and then
m on for the Kendrick reception. Ger
trude Stevenson will be there he said.
happy little smile playing about his lips.
Seems to me she is getting more beautiful
every day. Don't you think SOP"
Hetherington did not even look at her for
his answer. He was indeed insisting on being
even clumsier than usual this evening. and
Winlfred bent her head close over the papers
once more
"Of course, Hetherington went on. Ger
trude is popular, very. Sillington has mint
OF money, too but | don't think she's the
like that"
Winifred had to listen to that and mucb
more, in snatches and monologues. and She
was glad when at last Hetherington left
There are times when it is singularly harder
to be 'chummy'' than at others.
The next morning Hetherington had gone
when she came to breakfast, something most
unusual for him. In the evening he did not
ask he1 help. He talked very little. and Mrs.
Hetherington later said to her husband Can
it be that Hugh is OF well?''
Her husband looked up retrospectiveIv over
his glasses
Maybe he's in love- Maybe he has pro-
posed to some girl and she's turned him
down Every young fellow has to have a
lesson or two. 1t won't hurt him. | sup
pose
.Oh, how can you talk so? l am sure Hugh
would not propose TO girl without talking
to me about it first
Whereupon Mr. Hetherington, senior smiled
behind his paper, ard went on reading. A
long and comparatively serene matrimonial
voyage had taught him that arguments only
fill the sails with headwinds
Wnifred herself neither questioned nor
seemed to take heed of Hugh's moods After
several evenings he came down and asked her
once more TO come and help HIM
'fWhat do Won think Winifrad ha cold
abruptly after a while, ought to be the
test of love?''
4 should think if some one loves you all
the time-whether you fresh or tired
pleasant or not pleasant successful or not?'
Fresh or tired, pleasant or not pleasant
successful not" Then he laughed a little
jarringy, she thought. But what do you
know about it, after all? You never loved
like that, did you?"
She looked at him with startled, almost
guilty eyes. and Hetherington had queer
feeling Of having entered unwittingly into
sanctified presence.
He rose and walked around the room aim
lessly for a few minutes. Then he said he
had some nasty experiments to make, and
maybe she would not want to stay, though he
rather looked as though he would have liked
to have had her.
But she left and then sat at her window
watching his shadow move to and fro as it
fell against the trees of the garden Sud
IDENTIFY she heard spluttering explosion and
strange cultural cry For a ghastly second
she watched the f1tful leap of lights on the
trees, but his shadow did not come back
Then she grabbed her water pitcher full
happily. and the heavy rug on the floor and
ran into his room. She flung the door open
upon a thin blur of flame and hickering
tongues reaching like dancing imps here and
there in mid air. and through it all some
thing like huddled figure on the floor Up
went the water ahead OF herself and over
herself, and then the rug over the figure, and
with a strength she hardly dared to think
could be in her tense muscles she dragged it
out toward the hall. Then wrapping her
skirts around herself with quick turn, she
tore down the burning portieres that screened
the laboratory from the den, and finding
the hose attached to the hydrant, she set the
spray over herself and over the room.
By this time the others had come. But
it was really all over. She staggered out to
look at Hugh. His eyes were closed, his
face blackened.
us he dead; oh. is he dead" she said weak
ly.
Then covering her face with her burned
hands, as if fearing the answer, she sank
down in white heap beside him.
The next day Hugh, who, though singed
and stunned, had been little hurt, sat beside
her and held her bandaged hands.
He watched the play of her features as he
talked TO her, and it seemed to him like
watching an unfolding flower. He caught
himself wondering again and again at some
newly discovered charm. What deep, fine
eyes, what singularly sweet and unaffected
smile! What an intimate gentleness in her
voice
Mrs. Hetherington said one morning: How
charming you are in that pale yellow wrap