The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-26
A CINDERELLA OF
 THE FOOTHILLS
BY E. L. HUSTON.

The cotillion to be given al the bar racks had wakened up the little garrison town as had nothing else that season. In the first place. the barracks affairs were always successes; there were al- ways'plenty of dancing men to go aroun1, and the floor of the drill shed was the best for dancing in the city. And there was so little in the way of excitement in those far Western towns that knew noth- ing of parks and lakes and little jaunts into the country. There were irrigating ditches instead of lakes and a few irriga- tiOn-raised trees instead of parks. and no country, but wide stretches of allSali dust and sage brush and cacu, It was a "howlng wilderness" the Eastern-raised brides wrote home in dismay, and only in the garrison towns was life worth living.
 But the jolly little Arab families, who lived their brief season in "ofiicers' row" quite ready to pack and obey marching orders at a moments notice, gave the disconsolate brides their philosophy and frightened the passing hour as best they could.
 So the cotillion was announced by the hospitable military folk, and delightful Was the excitement in consequence. Hut in affairs of society and state, be the matter great or small. creep the under currents of human interests, and in the atmosphere of pleasurable excitement | foated the inevitable conflicting incense of keen anticipation and miasmic vapor | of bitterness and envy. For at the CO., | tillion the new social lion, Roger Hunt | l,sh. the Eastern speculator. was ex,, peCted to be present and debutantes and dowagers regarded him with special and | most favorable interest.
 Then, the cotillion was to be given | jointly by the Coloners wife and the so- l cial leader of the little city, Mrs Des- | pard. and Miss Despard had in her ''set | bete noir-the daughter of a physician. | And the doctors daughter was not in- | vited. Why? asked the little garrison | rafaad ifR eVghrnWa n nd | smiled Miss Despard was handsome in her Junoesque, commanding way. But | the gentle daughter>Of hard-worktng pr. | HarVis had a winsome beauty all heI | own and a soft and sweet graciousness that all the Despard jewels could not out | shine.
 daughter. my daughter?' laughed the doctor that night as he stamped into thu house and nodded toward the window | where the garrison lights could be seer all fiickering near the foothills.
 | Gut dead, dad dsari" smiled his daugh ter. And would have enjoyed 1t so!'
 "See what it is to inherit your father fatal beauty. ray deari'' said the gIizzle' ear You sec. even the dazzling Despar' fears you when the new lion roars. An this is the night that Huptleigh is to b | undone."
 You brazenly vain manw replied Mis-
 She bent low over the little kettle tha was bubbling fussily over the alcohC
 flame. and something glittered in tn | light of the fire-something that tren1 bled a moment on the dark eyelashe' then was swept hastily away as sh
 turned smilngly to the doctor.
 Tea or toddy, dad? Get into you slippers and smoking jacket, and be con fy. I am starved"
 She did not cat much, however. thoug
 she broke up some mullins and cakes O
 her plate and built forts with the crumb | Rut her father seemed serenely indiffel
 tnt to her lack of appetite, and enjoye
 his supper with absolute content,
 Friday, UNDER A GREEN UMBREL