The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-02-05

| '''''''h. ono man WAS enough
10 pcGln with. The MHior mcntionct
casually at dinner that his cldci
oa"%h'rlS were from home. and Erncs
.NShoH lplt pang Of disappointment
lie h"d hoped to meet Dot, for he hat
h'ard OF the death OF her mother ant
OF the sisters having gone to live will
their $trp-fathcr. His brief love story
had been played out one autumn in {;
country house where Dot had bee,
visiting alone. Ashby had fallen vio
lcntly in love with Dot, but although
she had returned his affection, thci,
| engagement was never announced fo,
they had Quarrclcd almost at once
ana AShhy had gone abroad in u fl
of temper.
AS soon rs the Major had fallen
aSi'ep over his dinner, Ashby made his
way to the drawing room. where he
lonhd Miss Rcadr ut The piano. and
Ella pretily rrDoscd in Il window re-
cess. lie quickly joined the latter.
ana began to make conversation,
you have sisters, haven't you:" he
| asked. after Il time
| Strp-SiStcrs. nmH three darling little
| brothers."
"I"ur sisters arc from home Just
! now"
"O:. yes" with IN a"ril smile. "or
| shouldn't be here"
"SlDuldn't YOU? Why not:"
"Oh. wcl!''-a pause. "Hou SEQ |
am rather young. and my sisters krcD
III" III ia" Erhool-room. Thcy are very
good anh Kind hut quite Old: they
think lie Il child"
'oUlir oid. he exclaimed. "Whv.
they cannot he. At least the one |
knew cannot Dc much over twenty"
Ella bit her lip in annoyance a1 her
bllindcr. She had forgotten that Ash.
by had known Dot.
ELLA hcsitatcd Il moment, then riskcd
Il daring step.
Darling Dot she murmurcd "Ah.
'"lGn"l -iShhy. did yea not know:
Dot d!cd two years ago.
''bGi dCn1.' he cried. in a voice of
anguish. Ii WAS over. then: his dream
or reconciliation. lie could never ask
forgiveness noW: never explain away
his harsh words: nryr:. hear h,,,. ,rnr
v"."" whiSnrr i'Hr,;oi,. Il n:n sorry 10
haT" distressed !'"I'." h" said. wcarily.
after nauSr. -! hnh moi heard Of
Of your sisters ICa,h."
ELLA smiled through her tears Hike an
April morn.
Il 'an'i Cn;" talk o: harlin" DO,
Tct,' Sill" said. un:riru,iily "N-c were
so much 50 each other. and am so
! lonely now shes gone
'iuu must hr." he nn,Ycrcd, almost
tcnu"rlH. You must miss her ter
ribly."
"Oh. do cried Ella. pressing he,
, handkerchief to hrr eyes and lhrrc
was Il long silence. At last ELLA loo.:cd
| up. Il must say goodnight now.
Colonel AShDy,' she said, with Il little
smile.
"-\lrcndy:" he demonstrated. "Why.
it's very early. Don't go yet"
ION. but have such lot to do to-.
night. SHE answered. simply
"po y"u still do lessons. thrn:"
"Oh. no, cried ELLA. earnestly. 81
am GoinA to The nursery. Baby I:rrtic
wont lr; anNhu,iy else i'ut him 10 bed.
And then. my sisters have lcft me
things 20 do"
''TaSkS:" asked .\Shhy.
''MrndiE%. and things like that. rhnv
have taken their maid with them. YOU
sec"
"HathcT iHrti lines Oh ynu. Don't
they ever take You out with thrM:"
"Oh. they Hrr worry kind." said Ella,
! 'Anh they hANH promised 10 take me
| somewhere some day. when the boys
are old enough to he at school and |
am not so much needed at homc'
'Saihrr distant prospect" re-
marked AShby. I'm afraid it's a
cas-" OF Cinderella and the cruel step.
| SiSirrS
ELLA rather forgot her part next day.
| Her father was laid up with a sudden
tit OF sout. and Miss Rcade was kept
| busy looking after household affairs
and snbduinG Il mutiny in the nursery.
ELLA sauntcrrd round the grounds with
th" Colonel. chatting Gayly. and then
insisted OH rowing about on the pond,
rs unlike Il household drudge rs DOS.
siblc. This occurring to her very
forcibly. she made an effort TO resume
| her role.
What a nice holiday I'm having"'
She remarked accordingly. resting on
her cars. and fixing glrcrul eyes o,
Kim. 'rhat dear Miss Rradr has I'M
h"rtakrn oil my duties this week that
may have Il complete rr#i Isn't il
sweet Of hcr?"
ioor llttlc woman" lie rrioinrd-
'hrv were on quite familiar terms
how-'it's a shame yon should DO 50
| "VcrWorkcd, and | shall tell your f.
! thcr So
'bf, no. YOU muStn't." cried Fila. ir
| quick alarm. Il can't have dear ro
thcr worried. especially now he is i'll
You mustn't think I'm compIoin;nr
My sisters arc very good to me. Prom
isc me YOU won't say anything; please
promise me-
Il promise, 7 promise" he soothcd
her. 81 won't say word, you Iowa,
little soul. It's hard lines Just now
Cinderella. but remember how tho
fairy tale ends, and this may END
sooner than You think"
+ "IIow? What do you mean" asked
the child, with wide. innocent eyes
and Ashby hastily changed the sub
jcct, rcSolvin" TO say nothing moro