Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-06-21
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/ - ~ NAN.NS- SaASF ANSs nv AOAACAAA-
bered that story. She was a girl in
humble surroundings and a magic
touch came into her life, transform
ing gray to gold. He recalled the
various incidents of the story, with a
smile curying the corners of his lips,
While his eyes turned again and again
to consider the pictured face.
Ay, she was bonnie He had never
seen any one in real life who looked
| Ike that Was it only a fancy pic
/ lure, or did they mean it for like
aess of the girl who was - take he
! ! art of Cinderella? A man standing
in the background noted his absorb
ION and cane forward to urge him to
enter 1t had been decided to give
All afternoon performance. as the
day was so wet, and few Lack seats
were still vacant Will hesitated,
for the old Puritan dislrust of the
stage was in his blood; but the next
momen. he passed on and entered the
hall
Four fairies were discovered in a
dell receiving instructions from their
queen, a handsome young person with
insufficient skirts and a star on her
forehead. They were good looking
girls, in a common, 6lowsy style, clad
in diaphanous draperies, which left
visible a large expanse of neck and
arm and they laughed and sang, and
danced to and fro, smiling an eternal
smile, and making languishing eyes
al the audience. Seen at the distance
at which VIII stood the poverty of the
surroundings could not be discerned,
yet he knitted his brows in displeas-
ue and hal no smile to greet the flip
r,,nt phrases. The painted faces held
NJ beauty for him; the flowing gar
mehts shocked his sense of propriety:
he wondered vaguely what these noisy
elevens had to do with the story, and
when the real plot Strengthened him
self and stood erect, his face kindling
with pleasure
She was a charming creature, this
little strolling actress. both dress AMI
manner characterized by grace and
1nodesty infinitely beyond that of her
companions The traditional rags were
replaced by a simple gray robe; folds
Ct muslin crossed over her breast;
and the sweet face of tine picture
looked out from a mass of golden hair.
Will watched her with fascinated
gaze; and it seemed as though the
Geep blue eyes looked straight into his
as she tossed back her curls and
eazed down the hall With the words
that she ute ed he had little concern,
Tor the fasl nation of her personality
absorbed him and made him oblivious
of detail There was something about
ker which laid an even stronger grip
upon his heart than mere beauty and
grace. He would have been at
loss to explain it's nature; but in truth
it was that atmosphere of refinement,
Of half plaintive fragility. which
makes the browning attraction of wo-
1len to many strong man, and which
this unknown actress possessed 20
"A extent remarkable IN her surround
ings. Her laugh rang sweet and in
tuneful contrast to the noisy shouts OF
her companions; her voice was gently
pitched and she danced with a modest
grace.
When Will Braithwaite reached
home an hour later on he cast a
scared look around, for, the picture
was so clearly painted In his mind
that it seemed to him as if she must
tc there, He moved the stool into
the corner with a reverent hand. The
next evening the villagers marveled
to see Braithwaite tnlze his way over
The hills, clad in holiday attire; but
though he had kept up a pretense of
denial until the last moment he knew
al heart that there had really been no
doubt about his intention since 1eav-
ing the institute on The previous even
ing His second appearance was
recognized by some of his acquaint-
ances and he was made the butt OF
rough jest, which sent him away with
cheeks afame ana the determination
never again to put himself within
each of such humiliations; vet the
next night he was again present, with
Clly so much care fer his tormentors
that he seated himself on enc of the
crowded benches instead of occupying
his former conspicuous position.
He could not keep away while he
could hear once more Cinderella's
voice and meet the glances of her
eyes. The honest oountrywOman who
sal beside him shared his admira-
ton and expressed it In kindly lang
rage.
Bless her pretty taos, She's
not but a child-for all the world
like a picture to hang on the wall.
I'm thinking she's none tco strong.
neither, with those pinky cheeks!
She's got a terrible cough, too, and
IN ache in her back. I shouldn't
wonder Look at her now-leaning
against that chair whenever she gets
chance!"
1t was true Exhaustion was writ
len on every line of Ciaderella's Troop
ing figure and it was with a visible
effort that she reused herself to take
up her part VIII watched with
sharpened eyes, and with every move
Iaent seemed to notice fresh grounds
for alarm. There was a wearied note
u the girls voice; ami in the middle
81 a speech she broke int a fit Of
coughing.
All" cried the coun;rywoman
sharply. what lid / tell you? She'll
re of in a decline before the vear is
oTer. you mark my word It's