The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-22
THE EVENING STORY
Cinderella's Mask.
(By Ethel Barrington. }


the quiet of the room, Miss Mercer
clenched her teeth, to keep back
threatening tears.
"I couldn't stand on that foot for
one minute, let alone dance!" she ex-
planned to her younger sisters COVER
the fire.
'I am truly sorry" the latter re-
piled; "Jane said you sent for me to
help you. What can I do?"
Take my place in the minuet."
'Oh, mono, I couldn't do that"
you'll have to-" groaned Miss
Mercer, with decision. Being fond of
Augusta Park, she treated the young
dependent with confidence and con-
sideration beyond her position. but
expected. in return, cheerful yielding
to her own whims or comfort. "I'l
write to Aunt Enid, explaining the
accident to my ankle. and that you
will take my place, so that the dance
need not be abandoned. It's fortu-
nate you played for some of the re-
| hearsals, and can wear my gown.
IT really cannot" Genuine distress
rang in the protest. 1.-The dancers
are all your friends, am not in so
ciety@"
when I wanted you to play the
other night, you made no fuss. Re
gard it as an act of charity, IL 1t helps
you, but 60"
mot to Mrs. Fritzray's-I won't en-
4 ter her doors"
| The invalid raised herself on her
elbow, regarding in establishment the
| flushed cheeks of the other girl.
"That sounds as If you held some
| sort of grudge against aunty, and
| doubt if you ever met her."
Augusta shook her head. Don't
be a goose, them" Miss Mercer shifted
her cushions with little moue Of
pain. Bring that low chair and let
me talk to you. Now listen," she
| coaxed when her directions were
obeyed. sit would be wickedly selfish
not to save the situation. Aunty' $
masked ball has been looked forward
to as one of the events Of the sea-
son; out minuet of holly and mistle-
toe is to be the piece de resistance.
! Aunty will never forgive me If I am
the cause Of its being cut out"
"It would be ridiculous for one in
my position to take part in it,
"Who will know or care, SO long as
they get their fun?"
eff it were only somewhere else
=" Augusta faltered; whereupon
Miss Mercer turned the averted face
toward her, holding it firmly by the
chin, to study the expression.
"You are keeping something
back" she accused. BE honest, oh
it's not possible" She hall
started up from the lounge, to, DROP
| DICK, DTedInluS quickly. OO yOu *
the GIRL she said: you might have
trusted me-
There was nothing to tell.
wouldn't marry into family where
was not wanted"
Morgan said he would choose his
own wife, and my cousin is not one
to change where his affections are
concerned. OF course I now under
stand your refusal of my request, but
you must reconsider the matter. Nc
one can recognize you with mask
and you can leave directly after the
minuet. I'll mention no name, mere.
ly write my aunt that friend has
consented to substitute. She'll be toe
busy to be curious"
s. Thus it happened that when the
} ball opened Augusta, a mere NOBODY
was among the envied debutantes
who participated in the minuet She
was thrilled at being in the house OF
the man she loved, and the possibility
Of learning how it had Jared with
him during the three years of silence
: that had buried their happy court
!, ship.
| When Morgan's parents had dis
covered his attachment for an UNI
known college student, bitter scenes
had cnsued. resulting in the yount
man leaving Harvard to win In
Augustus pride forbade her cor
responding with him, and. aftel
: graduating, she supported herself
that her father might be free to edu
, cate her sisters. That the Mercer.
! were related to the Fitzrays she hai
not discovered for some months, and
after the first shock of the knowledge
she decided to retain her position
there being only formal intercourse
between the families and therefore
small chance of her identity being
!. | discovered.
The brilliantly illumined ballroom
was crowded when the eight young
couples swept into the center. The
men in picturesque square cuts" OF
green and scarlet, the girls in gauzy
white, with frosty spangles and gar
lands of mistletoe. Augusta. relying
|; on her mask. entered into the dance
; with a grace and spirit that caused
, many of the spectators to single heI
!, out for favor. Rising from deer
courtesy, her eye was drawn to one OF
the guests, who regarded her intent
~. Something in the broad Shout
ders, the firmness OF the chin, visible
beneath the black mask, set her heart
beating wildly; this: to be followed by
. remembered that Morgan had a
! brother.
! Nervous with alarm, she never
knew how she followed the intricacies
of the dance. though she must have
acquitted herself well. since, of the
flowers that pelted the dancers at the
end, generous share fell at her feet
Then, silent among laughing throng
she realized that her part in the fes-
tivities was at an end Pride and duty
demanded her withdrawal.
ST have secured your trophies" an
nounced some one at her side, as she
reached the hall, and. with thrill
. of joy, she knew that Morgan had in
deed returned. To leave before he
recognized her became Of vital i'm
| at n
| away, when her whole heart was in a
tumult for his presence.
"You will permit me-" he begged,
taking her card. I'm sure the next