Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-01-16

for 80" answered the young lady
forgetting in her excitement her resolve
tn avoid dangerous details. only she
has grown ~dreadIully stout She has Il
lovely complexion. though; far better
than mine said Miss Ella, conscious
that both gentlemen nVoIuntarliy
glanced at the blush -rost. face before
them. But that brilliant complexion
generally goes with red halr-
And the other sister" pursued Cour-
tenay.
''rheo is painfully thin. and she
Weil-laces too tightly. II makes hei
nose red. poor dear. Now | must go.
and see how father is. and If hell taxi
some tea
When she Vas gone, cour;enay fell
into conversation with Miss Readc, and
Ashby went indoors. Running up
stairs. he stumbled over i; bundle
which, on investigation, turned out to
be n sobblng child of tender years"
What's wrong, little one" he asked.
picking il up carefully.
Ella slapped baby sobbed tn,
child.
ELLA did" Where is Ella. then"
Don't want Ella" walled the baby 81
hcartbrokenly that Ashby felt quito
touched. He was trying I" console il
when to he relief ne nurse appeared
with Il i!ood of apologies.
I'm so sorry. sir. but | had to go
downstairs for something. and Master
Bertle ran after me. We're all ut siXei
ana seVens Just now. sir. for the yorn;
ladies' being away makes such n differ
ence.'
Baby burst into renewed sobs. vail
ing. me TO want nursie: me- want Dot.
oh, me do so want Dot"
"Ah. poor little man, l. TOO. do 50
want Dot" sighed .Ashby.
That evening the major received a
letter from Laura, informing him thaL
her aunt was better. n she and Dot
would return the following afternoon.
He kept this to himself. intending IL
pleasant and had himself es-
tlDlShed on the lawn next day at tea
Tune. Ella made such Il pretty picture
of flial love AS she hung about her
iather $ chair. that C%ourtenay made up
his mind to delay no longer. but to ask
her at once to submit to be trained
after marriage-into his ideal woman
So he presently asked her To come for
a stroll round the lawn. and Ella. read,
ing ms purpose in his face. rose with
alacrity. Blu, alas. In The very act of
raising the costly cup to her lips it
was dashed to the ground. Al this very,
moment there appeared two ladies',
fastening from the house across thA
lawn to join the party oun the tea
table. Ella turned white. Her father
held out welcoming hands.
Tie girls!" he exclaimed ~joyously.
Welcome home. dears." !
AT his moment-whence, no one
could tell-three children dashed across
the lawn, and up TO the
uttering shouts of welcome.
on sisters. were SO glad you're
back, cried the eldest. Elias been
so horrid. She's made us live in the
nursery. and never come downstairs"
The W guests had been looking on.
mystified. but as the ladies' came neat
er, Ashby fairly gaSped for breath.
For the lady around whose neck baby
was cilngm was no Other than his lost
Dot. AS for Courtenay, he was strick-
on speechless by Laura's calm lowell
ness. Here-at least in appearance
was his ideal woman.
Don't you know my daughter, Ash
by: asked the major. Dot l mean"
1T can be-" gasped Ashby hoarsely.
told me she died two years ago"
Dot dead?' repeated the major.
stuDefied. "What-on-earth do YOU
mean?"
"But-there must be-some awfu,
Ella told me-" faltered Ashby.
and Their Dot raised her eyes to his.
and said: Ernest" and he had no
more doubts.
Ella. meantime, had most judiciously
disappeared. and her mystified father
postponed inquiries till next day. Then.
however. her little brothers.. who had
hung about the gardens many an even
ing and been unsupported witnesses to
tender scenes n pathetic plants. told
enough to reveal to the astonished and
Wrathful major Cinderella's little plot.
Some months later, a double wedding
took place in the village church. The
b~riaesrooms were Colonel Ashby and
sir George Courtenay. and the brides
were Cinderel!a'S sisters