The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-06
Cinderella's
Mask.
By ETHEL HARRINGTON.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

eQluS tears.
81 couldn't stand on that foot for one
minute, let alone dance" she exclaimed
10 her younger sisters governess, who
stood slim and silent before the fire.
81 am truly sorry" the latter replied.
"Jane said you sent for me to help you.
What can doT
"Take my place in the minuet.'
"Oh, mono: couldn't do that"
"You'll have to-" groaned Miss Mer-
Ger, with decision. Being fond OF An
gusta Park, she treated the young de-
pendent with confidence and consider
alton beyond her position, but expected
in return cheerful yielding to her own
whims or comfort. "rll write to Aunt
Enid explaining the accident to my
ankle and that you will take my place,
so that the dance need not be aban-
doned. It's fortunate you played for
some of the rehearsals and can wear
my gown"
Il really cannot!' Genuine distress
rang In the protest "The dancers are
all your friends. am not in so'iety'-
"When | wanted you to play the
other night you made no fuss. Regard
It as an act of charity if it helps you.
but 60"
mot to Mrs. Fitzray's. won't enter
her DOORS
The invalid raised herself on her ell
bow, regarding in establishment the
flushed cheeks of the other girl.
"That sounds as if you held some
sort of grudge against aunty, and l
doubt If you ever met her"
Augusta shook her head. Don't be
u goose then" 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. 1T would
be wickedly selfish not to save. the sit
uation Aunty's masked ball has been
looked forward to as one of the events
of the season. Our minuet of holly
and mistletoe' is to be the piece de re-
sistance. Aunty will never forgive me
If l am the cause of its being cut out"
at would be ridiculous for one in
my position to take part in 1t" Old
jected the governess.
"Who will know or care so long as
they get their fun?'
'If it were only somewhere else,
Augusta faltered, whereupon Miss
Mercer turned the averted face toward
her, holding it firmly by the chin t.
study the expression.
"You are keeping something back,
she accused. BE honest! Oh-it's no
, possible She half started up from
the lounge, to drop back, breathini
quickly. 80 you're the girl" she said
You might have trusted me-"
"There was nothing to tell. l woul'
not marry into family where l wa
not wanted"
Morgan said he would choose hi
own wife, and my cousin is not one t
change where his affections are cor
cerned. OF course l now understan
, your refusal of my request, but 20
must reconsider the matter. No on
can recognize you with mask, an
; you can leave directly after the mir
uet. I'll mention no name. merel
write my aunt that friend has col
, scented to substitute. She'll be to
I busy to be curious"
Thus it happened that when the ba
opened Augusta, a mere nobody, wa
among the envied debutantes who pa
ticipated in the minuet. She wa
!. thrilled at being in the house of th
man she loved and the possibility {
learning how it had Jared with hill
o during the three years of silence ths
n had buried their happy courtship.
When MOrgan's parents had disco'
It cred his attachment for an unknow
g college student bitter scenes had ell
: sued, resulting in the young man lea
u ing Harvard to win independent SUI
= cess in life.
IS Augustus pride forbade her corr
IS spending with him, and after gradua
d ing she supported herself that her Fl
:, Their might be free to educate her ST
\ ters. That the MERGERS were relate
to the Fitzrays she had not discovere
i for some months, and after the fir!
e shock of the knowledge she decided I
retain her position, there being onl
formal intercourse between the fam
: lies and therefore small chance of ht
= identity being discovered.
The brilliantly illumined ballroo
4 was crowded when the eight your
couples swept into the center the me
II in picturesque square cuts" of gree
and scarlet, the girls In gauzy whit
with frosty spangles and garlands
mistletoe. Augusta, relying on b,
mask, entered into the dance with
H grace and spirit that caused many
4 the spectators to single her out for
vor. Rising from a deep courtesy, b
eye was drawn to one of the CUES
| who regarded her intently Somethir
4 In the broad shoulders, the firmness
II the chin, visible beneath the bla,
mask, set her heart beating wildly
II this to be followed by a sudden CHI
Of the blood when she remember
that Morgan had brother.