The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-01-17

lHlISS are dlIIerent n L WOulo DEG |
her forgiveness. she is gone. l need not
fear to bore you. Ella, by talking OF
her, for you loved her, too. You would
never have ueen Cinderella had she
lived. You nave Il look of her, too, at
times" And he looked kindly at her.
ELLA had to turn her head aside in
pretended emotion. for a laugh Guivered
on her mouth as u vision of her OK
trenely alive and energetic sister came
before her.
AS soon as Sir George Courtney arr
rived. ella turned her attention to him. !
He, at least, could not bore her about
the defunct Dot. ELLA really was j
clever girl and She knew that simple
pathos becomes Mearisome in time, 50
Without abandoning her role of Cinder-
ella, she kept it rather in the back
ground. and prattled so happily and
even wittiiy that both men We're
amused and fascinated by her. SO
skilfullS did she play her part (devcl-
oping histronic talent in a way thai
quite dazzled Miss Readerl that by the
end of a week her success had far
ontstripped her Widest hopes. Both
men had resolved to for her.
ELLA had determined to accept Courte-
may. If she chose Ashby. he must in
eNitablN discover her deception about
Dot. but Courto'ay had never met her
sisters and could not hold her respcn-
slnie for any discrepancies he might
notice tive her description of them
ana rS;tiitS.
1t WAS evening, and tea had been
brought out on the lawn. ELIAS pretty
fingers We're busy With the cups, while
she prattled merrily to the guests. Miss
lteade cut cake, n put in u judicious
word now and then.
We'll. you do a lot for those sisters
of yours" CourtenaS remarked. as lsl-
la concluded AN amusing little funny
sketch of the difficulties of getting her
sisters up for q ball. It's n regular
shame"
oh. I like it," cried the child, pref
lilly. And then, think how sad it must
be 10 be getting old and-and not
pretty. It's no wonder they are some
times just IL little bit cross"
Are they very ugly Their
oh, no; Laura is quite nice looking
for 49," were the young lady,
forgetting in her excitement her resolve
to avoid dangerous details. only she
has grown dreadfully stout. She has a
lovely complexion. though; far better
than mine" said Miss ELLA, conscious
glanced at the blush-rose face before
them. But that brilliant complexion
generally goes with red hair"
And the other sister," pursued our
tenay.
'"Theo is painfully thin. and She
nose red, koor dear. Now I must go,
and see how father is, and II he'll take
some tea"
When she was gone, Courtenay fell
into conversation with Miss Reade. and
Ashby went indoors. Running up
stairs, he stumbled over a bundle
which. on investigation. turned out to
be q sobbing child Of tender years."
whats ron little one?" he asked.
picking 1T up carefully.
ELLA slapped baby" sobbed the
child.
ELLA did? Where is Ella, them
Don't want Ella" walled the baby so
he~artbrokenly that Ashby felt quite
touched. He was trying to console it
with q food of apologies.
I'm SO sorry, sir. but I mad to go
downstairs for something, and Master
BERTHE ran after me. We're all at skies
ana sevens just now. sir, for the young
ladies being away makes such a differ
ence."
Baby burst into renewed sobs, WALL
ing, me no want nursie; me want Dot.
On. me do so VAN Dot"
All, poor little man! L. too, do so
want Dot" sighed Ashby.
That evening the major received a
letter from Laura, informing him that
her aunt was better, and she and Dol
would return the following afternoon
he kept this to himself. intending o
pieasant surprise. and had himself es-
tablished on the lawn next day at tea.
Time, Ella made such a pretty picture
of flial love as she hung about he,
fathers chair. that Courtenay made UT
ms mind to delay no longer. but 10 ask
her at once TO submit to be trained
after marr1age-fnto his ideal woman.
So he presently asked her to come for
a stroll the lawn, and Ella. read
ing MS purpose in his face, rose with
alacrlty. But alas! in the very act of
raising the costly cup TO her lips 1t
was dashed to the ground. At this very
moment there appeared two ladies,
Fastening from the house across the
lawn to Join the party round the tea
tahle. Ella turned white. Her ather
held out welcoming hands.
TIE girls!' he exclaimed ioyously.
Welcome home. dears."
Az this .noment-whence, no one
could teil-three children dashed across
the lawn, and up to the newcomers,
utterlng shouts OF welcome.
back" cried the eldest Elias been
SO horrid, She's made us live in the
nursery, and never come downstairs"
me W guests had been looking on,
mvstined. bu as the ladies came near
For the lady around whose neck baby
was cl1nging was no other than his lost
DOT. AS for Courtenay. he was strick-
en- speeches. by Laura's calm lowell
ness. Here-at least in appearance
was his ideal
Don't you know my daughter. Ash
BY asked the major. Dot I mean"
IT can't be-" gasped Ashby hoarsely.
~ isn't possible. Dot is dead. Ella
Old me she died two years ago"
Dos aead?. repeated the major.
mean?" '"1
"But-there must be-some awru,
mistake. Ella told me-" faltered Ashby,
and Their Dot raised her eyes to his,
and said: "E1nest!" and he had no
more doubts. "N az
ella, meantime. had most judiciously
disappeared and her mystifed father
postponed Inquiries till next day. Then,
wev her little brothers, who had
huhg abou he gardens MANY an even
ing and been unsupported Witnesses r.
tender scenes and pathetic plants. told
enough to reveal to the astonished and
"rathtul major Cinderella's little plot.