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

hoped 10 meet Dot. for he heard oi
the death of her mother and of the sis
leis having gone to live with their step
father. His brief love story had been
played u one autumn in Il country
house where Dot had been visiting
alone. Ashby had fallen violently in
'oNe with Dot. but although she had
returned his affection. their engage-
nent was never announced. for the
had quifreled almost ut once, and Ash
by had gone abroad in "a fit of tenn
per.
AS soon as The major had fallen
asleep oven his wine. ASilby made his
way to the drawing room. where ne
found Miss Iseadc nj the piano. and
Ella prettiiy posed in u window recess.
He quickly joined the latter and began
to make conversation.
You have sisters. hayert your" he
asked. after a lime.
"Stepsisiors, and three darling little
brothers."
Your sisters are from home just
now?'
"oh. yes" with an arch smile. "or /
shouldn't be here"
Shouldn't you? Why not?"
oh. wcll'-a pause. You see. I am
rather young. aud ny sisters keep me
in the schoolroom. They are very good
and kind. but being quite old. they
think me Il child
quite old!" he exclaimed. Why.
they cannot he. At least the one 1
kne'v cannot be much over 20"
Ella bit her lip in annoyance at her
blunder. She had forgotten that Ashby
had known Dot.
We'll, they seem rather old to me"
she said. with sweet innocence. Laura
is 80. and Thee is only :; year Younger
"Theo." he repeated. Then there
must be II third very much younger.
Dot must be about "a OF %. When /
knew her II looked about Is. Where
is Dot"
Ella hesitated "A moment, then risked
II daring step.
Darling Dot she murfnured. All.
Colonel Ashby. did you not know? Dot
died two years ago"
dot dead" he "ried. in n voice of
anguish. 1t was ove.. then; this dream
OF reconciliation. He could never ask
forgiveness now: never explain away
his harsh words. never hear her dear
voice whisper pardon. Il am sorry to
distressed you he said. YEARLY,
after Il pause. Il had no heard of-of
YOUR sisters death"
ELLA smiled through her tears like an
April norm.
II can't quite nh Of Darling Dot.
she said, ~unsteadily. we were
so much TO each other. and / am so
now she's gone"
You must be" he answered. almost
tcndcrly. You must miss her ter
"Oh. I do" cried ELLA. pressing her
handkerchief to her y and there
WAS a long silence. At last Ella looked
lp. Il must say goodnight, now. Col
Ashby," h said with Il sad little
smile.
ALREADY? ?" he demonstrated Why,
very early. Don't go yet"
oh. but must" she said. and ran
10 her rOOm
Colonel Ashby and Cinderella grew.
very chununy during the following
Cinderella, being mistress of the
Held. was making the most of her time.
md II very complete fool of Colonel
Ashby. He only trouble was tina he
persisted in talking of Dot. and dwell
ing fondly on the bygone days when
he had been engaged TO the sister
Ella had SC dearly loved.
Il nay as well WI it to you. little
he said. N afternoon, as they
strolled on the lawn. Il was engaged
to your sister. 1t was rather Il hope
less affair. for l was wretchedly poor.
kept ii to- ourselves. But Il Sc
cret engagement is an awfully try
ing thing. and l was Il Jealous fool
quarrelcd. and parted, M so-and
lost her"
Ella was silent.
y was too proud to make any ad-
vances," went ON Ashby, land now that
things are different and l would beg
her forgiveness. h is gon 1 need not
to bore you. Ella. by talking of
her. for you lOved her. co.. You would
never have been Cinderella had she
lived. You nave Il look of her, too. at
Aud h% 1<ol,y Yf-i3. - -.
Ella Il to turn her head aside in
emotion. for a laugh quivered
on her mouth as a vision of her ex-
tremely alive and energetic sister came
her.
AS soon as Sir George Courtnay ar
rived. Ella turned her attention to him.
He. at least. could not bore her about
the defunct Dot. Ella really was e
girl and she knew that simple
becomes wearisOme in time, so
without abandoning her role of Cinder-
ella. h kept II rather i'll the back
ground. and prattled SO happily and
wtttily that both men were
amused n fascinated by her. So
skilfully did she play her part (devel-
oping histronic talent in a way that
quite dnzzled Miss Reader) that by the
end Of II week her success had far
Outstripped b widest hopes. Both
had resolved to propose for her.
Ella had determined to accept Courte-
nay. II b chose Ashby, he must in
evttably discover her deception about
Dot. but C~Ourtenay had never met her
sisters and could moi hold her respon-
sihle for any discrepancies he might
notice between her description Of them
and reality.
It wa evening. and tea had been
brought out ON h lawn. Elias pretty
fingers were busy with the cups, while
h prattled merfily to the quests. Miss
Reade U cake. and put in a judicious
word now and then.
well. you do a lot for those sisters
OF your." Courtcnay remarked. as Ell
"a concl1oed an amusing little funny
sisters up for a ball. "Its . eRuiar
shame"
oh. I like IT, cried the child. pref
thy. And than. think how sad IL must
be 70 be getting old and-and mot
nHARR~ KAo- NOk