Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-05-13
CINDERELLA'S
REWARD
BY DEARBORN WALTERS.

Il was only Elpie. Elpie came into
the big, empty drawing-room in her
usual noiseless way, and sat down on
tootstool before the fire, embracing
her knees with her hands. Elpie's
task-mistresses were all out at some
function, and Elpie was quite alone
and idle for once in her poor little
life.
What castles, fair and grand, did
the big, brown eyes see in those glow
ing embers? Who can say? THE
thoughts of youth are long, long
thoughts, and, much as her task-mis-
tresses might try to crush the youth
and romance out of Elpie, they could
not quite succeed. But presently the
big eyes grew smaller. Elpie's little
brown head began to nod. and she
fell sound asleep.
What Weakened her? Elpie did not
know; but suddenly with great start
and SILVER. she started up to find the
hre burning very low and the room al
most In complete darkness. She sat
quite still, her heart throbbing so VIC
lentiy she was quite sure some one in
the room must hear it. And there was
some one in the room. A dark figure
was moving in the opposite corner to
her.
Wild thoughts OF burglars and mid
night assassins rushed through Elpie's
mlnd; but she was brave little crea-
ture, and she did not scream. The
servants were downstairs, in the kitch-
en-. and she was the only living being
in the house besides.
1t came into her mind that she must
stealthily reach forward to the bell
and ring; but, just as she was moving,
the inquire turned. He advanced swift
ly toward her, and. though Elpie tried
TO speak out bravely and ask him
what he wanted. she could not; her
tongue seemed to cleave to the roof
of her mouth.
"Hush!" said the man, and his voice
sounded pleasant and friendly. Don't
scream, please. I'm not a burglar,
though my mode of entrance may
seem like that OF one The truth is,
II came through a window down
stairs and made my way up here"
Elpie could see him indistinctly. He
was young man, we'll dressed, and
the face looking down at her was
frank and friendly.
First. tell me who you are? You
can't be one of my"
I'm Elpie-that is, am Elspeth
Grey. Mr.. Kemp was my mothers
cousin, and he took me to live with
him when my father died; and since
Mr.. Kemp died l have stayed with
Mrs. Kemp and her daughters and
helped them"
Helped them? How?"
oh, with dresses, and-and other
things" faltered Elpie, frightened by
the fierceness of his tone.
We'll, they are all out tonight,
aren't they? And the servants are en-
joying themselves down stairs, so we
needn't be frightened. 1 am going to
tell you a tremendous secret, little
one. But first, tell me, are those peo-
pie kind to you? Do they treat you
as one of themselves? Do they give
you plenty of nice food, pretty cloth
ing. amusements?"
Julianna-Josephine isis nice
sometimes" faltered EIpie. She was
a loyal little soul, and anxious to hide
the faults of her relatives.
And Matilda-Jane, and the rest of
this well-principled Householder" asked
the young man, satirically.
Il can't tell you any MORE" cried
Elpie, driven to bay, It'll 1 know who
you are"
That's easily told, little one. am
Mr.. Kemp's nephew, therefore a kind
of cousin of yours" Elpie started and
turned pale. MY name is Norman
Kemp. My father founded Uncle
Johns business. and helped him to
buy this house on condition that it