The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-04-26
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Fiction
Cinderella.
BY EUGENE uLRlcH.

always so Jolly aud chummy"
She smiled little deprecatlngly.
There were times when somehow she
wished Hetherington did not find her
so jolly and chummy, though these
times had nothing to do with the brler-
wood pipe. The comfortable house was
hers in effect, and she, the friendless
and kinless kindergarten, must OF
course have felt it good fortune TO be
saved the lot OF the boarding house
and given the companlonship Of pleas
ant and well set up people. All the
other young women she knew told her
over and over again and reminded her
that she ought to be grateful for her
mercies
1t IS true that II Mrs. Hetherington's
oldest daughter had not married and
gone to live In distant city and her
youngest had not died she perhaps
would not have felt the need Of n girl
ish presence in the house enough TO
take in Winifred.
Winifred watched Hugh Hethcrlng,
ton lift his fine length and move across
the room after a light for his pipe. As
the match flare hickercd on his clean
features she thought, as any woman
must have, what handsome fellow he
was. But Winnie thought also that IL
her own mouth had not been so big,
her tendency to freckle so hopeless
and the tint Of her hair so uncOmprO-
mlsngly red Mrs. Hetherlngton might
not have liked her quite SO well More
over, she looked a bit older than
| figured out that she in fact was a
/ year younger.
But then Hugh's childhood had
passed in the flush of pleasure and the
sunshine Of affectlon--and hersg She
was too humble TO be sorry for herself
| and too wise not to see In the worst
| that had ever happened her the possi-
| billtles Of still worse and thus be
thankful for the providence that had
kept her In its hand.
But yet this evening she thought
more sharply than usual Of another
| girls symmetry, her gowns, her ac-
complishments, her opportunities, all
the things that are dear TO the heart
| of woman. And why not? Venus her.
self was not irresistible until she put
on the right girdle. Hugh had asked
/ her to help In comparing some lists,
and she knew very well that every
minute OF help she gave him this even.
ing was an extra minute for the other
girl.
She bent her head over the papers
before her, for the things she was
thinking must steal into her face ir
spite Of herself.
"Are You very tiredT said Hether.
ington kindly, but yet altogether i'm,
personally. She raised her head and
smiled What was the uscf II II were
not this misery II would be something
else for n waif such as she. ooh, not
at ALL" she said.
81 do not believe there is another
girl who would be rs patient as you
are with all my tiresome stun and
with me too Even mothers endurance
gives out once I'm awhile, and she
|
you I don't know what would happen
If you're really not tired ] want 60 4,
over these lists with you now, and
/, then I'm Off for the Kcndrick recep
ton. Gertrude Stevenson will bC
there" he said, happy little smile
playing about his lips. Seems to mC
she Is getting more beautiful every
day Don't you think soT"
Hetherlngton did not even look al
her for his answer. He was indeed in
ssting on being even chummier thar
usual this evening, and Winiired BEN
her head close over the papers once
more.
"Of COURSE" Hetherlngton went ON
Gertrude is popular very. SlllingtoI
has mint Of money, too, but | dom
think she's the kind Of girl who woulC
stoop to anything like that"
Wlnlfred had to listen 60 that ant
much more In snatches and mono
logues, and she was glad when at las
Hetherington left There are time.
when 1t is singularly harder to b,
"chummy" than at others.
The next morning IIetheringtOn hai
gone when she came to breakfast
something most unusual for him, II
the evening he did not ask her help
He talked very little, and Mrs. Hether
ington later said to her husband, "Cal
It be that Hugh Is not well?'
Her husband looked up RETROSPECT
lively over his glasses.
Maybe he's In love. Maybe he ha
proposed TO some girl and she's turnc,
him down. Every young fellow has t
have lesson or two. Ii won't hur
him, l suppose"
"Oh, how can you talk so? | nm sur
Hugh would not propose to girl with
out talking to me about II tirst,'
WhereupOn Mr.. Hetherlngton, Sr
smiled behind his paper and went o.
reading A long and comparativel
serene matrimonial voyage had taugh
him that arguments only fll the sail
with head winds.
Winifred herself neither questlone
nor seemed to take heed Of Hugh
moods. After several evenings he cam
j | dawn and asked hpP once more