The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-06
TIE EVENING STORY
serapIline's Freaks.

(By temple Ba1Iey.)
Nothing ever happened in Gera-
phine's life she lived in a little gray
cottage on a country road, where the
winds of winter shook the window
panes until they ratified. Seraphine's
grandmother went early to work. and
would look out of the south window
down the long road and wish for
somebody or something to appear.
Now and then her wish was grant
ed, and farmers wagon would drive
py loaded with produce for the city
market The mail man came once a
day, but he rarely stopped at Sera-
phine's cottage.
If only something would happen"
sighed Seraphine in her loneliness.
when you grow up you can make
them happen" her grandmother said.
but now you must have patience"
Il hate patience" said Seraphine.
''It is better than rebellion" her
grandmother said. and went away to
work.
Seraphine looked once more out Of
the south window and down the long
road, and hoped that a farm wagon
would pass, or the mail carrier or
even a stray dog.
She never could have hoped, how
ever for the coming of such cav
alcade as really did appear. First
was shown a row of bcbbing black
figures silhouetted against the sun
that a very large woman was packed
into a very small cart drawn by a
lazy donkey; a very tall. thin man
tramped beside her; two very little
people trotted behind and a moon
faced old gentleman, with his coat
buttoned up tight to his chin and his
head covered by a rusty silk hat,
brought up the rear
When they came to Seraphine's
gate they stopped.
"Open the gate" said the large
lady, imperiously, land see If there
is any one at home"
The moon faced man came I'D the
steps and knocked. Seraphine re-
sponded eagerly. Come In she said.
Hospitality.
where is your mother?" the moon
faced man demanded.
ST haven't any," Seraphine told
him. 81 have a grandmother. and
she goes out to wash
well, there is a fire in there any
how" said the large lady.
The little dwarfs hoped UP the
steps.
Eyes, it's freezing out. here" they
echoed. May we warm our hands at
your hearth -
"Of course you may" said Sera-
phine. 'I guess there is room for
all of you," but she looked doubtfully
at the large lady.
1t really did seem. when they. all
J.
took up most of the hearth. but by
reaching his hands over her head
the tall man managed to warm his
fingers. The dwarfs squeezed them
selves into the chimney nook, and
the moon faced man pushed the large
lady little to one side.
They were very cross company.
but Seraphine did not care; some
thing was happening at last, and she
trotted back and forth bringing cush-
ions for the dwarfs to sit on, and
stool for the large lady's feet.
She gathered from their converse
ton that they were travelling to the
winter circus in the city beyond
And the trouble" said the large
lady, that we have lost Cinderella"
I 1t sounded like a fairy tale. Gin
derella 2" Seraphine questioned Gag
ives said the large. lady. ''she
has a chariot like golden slipper,
and she drives two white horses.
The moon faced man further eluci-
dated. "She tried to elope with the
strong man. We've been to her we'd
ding, but there wasn't any wedding.
The manager caught her before she
had her license and he held her to a
contract, which she says she did not
sign. But the manager insists that 1t
bound her not to marry for a year "
"But where are they now?" Sera-
phine asked
ssWell, the strong man is having it
out with the manager, said the
moon faced man, "and Cinderella was
to meet us and go home with us, but
we lost her som ewhere in the crowd,
so we started"
"And nearly froze." walled the
large lady, land I'm hungry"
"You are always hungry" said the
moon faced man.
at have to be- said the large lady,
cor how would I keep up my reputa-
tion?"
cinderella is coming the tall,
thin man announced hoarsely. land
the strong man is with her."
There was great excitement among
the queer crowd.
run and bring them in.' the large
| lady commanded, and the moon faced
man rushed to the gate
"Oh, dear. we've had such funny
time" they said.
The strong man had a suit case,
and Cinderella carried basket. She
was very pretty, with golden hair.
and she wore a blue velvet dress
trimmed with fur. Serapi1ine thought
she looked like an angel.
Were going to have our wedding,
after ALL Cinderella announced to
is following. I told him I would not
be married without my dear people;
you have all been so coed to me. but
never expected to find YOU here
| But why not here?' the large lady
demanded. you don't mind having
q wedding here, little girl, do you 20
"Mindl" 1t seemed to Seraphine
that it couldn't be true, after all the
dullness of her days, to have a we'd
ding in the little gray house.
I'D love it, she said.
You're a DEAR" said Cind erella.
Seraphine Rugged her hard. Then
her practical mind turned to house
wifely things. There is lots of wood
| in the shed" she said. Somebody
had better go and get it and make a
bigger fire.
land there are lots of things to
eat in the suit case and the basket, y
said the strong man. What is 9
wedding without q feast p"
They We're very busy in the few
minutes that elapsed before the
Judge came The little table was
heaped with the good things the
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