The Springfield herald. (Springfield, Baca County, Colo.) 1887-1919, 1913-02-28

leB1ly on the fAr END OF the o6nch.
recognized h. instantly: she had been
one Of the salient features Of my child
hood, only little further removed
than .mX,nother herself. She was norid
in her October years; twenty years
ago she had bean plump and pretty;
now she was only pretty plump. But
rollicking soul beamed from her
kindly eyes. So i bethought me Of
the slipper. dragged 1t forth. rose and
approached.
Madam" said l gravely, ARE you
Cinderella"
She balanced her lorgnette and
Young man. don't be silly. Do l
look like woman who could wear a
little thing like that? Run along with
you. and don't make fun of poor old
women. If there is. any Cinderella
around here I'm only her godmother."
For moment l st, cd abashed.
Here was one who had outlived van
ity, or at least had discovered its
w6rthlessness.
Have you no vanity. madam" I
asked solemnly
IF 1 have 1t has ceased to protrude.
Go and give the slipper to a footman.
and don't keep some girl hopping
around on one foot"
l was almost tempted to tell her
who was.
Madam, there was ti1ne,,'-I be-
gan.
"oh. yes; thirty years ago might
have claimed the slipper; l might even
have worn it."-complacently.
please permit me to conclude:
There was time when you held me
on your knees"
"What?"
at is indeed So"
Confess. then. that you were prop
erly spanked. Heavens and
earth, wherever did you come from?"
she exclaimed suddenly. sit down be-
side me Instantly" And she called
me by name.
1t was the third time l had heard 1t
that night. I had heard 1t so infre-
quently that l liked the sound of 1t.
And 1t is really your" pushing me
of at arms length the better to OBJ
serve the changes that had taken
place. You grow more like your IA
Their; il you hadn't that beard you
would be the exact picture of your IA
Their when he married your mother.
Oh. what pretty wedding 1t was!"
II shall have to take your word for
1t. ! was up and about, however, at
the tin anniversary"
Il remember. Oh, but what q
racket you made among the pans!"
She laughed softly at the recollection.
II was properly spanked that night"
| admitted.
And straightway we uncovered
thirty and twenty years respectively.
by the way" said l carelessly, lis
Nancy Marsdcn engaged to be mar
ried?"
Nancy? She never will be, to my
idea. She recently turned down real
duke; duke that had money and
everything"
And everything; is that castles? ?"
inquired.
"Nonsense!'
well. between you and me and the
ga,epost. Miss Nancy will be engaged
within two months"
"No!"-excitedly.
1T is written"
And to whom, pray?"
IT'S the woman's place to announce
an engagement. But ! know the man"
He is worthy?"
"Oh. as men CO."
Then the water-clock in the fountain
struck twelve, and | sprang up.
Mercy, III never find any Cinder-
ella at this rate. All is lost il she es-
capes me-"
1 kissed her hand gratefully. and
made OFF.
Immediately ran into young miss
who, judging from her short dresses.
was 4 guest on sufferance. not having
come out" yet.
Are you Cinderella ?" asked. with
all the gravity | could assume.
Thank you. sir. but mamma Will
not permit me-" her cheeks growing
furiously red.
] passed on, willing to wager that
the little girl had understood me to
ask her to dance with me.
How | searched among the young
faces; many saw that | knew, but my
COMPOUNDED beard (Which deter
IHlHtu W cut inc very next IlOTHlUPJ
hid me as completely as the tabled in
visible cloak. ! wondered where Jim
was-Nancy's brother. | had seen him
in Europe. and knew II he were any
where around there would be one to
clap me on the back and bid me well
come home. This prodigal business
isn't what it's cracked up to be. !.
Somehow | felt that within few days
l should be making love again to
Nancy; and may truthfully add that
dreaded the ordeal while courted
1t.
What " she refused me in the end
| cast out at once this horrific thought
as unworthy Il man OF my address.
Under the stairway there was coy
corner. Upon the cushions ! saw
darkhaired girl in red. Now. when
they haven't dash OF red In their
hair like 1t in their dress. She was
pretty, besides; 80 ! stopped.
Pardon me, but won't you tell ne
II you are Cinderella ?"-producing
the slipper.
Il m,"-she said with an amused
smile.
Then there Is Cinderella. after
all?" cried joyfully. Where are the