The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-03-28
..H1yen't You an Incarnation -

Haven't you an Incarnation :" I
asked.
She stretched out her arms dramad-
cal1y. BE gone, young man, be gone!"
Very good" said 1; hat am I'M
pervious to lamentations Of that sort"
II wonder where the other Cinder-
ella is?'-adroitly. It was quite cyl
dent that she, wanted to be Ed OF me.
II hadn't met Nancy!
Suppose try this white slipper on
your foot?"
1T is not Q supposable natter" -
would that possessed a cobbler's
license!"-sighing.
! She laughed. you wouldn't be halt
so NICE" .~-.: IL 81 .~~
This was almost the beginning OF IN
enchantment. - .-.t.
1T you will turn your head toward
the wall I'll try on the slipper. I am
curious to learn il there is girl here
who has a smaller foot than IT,
VANITY, vanity, all is vanity!"
"Tisn't vanity; its curiosity; and
| maybe my foot is getting cold"
I took some pillows and piled them
| on the floor. "How will this do?"
Since I cannot have the slipper I
shall not move. Besides, am sitting
on the unshod foot Hadn't you better
| sit down here beside me and give an
account Of yourself and what you have
been doing all these ten years?"
You know me?" genuinely aston
ished.
But you do not know me?"
mo; it's terrible thing to admit,
but do not recognize you"
! Don't you remember Betty Lee?"
| Betty Lee? That homely little girl
turned into goddess? Small wonder
that I didn't recognize you.''
| my girl friends all say that l
haven't changed bit in ten years."
! Envy, malice, jealousy! But it 10
odd that you should recognize me and
that Nancy Marsden should forget
me-"
Il used to detest you; we forget
only those We love-"
Enter one of the pumpkins, young
] fellow about twenty. Hang it, was
always being interrupted by some cal
low youth!
! Here's your COMPOUNDED shoe, Bett.
I've had deuce Of time finding it."
He tossed the slipper cavalierly into
her lap.
Young man." said I severely, "you
will never succeed with the ladies'"
1.-THE lady happens to be my sister,"
f-haughtily.
! Pardon me!"-contritely. Il
should have remembered that sisters
don't belong"
! The girl laughed and pushed out one
Of the pillows. Then she gave me the
slipper.
Well not haggle over a cobblers
license" she said.
! / knelt and put on the slipper. Only
one thing marred the completeness Of
my happiness; the slipper wasn't q
blue one.
The girl stood up and shook the
folds in her dress, then turned coldly
! on her brother.
| "You are a disgrace to the family.
Bob"
"Oh. fudge! Come on along to sup.
per; It's ready, and I'm half starved"
! Brothers don't belong, either
Il wish you luck with the white slip
per-" said Betty, as she turned to
leave. "Call on mo soon, and I'll for
give all the past"
THAT shall" But l made up my
mind that should call on Nancy first.
Otherwise it would be dangerous.
l stood alone. 1t rather hurt to
think one girl should remember me
and that the other should absolutely
forget. But supper brought me out of
my cogttations. So once again I put
away the slipper and looked at my
supper card. I was destined to sit at
table four. followed the pilgrims
out to worship at the shrine of Lucul.
lus.
| Evidently there was no Cinderella;
or, true to her condition in life, she
was at this moment seated before her
ash-heap, surrounded by strutting and
cooling doves. Well, well, l could put
the slipper on the mantel at home; it
would be a pleasant reminder.
/ found table four. There were four
chairs, none of them occupied; and as
I sat down l wondered If any one I
knew would sit down with me.
A heavy hand fell rudely upon my
shoulder
what do you mean, sir, by entering
a gentleman's house in this manner?"
demanded a stern voice.
| turned, my ears burning holly.
"You old prodigal! You old man.
without-a-country! You pirate-' went
on the voice. How dared you sneak
in in this fashion? Nan, what would
you do with him if you were in my
| placer" The voice belonged to Nancy
Marsden's brother.
Il have no desire to put myself in
your place." said the only girl who
could be Cinderella.
Il wouldn't bother about his slipper.
not il he went barefooted all his life.' -
said l.
And then, and then, and then! What
a bombardment! How pleased was!
was inordinately happy, and didn't
eat a thing till the salad.
How could you!" said Nancy.
"But you didn't recognize me-
with a show Of defiance: "and I ex-
! pected that you would be the very
first"
"Cut off that horrid heard'