Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-03-12

ana foriy-eight. seat herself breath
lessly ON the far end of the bench.
recognized her instantly; she had been
one of the salient features OF my child
hood. only a little further removed
than my mother herself. She was ford
IN her October years: twenty years
ago she had been plump and pretty:
now she was only pretty plump. But
sTollicking soul beamed from her
kindly eyes. So / bethought me of
the slipper. dragged it forth, rose and
approached
Madam" said gravely, are you
Cinderella"
She balanced her lorgnette and
stared, first at the slipper. then at me
Young man, don't be silly. DO /
look like a woman who could wear a
little thing like that? Run along with
you. and don't make fur of poor old
women. II there is any Cinderella
around here I'm only her godmother."
For moment / ST. cd abashed.
Here was one who had outliyed van
ity, or at least had discovered its
worthlessness.
Have you no vanity, madam" I
asked solemnly.
IF have it has ceased TO protrude.
Go and give the slipper to a footman,
and don't keep some girl hopping
around o. one foot"
| was almost tempted to tell her
who | was.
Madam, there was a time be-
gan.
"Oh, yes; thirty years ago might
have claimed the slipper: might even
have worn t,"-complacently.
Please permit me to conclude:
There was time when you held me
on your knees"
'What?"
''lt is indeed so"
Confess. then, that you were pTop-
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 mad heard 1t
that night l had heard it so infre-
quently that liked the sound of it.
And it is really you?" pushing me
of at arms length the better TO OBJ
serve the changes that had taken
place you grow more like your ia
Their; if you hadn't that beard you
would be the exact picture of your ia
Their when he married your mother.
oh. what pretty wedding it was!"
Il shall have to take your word for
1t. ! was up and about, however, at
the tin anniversary"
Il remember Oh, but what a
racket you made among the pansi"
She laughed softly at the recollection.
Il was properly spanked that night"
| admitted
And straightway we uncovered
thirty and twenty years respectively.
by the way, said carelessly, 'fs
Nancy Marsden engaged to be mar
ried?"
Nancy? She never will be. to my
idea. She recently turned down real
duke; a duke that had money and
everything"
And everything; is that easiest"
inquired.
''Nonsense!"
well. between you and me and the
gatepost, 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 go"
Then the water-clock in the fountain
struck twelve. and / sprang up.
Mercy. I'll never find any Cinder-
ella at this rate All is lost if she es-
capes me-"
l kissed her hand gratefully, and
made off.
Immediately ran into young miss
who. Judging from her short dresses,
was 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 M
confounded beard (which | deter
mined to cut the very next morning)
hid me as completely as the tabled in
visible cloak. | wondered where Jim
was-Nancy's brother. | had seen him
in Europe and l knew if he were any
where around there would be ono to
clap me on the back and BID me vel
come home, This prodigal business
isn't what it's cracked up to be
Somehow felt that within a few days
should be making love again 10
Nancy; and | may truthfully add that
| dreaded the ordeal while | courted
1t.
What if she refused me in the end
cast out at once this horrific thought
as unworthy a man of my address.
Under the stairway there was coy
corner. Upon the cushions l saw a
dark-haired girl in red Now. when
they haven't dash of red in their
hair l like 1t in their dress. She was
pretty. besides; so l stopped
Pardon me, but won't you tell me
if you are Cinderella ?"-producing