Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-03-20

OH, what pretty wedding IL was!
II shall have to taEc your word for
1t. was up and about, however, at
the tin anniversary"
II 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 carelessly, 'is
Nancy Marsden engaged to be mar
ried?"
Nancy? She never will be, to my
idea. She recently turned down a real
duke; duke that had money and
everything"
And everything; is that castles?"
| 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"
ITS the woman's place to announce
an engagement. But know the man."
lie is worthy?"
"Oh, as men 60"
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 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 a guest on sufferance, not having
"cq me 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.
l 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
confounded beard (Which deter
mined to cut the very next morning)
hid me as completely as the tabled in
visible cloak. l wondered where Jim
was-Nancys brother. had seen him
in Europe, and | knew If 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
| should be making love again to
Nancy; and ! may truthfully add that
| dreaded the ordeal while l courted
It.
What if she refused me in the end?
| cast out at once this horrific thought
as unworthy man of my address.
Under the stairway there was cozy
corner. Upon the cushions l saw a
dark-haired girl In red. Now, when
they haven't a dash Of red in their
hair like 1t in their dress. She was
pretty, besides; so l stopped.
Pardon me. but won't you tell me
II you are Cinderella a?"-producing
the slipper.
II am,"-she said with an amused
smile.
Then there is a Cinderella, after
all?" l cried joyfully. where are the
pumpkins?" glancing about.
81 believe that several Of them have
gone hunting for the slipper"
l was delighted. Three witty WON.
en- all in one night, and two Of them
charming. 1t was more than man had
any right to expect.
you have really and truly lost a
slipper?"
Really and truly; only am not the
Cinderella you are looking for" From
under her skirt there came into view
Immediately to disappear) small
scarlet slipper.
was very much taken aback.
"Red?" said l. "Ah, have 1t. The
wicked fairy has cast a spell over
the slipper and turned it white"
THAT would simplify everything
If we lived in fairy-tale times.
Oh, dear there are no fairies nova.
days, and wonder how In the world
am to get home"
You have the pumpkins and the
MICE
only the pumpkins; 1t is after
twelve, and all the mice have gone
home"
Haven't you an incantation?" ]
asked.
She stretched out her arms dramati-
cally. BE gone, young man, be gone!"
Very good" said /; but am i'm
pervious to incantations Of that sort"
81 wonder where the other Cinder-
ella is s?"-adroitly. 1t was quite evi.
dent that she wanted to be rid of me.
II hadn't met Nancy!
Suppose try this white slipper on
your foot?"
1T is not a supposable matter"
would that possessed cobbler's
cense!"-sighing.
She laughed. you wouldn't be half
~ MICA"