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

SNJy the foot of Venus rising
N-as' out of the Cyprian wave
in a pair of balloon slippers.
Il am not yet addressed as madam,
said she, calmly drawing her skirts
about her feet, which were already Sc
curely hidden.
"Not yet? All, that is very fortunate
indeed. | see | am not too late"
"Sir!"
But | saw no anger on her face
There was, however, mixture OF
amusement, hauteur (that darling
word of the lady novelistsD and Oh
lection She hadn't the least idea who
was, and l was not going to tell her
for some time to come. was prod
igal, with few new ideas.
Il meant nothing more serious than
that you might happen to be Cinder.
ella" said l. What in the world
should | do with Cinderella's slipper,
once she was safely married to the
prnce?"
She swayed her fan indolently, but
made no effort to rise. l looked on this
as rather encouraging.
1T would be somewhat embarrass.
ing to ask a married woman II she
were Cinderella" / proceeded.
81 should not particularize," she OBJ
served; married or single, 1t would
be embarrassing"
81 am searching for the Cinderella
who has lost slipper. and / am go
ing to call you Cinderella till l have
proof that you are not she whom
seek"
1T is very kind of you" she replied,
with a hint of sunshine struggling at
the corners of her lips. Have l ever
met you efore?"-puzsling her
arChed brows.
Memory does not follow reincar'
nation" | answered owlishly; but
dare say that | often met you at the
Temple of Venus in the old, old days"
She appeared slightly interested.
What, may ask, was your busi'
ness in the old, old days?"
81 played the cithern."
"And II"
81 believe you distributed flowers"
do you know the hostess ?"-witb
solemn eyes.
"Oh, yes; though she hasn't the
slightest recollection Of me. But that's
perfectly natural. At affairs like this
the hostess recalls familiarly to her
mind only those who sat at her dinner
table eaElier in the evening. All other
invitations are simply paid obliga
tions."
You possess some discernment. al
least"
Thank you"
But l wish knew precisely what
you are about, her eyes growing
critical in their examination.
~ am seeking Cinderella" once
more holding out the slipper. Then
looked at my watch. 1T Is not yet
twelve o'clock"
you are, of course. a guest here.
Illuminating, "else you could not have
passed the footman at the door"
Mark my attire; or. candidly. do
look like footman?"
Moo; can't say that you do; but
in Cinderella. don't you know. the
footman carried the slipper"
"Oh, I'm the prince" ! explained
easily; II dismissed the footman at
the door,"
cinderella" she mused. She mes
tied her feet, and looked thoughtfully
at her delicate hands. could see she
was at that instant recalling the pic
ture of Cinderella and the ash-heap.
What was the princes name?"
"In this case 1t is just a prince OF
good fellows"
~ should like some witnesses" She
gazed at me curiously, but there was
no distrust in her ''mpid eye, as clear
and moteless as Widow Wadman's.
isn't it ine," cried with burst
Of confidence, Ito possess the courage
to speak to strangers?"
at is equally courageous to listen,
was the retort.
81 knew l should like you!"-with
enthusiasm
She stirred uneasily. 1t might have
been that her foot had suddenly grown
chilled. A storm was whirling outside
and the pale, shadowy fakes of snow
brushed the windows.
approached her, held up the slip
per and contemplated 1t with wrinkled
brow. She watched me covertly. What
slipper! So small and dainty was It,
so light and airy, that had | suddenly
withdrawn my hand verify believe II
would have floated. 1t was part satin
and part skin, and the light, striking
the inner side Of it, permeated 1t with
faint. rosy glow.
What a darling thing 1t is!"-un
able to repress my honest admiration
Light as one of those snowflakes out
yonder in the night. What proud
arch the instep has! All, but 1t is a
high-bred shoe, fit to tread on the
heart of any man. Lovely atom!"
She stirred again. l went on:
ut might really belong to princess
but only in a fairy book; for all the
princesses l have ever seen couldn't
put a hand in shoe like this, much
less a foot. And when l declare to
you, on my honor, that l have met
various princesses In my time, you
will appreciate the compliment pay
to Cinderella"
The smile on her lips wavered and
trembled, like puff Of wind on placid
water, and was gone.