The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-13
A BALKY Cinderella
BY lZoLA FORESTER.


And now it was over, the five weeks
of travel through France and NOT.
mandy. old Brittany and Holland. PM
hardly heard what the count was say
ing as she leaned over the rail ana
looked ahead at New York's Skyline
of tall buildings shaping out OF the
morning haze. She knew perfectly
well that Aunt Isabel was watching
them from her deck chair even whlie
she discussed custom troubles with
the commodore and Larry.
The whole situation had been ex-
planned to Phil before she left her
stateroom.
We've done everything we could
for you, Philippe" Aunt Isabel had
said plaintively. Here we have the
royal suite or bridal suite, or what
ever they call it, and everyone thinks
of course, you are your uncle's heiress.
/ haven't denied it, for 1t helps i'm
mensely, and both the commodore and
myself are really quite fond OF you.
You've been very sweet during the
trip and clothes have done wonders
for you, too, and there's no reason
why you shouldn't marry the count.
I have no doubt but what your uncle
would do the right thing by you,
though l do hope the castle is well
ventilated. He hates stuffy ruins, SO
I'd never get him to visit you. I'm
sure your mother can't say but what
I've made you a success"
"Yes, ma'am," Phil said mildly, turn
ing around on her little finger Larrys
boyish silver ring. Plain it was, just
a band of silver worn thin, with his
monogram engraved On it, but 1t had
been on her hand since certain eve
ming the third day out. She regarded
it thoughtfully. Larry had not been
definite. He had not made any sort
of a proper prosposal, as Aunt Isa-
bel would have put it. He had only
slipped the ring from his own hand to
hers as it lay beside him on the rail
ing, and had tried to tell her how
much she meant to him. and how
some day when he had made sue
cess he would 60 to the commodore
and ask him to give her to him.
Larry had been the unknown guam
tity in Aunt Isabels reckoning. The
commodore had met him in Paris,
stranded after trying to impress the
continent with the value of certain
make Of spark plugs. As salesman
he was failure. but the commodore
had made him private secretary, cour.
Ter and general major domo, and he
had won his regard and the surety OF
work in the big general Offices out
West.
| Somehow there didn't seem to be
anything real excepting the little sill
yer ring. She hated the Cinderella
clothes she wore and even the string
of pearls the commodore had given
her. -And,as she saw Larry's. cheerful.
boyish face she dId' what Ted back
homo called "Phil's trick" She
baked.
I'm awfuny sorry" she told the
little, courteous count, giving him hel
hand, but l can't do as you wish
I'm not the commodore's heiress, yor
know. I'm Just his niece by mar
riage, and they had both been kline
enough to give me this trip. l haven
500 Of my very own. Won't you &c
and talk to Aunt Isabel. please, ant
forget all about me?"
"Mademoiselle, IL honor you," he
faltered over her hand. And Phi
knew he was grateful to her for hel
frankness. Then she turned to Larry
and they leaned over the railing to
gether happily.
you turned him down, didn't your
Larry said.
She nodded her head 81 told him
the real truth, and l want to tell you
too, Larry" And she did-far more
completely than the count had heard
It.
What are you going to do?" asked
Larry.
Stay home and look after things
and mother. I'm the only one that
likes home life," she laughed. Aunt
Isabel said the only home for me was
either to dress me up and make me a
social attraction, or else marry me of
to some adjacent farmer. We haven't
any adjacent farmers down our way
though, and I'm not a social success
bit"
Larry's strong young hand closed
over hers. His face was close to hel
fluffy windblown hair.
Can ] go and tell the commodor,
he's got to raise my salary becaus,
Ill have wife to look after soon
Can |, Phil? / know you care. sweet
heart. You're blushing like fury. i
you don't quit it, I'm going to lear
over and kiss you before everybody
Can l tell him, Phil?"
After we dock" said Phil content
eddy. Il don't want Aunt Isabel or tn,
little count to faint away just this min
ute. They'll think we're perfectly
crazy, Larry"
Who cares?" Larry retorte6
promptly. Il may not have any mold,
old castle or title to give you. bu,
Ill make you happy, dear, l know
will"
Fhil snuggled as close to his side as
she could get.
I'll bet a cookie" she whispered
Cinderella just loved real pumpkins
and mice. Crystal slippers pinch
awfully"
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate)
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