The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-03-01
RELUCTANT CINDERELLA
BY JOHN GREGORY.

"Ella Louise Gllmanl' Mrs Gilman
leaned back In her rocker, dropped her
sewing on her lap and looked repronch
fully at her eldest. "When you think
how much IL would mean 10 the others
10 have you settled with your Aunt
Adeine How you can dare to look
gift horse In the face--"
Ella Lou gave a big explosive Sigh
and went back TO the supper dishes
Nancy and Dot were at their lessons
in the sitting room. and the boy
were getting In wood and kindling out
doors. She glanced out of the door TO
call for a pail of fresh water. Up and
down the street stood rows Of white
mill houses, all just alike. Below the
railroad tracks was the great cotton
mill itself, covering acres of ground
IA the heart of the little New England
village, dominating the whole land
scape.
Ella Lou was used to IL all. She had
been born in the village, had worked
Ia the mill awhile like most of the
young girls, and had graduated into
the Office now, at eight dollars week.
Il wasn't much, but, with what the
boys managed to pick up at odd jobs
after school, 1t kept them going. And
they were so contented all together
before Aunt Adeline's letter had come.
She had never seen her mother so
reused over anything. Yet 1t was just
an offer to take Ella Lou for the win
ter, dress her and give her chance TO
do better than she could at Millvale.
All at once there came the sound Of
an automobile up the hill from the
railroad crossing. 1t turned into the
mill house road and stopped before the
Gilman gate. Nancy ran to open the
door, and stood wide-eyed at the appa-
ritlon there. 1t could only be Aunt
Adeline.
"Well, so here you all are" she
cried. "Sue, bless you. I'm glad to he
hese." She bent tenderly over the in
valid in the rocker.
ella Louis brown eyes opened as
widely as Nancy's. This was not the
Aunt Adellne she had always ina
gined, the Aoci@ leader at the state
capital, the one rich member of the
family.
Il thought I'd better come myself" !"
Mrs. Chalmers said ut was long
time since | had seen you, Sue, not
since | left for Europe after Nancy
,..ns barr apd t-ntt hava pn f.lau how
lonely its is for me in the big house
now that Bob has gone. Somehow as
the years drift over us. we get per-
spectiye on things, and begin to miss
what Is dearest and most precious.
I'm missing companionship and love
Of those who really belong to me-
Ella Lou went through curious
week. Before she had been with them
day, Aunt Adeline had won over the
family. But Ella Lou held aloof. AT
night when her mother told her what
4 lucky girl she was, and planned her
winter ahead, she said little, but there
was q sparkle Of rebellion in her eyes.
1t was all very wen for them to dis
pose of her like that, but she'd never
leave the family Why hadn't Aunt
Adcline shown this sudden change Of
heart years ago7
| Then, too, there was Ted. He
worked In the mill, too, Ted with his
hopes for their future, and his steady
eighteen dollars a week that must ex-
pand into so much more before they
could think of marrying.
Ted and she We're talking all this
| over, walking slowly up the hill after
the mill closed one evening. When
size reached the house after them
ella Louis mind was made up. She
went straight into the little side bed
room which she had given up for her
aunts use, and closed the door behind
her, her cheeks flushed, her eyes brim
| fui Of resolution.
"Aunt Adellne. l do want to talk
plainly to you so much"
We'll, so ahead, child" Mrs. Cha
mers exclaimed heartily. "Wen hav,
many a little confidence this winter
and / want you to come to me freely
"But that's it." Ella Lou returned
Eagerly, Il don't want to go, / can
co. Can't you see that it wouldn'
be fair? Mother needs me here in /
thousand ways. Dat's only nine ant
Nancy's thirteen and unreliable yet.
wouldn't be bit happy away from
them ALL"
"But, Ella Louise, It's your one bil
chance
Il don't care. want them to hav
nice things, too. You see, Aunt AIDE
line, all that doesn't mean as muc'
10 me--pretty clothes and ridin
around in the car with you, and tha
\ sort Of thing.
~ IN, on,rarea ond xvesva haen try