The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-03-15
RELUCTANT CINDERELLA
BY JOHN GREGORY.


Ella Louise Gilman |" Mrs. Gilman
leaned back In her rocker, dropped her
sewing on her lap and looked reproach-
tuliy at her eldest. "When you think
how much 1t would mean to the others
to have you settled with your Aunt
Adelinel How you can dare to look a
gift horse In the face"
Ella Lou gave a big. explosive sigh
and went back to the supper dishes.
Nancy and Dot we're at their lessons
In the sitting ROOM, and the boys
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
In 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
In the mill awhile like most of the
young girls, and had graduated into
the Office now, at eight dollars a week.
1t wasn't much, but, with what the
boys managed to pick up at odd Jobs
after school, II 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 owe anything. Yet 1t was just
an offer to take Ella Lou for the win
ter, dress her and give her a 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-
rition there. 1t could only be Aunt
Adeline.
well, so here you all are" she
cried. "Sue, bless you, I'm glad to be
here" 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 Adeline she had always ina
gined, the social leader at the state
capital, the one rich member of the
family.
II thought I'd better come myself"
Mrs. Chalmers said. "It was q long
time since l had seer you, Sue, not
since / left for Europe after Nancy
was born, and you have no idea how
lonely its is for me in the big house
now that Bob has gone. Somehow, as
the years drift over us, we get a per-
spective 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 a curious
week. Before she had been with them
a day, Aunt Adeline had won over the
family. But Ella Lou held aloof. At
night when her mother told her what
a lucky girl she was, and planned her
winter ahead, she said little, but there
was a sparkle of rebellion in her eyes.
1t was all very well for them to dis
pose of her like that, but she'd never
leave the family. Why hadn't Aunt
Adeline shown this sudden change of
heart years ago?
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 were talking all this
over, walking slowly up the hill after
he mill closed one evening. When
she 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
aunt's use, and closed the door behind
her, her cheeks flushed, her eyes brim-
full Of resolution.
Aunt Adeline, l do want to talk
plainly to you so much"
well, go ahead, child" Mrs. Chal-
mers exclaimed heartily. "Well have
many a little confidence this winter,
and ! want you to come to me freely"
But that's it," Ella Lou returned,
eagerly, II don't want to go, l can't
go. Can't you see hat 1t wouldn't
be fair7 Mother needs me here In a
thousand ways. Dots only nine and
Nancy's thirteen and unreliable yet. |
wouldn't be a bit happy away from
them all"
"But, Ella Louise. It's your one big
chance"
II don't are I want them to have
nice things. too. You see, Aunt Ade-
line, all that doesn't mean as much
to me-pretty clothes and riding
around In the car with you. and that
sort of thing.
Tim engaged. and we've been try
ing to plan how we could be mar
ried. don't you know, after we had
both done all we could for u fam
lies. If you really and truly wan to
help"
Mrs. Chalmers smile was reassur-