Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-03-22
RELUCTANT CINDERELLA


Adeline! How you can dare to look u
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 boys
were getting in Wood and kindling out
doors She glanced out of the door to
call for 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
seape.
Ella Lou was used TO II all. She had
been born In the village, had worked
In the mill awhile like most Of the
young girls, aad had graduated into
the office now, at eight dollars a week.
II wasn't much, but, with whnt the
boys managed TO pick up at odd jobs
after school. lt kept them going. And
they were so contented all together
before Aunt Adellne's letter had come.
She had never seen her mother So
reused over anything Yet II was just
an offer TO take Ella Lou for the win.
ter. dress her and give her chance TO
do better than she could al Millyale.
All at once there came the sound Of
an automobile up the Hill from the
railroad crossing. II turned into the
mill house road and stopped before the
Gilman gate. Nancy raa 60 open the
door and stood wide-eyed nj the nppn
rition there. II could only he Aunt
Adellne.
We'll, so here you all are 7" she
cried "Sue, bless you, I'm glad 10 be
here" She bent tenderly over the In
valid In the rocker.
Ella Louis brown eyes opened ~
widely ms Nancy's. This WIS not the
Aunt Adeline SHE had always Tina.
gined. the social lender al the state
capital. the one rich member Of the
family
II thought I'd better come myself"
Mrs. Chalmers snid 1T WIS long
time since | had seen you. Sue. n0i
since left FOR Europe after Nancy
was born and you hive no idca how
lonely It's Is for me IN the big hnus,
now that Bob has gone. Somehow a.
the years drlfi over us. we get per
spective % things, and begin 20 mis-,
Whit Is dearest and moH precious
I'm missing cornmniunshlp and love
Of those who really hclong 10 me"
Els Lou went through curiuus
week BEFORE ,iic had been with them
. Iny. Aunt Adclne hpd won over the
family But Ella Lou held nioof Al
night when her mother told her wt,al
u lucky girl she was and planned her
winter ahead. she said little. hut there
was sparkle Of rebellion Ia her eyes
II was oil very we'll for them 10 dis
pose 81 her ike that. but she'd never
leave the family Why hndut Aunt
Adeline shown this sudden change ol
heart years Bgu1
Then, too, there was TED. fIe
worked IN the mitl. too. Ted with his
hopes for their future, and his stsadf
eighteen dollars week that must e1
pand into 80 much more before they
could think OF marrying.
Ted and she were talking ali this
over. walking slowly up The hlii after
the mill closed one evening. When
SHE reached tho house after them.
Ella Louis mind WIS made up She
went straight into the little side bed
room which she had given up for het
aunt's use, and closed the door behind
her, her cheeks flushed. her eyes brim.
ful 81 resolution.
Aunt Adelinc ! DO wBni 10 tAk
plainly 20 you SO much"
"well, 20 ahead, child" Mrs. Chat
mers exclaimed heartily Wen have
many little confidence this wintrr.
and whni you to come TO me freely
"But fhnts H." Ella Lou returned
eagerly. e don't want 20 20. cant
40. Can't you seq that II wouldn't
be fairI Mother needs me here 10 Il
thousand Ways Dots only nine aud
Nnncy's thirteen aud unreliable yel.
wouldn't be BIT happy away trum
them all"
But, Ella Louise It's your que big
chance"
u don't care. want them 20 have
nice things. too. You see. Aunt AIDE.
line, all that doesn't mean ~ much
to me--pretty clothes and riding
around Ia the car with you. aud that
sort of thing.
I'm engaged, and we've been try
ing 10 plan how We could be mnr.
ried, don't you know. after we had
both done all we could for our fam
flies. II you really and truly wan, 10
help"
Mrs, Chalmers smile was reassur.
ing. II seemed as Il her eyes were
just a BIT misty with tears as she
looked ut Ella Louis young, anxious
face.
why can't you take mother home
with you, and the girlsg IA look after
the boys somehow. Ted likes them
both"
"And you'd rather have TedT
More Tran all the world"
ELLA Louise" laughed her aunt
"You make me play fairly godmother
whether . meant "a or not. Go ahead
In your own way and get them ready.
I'll do my part You're the irst Gin
derella ! ever knew to refuse az in
vitation TO the ball"
Ella Lou smiled radIantly.
MY prince won't be there" she
saId.
Copyright. 1917, BY the Mcclure Newspa,
per syndicats.)
IA