Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1918-02-23
Cindefella's
Diary
o0
per synd.cate.)
By HILDA MORRIS

of fatigue. She was eighteen or nine
teen years old. he decided. ar perhaps
twenty. She had lovely oval fncc
framed with waves of bright hair, and
she looked like n lady in spite Of her
rather shabby. Inexpensive clothes.
There was something very attractive
about her.
John did not realize that he was
staring NJ the girl until she opened her
eyes. She opened them suddenly. us
II she had felt his gaze through her
closed lids. And she hooked directly
nj him. II was IL very mprrSunal
lock. casual and II little questioning.
perhaps, yet it did very curious thing
60 John Arnold. II made him feel very
young, or very harry. or very glad Of
something; h. could not uualyzr the
feeling exactly, hut ut least il WAS diff
fcrcnt from anything he Ind ever cx-
prrienced before. Perhaps ii was be-
u gray. and 80 deeply fringcd with
black. They Were very unusual eyes.
They closed again, however. almost mt
once. Il wars rs though She had given
him a glimpse ~ something too pre-
ciouS Ia b. wasted. The cur ioltcd on
and the girl still sat with her curling
lashes resting On her pale check. She
Was evidently very tired.
~ schoolgirl, perhaps. or else she is
taking course In ii business college. =
John decided. noting her pile Of books.
They work hard. too those girls She
looks as II She needed country air and
Il good hong rest"
The car cmptird itself. street by
street, until there were few people left
besides John and the girl of the curl
ing lashcS. As "A matter Of fact John
had passed his street. but for some
reason he had forgotten 10 get on The
tired-looking girl stlll sat with her eyes
closed. resting. But ut length she
reused herself with start and got
of hurrledly NJ a noisy street lined
with high apartments. John could see
her fastening along in the chill dusk,
the collar of her thin coat held high
about her throat
II was not until they had gone on
some distance that he noticed the
book. II lay directly nj his feet a
cloth covered Record" such Ms people
use in offices. II was one Of those
books the girl had carried. John had
particularly noticed lis hu>incSSlike
appearance. He picked it up curiouSly.
and opened 10 the from, na:c. 4 school
notebook. no doubt. ar o..ice accounts.
Perhaps It might contain he girls adj.
dress, So that he could ret, IN IT,
The first page however dispcllcd
this theory. Across II was l. intcd, In
ii careful hand:
dorothy May Douglas. Her Diary"
OF course John Arnold should not
have read the diary yet its neat pages
looked So alluring. and after NIL he
thought. il might contain the address
She would want II returned people
do not like to lose such precious things
rs diaries. So that evening after din.
ner John settled down In his comfort
able bachelor living room and cuiltlly
scanned the pages Of the little book
"M0nday--A hard day at the office
Miss Coleman is So difficult to please.
When | -, "a be head Of an office
force shall try to make them Ike me
I'll be- nice 10 girls that have head
aches. and I'll never. never speak So
sharply that | make them want 10 cry.
oh, well. hope I'll never be head of
an office. Id rather have cottage
with white muslin curtains and red ge-
raniums in thu window and keep II cat.
TUESDAY day nj the office.
But saw the loyclicst silk dress in u
store window rs | was coming home.
II was just exactly what ] would
choose. blue with gold embroidery. If
| were Cinderella Id write 70 my fairy
godmothcr and tell her to bring me a
dress just like that for the ball Per-
haps | am a sort of Cinderella, but
there isn't any fairy godmother or any
prince.
"Wednesday--It was dreadfully cold
in the office today. Miss Coleman likes
the cold And now there isn't enough
heat in my room tonight. either.
wish | Were Cinderella. N least she
had fire TO SIT by"
In spite of the warnings OF his con
science as gentleman. John skinned
other pages, all pathetic with Sordid
details of work. wiStful with girlish
longlngs.
I'm invited 10 party" read the
very last page Of all "A really truly
party II isn't bail like Cindcrclla's.
and no prince has invited me. hut II
viii hr very grand afuir. It's nj
Mrs. Cotton Curtis house, 4 dance She
is giving for her daughter. don't
know why She invited me. She and
mother were school friends. but there
are such miles between us now. miles
Of different circumstances. | mean !.
I've never met the daughter. but I'm
sure She wouldn't care for me. I'm not
one of the We'll dressed, cNpenSive.look-
ing girls whom she associates with.
And haven't anything Ia wear Girls
cant 20 10 parties in blue serge skirts
and ShirfwaISfS Whntnvpr shall do -