The Lamar register., 1919-09-10
Cinderella.

saw her that to q girl like that no
man could ever have the satisfaction
OF making any gift or any offering. so
Ing her love. Still. even II she would
not give him quite the satisfaction
that he wished, there would be JOY In
showering on her all the things that
his wealth could buy: things that
clearly she was longing for.
How that white neck Of hers would
glow under the string OF pearls that
he would give her. and how that moth
er OF hers would rest Burton did not
approve of mothers-ln-law on general
principle. but he determined that he
would make a generous settlement on
her. SO that she might find the re-
ward for the years that she had
worked so hard to keep her fair
daughter from drudgery.
Although Burton had gone no far
ther In his courtship than to llnger
after dinner ccaslonally-always with
some other table companion present
to talk with Bernice In the old-fash-
ioned, gloomy drawing room, and occa-
sionally to meet her for five-mlnute
tete-a-tete, he felt that he would have
no great difficulty In winning her af-
fection. There was something In her
expression toward him that lie did not
see when she talked to the others.
'Is Miss Bernice homef" he asked
the maid Of all work who answered
his ring early one afternoon when he
had determined to have little talk
with her away from the rest, and the
young lady was In the kitchen. Bur-
ton felt q thrill of happiness.
1t had bothered him little that Ber-
nice never appeared TO be helping this
patient mother of hers. but now 1t oc-
Cured to him that she really did help
with the cooking. though she was al
ways at leisure at meal times and after
dinner. So quite unceremoniously he
followed the maid back Into the
kitchen. anu there stood the lovely
Bernice, lovely In u new. half-made
frock. with the patient mother on her
knees before her adjusting the ruffles
and nounces that embellished 1t.
bNAhAet bthA n ha1ht wan
an "Oh. Mr.. Monroe" at being thus
discovered and then Burton saw the
mother for the first time. She was
not the worn. tagged, oldlsh person
he had expected. Her hard work had
apparently rather added cheerful ro-
tundity to her figure. and though there
wsrs tired shadows under her eyes.
there WAS no look OF actual exhaustion
there. She started to her feet and
Burton. laughing. put out a hand to
help her.
There was the favor OF cooking APP
Pile pies uncloyed by any Of the other
scents Of a close kitchen, for Mrs.
Purdon was noted for her immacu-
late housekeeping. And somehow Bur
ton always associated the fragrance
OF apple pies with that hrst meeting.
Burton told the mother OF Bernice
that he was glad to meet her. and
she laughed and he was 80 surprised
to nnd how mistaken he had been in
his notion Of what Bernice's mother
would look like that he didn't notice
Bernice after she returned. When
he did the fairness of the daughter
seemed to pale beside the mature Sc
renfty OF the brown-eyed mother.
That evening after the long days
work was done he was waiting with
the finest motor car he could rent TO
take the mother on an airing through
the warm spring air of the country.
When Burton saw that 1t was obvious
that Bernice chose to regard herself
ms included in his Invitation he asked
one Of the boarders who happened to
be present to go too so that they might
sit together In the back seat while
he and the mother sat in front. Then
for several nights this little quartet
went spinning In this car that Bur
ton explained had been lent by u for
mer employer OF his.
81 say. that's u mean trick Miss Ber-
nice is playing" commented one OF
the boarders TO another on their way
from the house not long after. "She's
shaken him for Tom Sprngue and
while poor Monroe runs the car and
pays for the gasoline he has to sit
with mother In tn. front. I guess
she got wind that Tom Sprague's get
ting a raise"
And the next morning came the elec-
trffying Information. James Monroe
wasn't James Monroe at all. but that
big fnAncier, Burton Hall. Bernice