The Raymer enterprise., 1922-04-20
The Modern
Cinderella
By Munl-L CLAIR.

4
why Mrs Lanhan, yho had never
been known 10 do an unseifisll act,
surprised her intimates by asking her
liiile orphaned niece 10 make her
h"ne With her after her brothers
it.aih.
Esther and Oliver Benton had
grown up together IN the sanIe house
In Ohio. and Oliver had supported his
widowed mother and sister until
Esther's brilliant marriage to u
wealthy lawyer. Esther mourned her
husbands death decently for year /;
then she moved to New York.
Why Mrs. Latham si,auld have
taken little Cinderella--whOse real
mime WAS Elizabe l--into her home
was u mystery until Mrs. Bentham-
Jenkins solved Il.
why. my dear. the reason Is per.
fectIy obvious" she said to friend.
III is only necessary to look at the
children's faces Did you ever see
more glar!ng conlras, between beauty
and LONELINESS: Beauty and the
ncnst. ! should call 1t; and that char.
ity child won't improve with years,
either"
Elizabeth heard Il and ran away to
cry. Elizabeth wore Beatrice's cast
ON dresses. after the trimmings had
been removed and certain dowdi.
ness impaired by Mrs. Lanham's deft
fingers. That excellent woman knew
the value Of foil for her daughter,
particularly now that Beatrice was Of
a marriageable age. Beatrice was
kinder. Once she gave Elizabeth one
Of her cast-on gowns.
Lester Martin had been q frequent
caller at Mrs. .Lanhsn's house Of re-
cent weeks. Martin was the son Of
old Roger Martin, the banker.
Lester was calling at the I.anham
home. and Beatrice, having heard the
news from her maid was hurrying
into her reception gown. Cinderella
was all alone. She was just going up
stairs-for Mrs. I.nnham did not like
her to receive her guests-when she
met Lester at the door.
"why don't | ever wee anything Of
you. Miss Bentonl" he asked, detain-
inc her.
Elizabeth did not know what to say,
so she said nothing.
''Ym dear little Cinderella" said
Lester Martin. and bent down and
kissed her.
She cried wildly for hours, until Bea-
trice came and found her In her room.
Beatrice was too much excited to no
tice Elizabeth's red eyes. She began
chattering about Lester.
Mamma thinks that he is In love
with me- she said.
"Do you love him. Beatricey In.
quIred Elizabeth.
Il don't know. guess | could"
said Beatrice. whirling about. Mann
ma says you needn't come down to.
Night because we are having guests"
She came back presently. do you
know old Roger Lester Is giving a
fancy dress ball next month"; she
asked. Yes. the Invitations have
just come. And oh. | forgot to say
that there II one for you. Mamma has
written accepting for me and decl'n.
ing for you.
Elizabeth trod on air during the next
four weeks. She went 30 happily about
her duties that more than once she
caught sight Of Mrs. Lanham survey.
ing her with amazed disapproval AT
last the night Of the bali arrived.
"You need not sit up for US" sald
| Mrs. Lanham condescendingly.
When the auto rolled away she hur-
ried upstairs and slipped into the ball
dress and slippers.
Nobody stopped her at the door.
Masked, among hundred other
masked women. her presence excited
no comment.
The music intoxicated her. Eliza.
beth could dance divinely. But when
she saw Lester approach and gravely
ask her. her head swayed and her eyes
filled with sudden tears.
"Shall we 80 into the conserva-
t0ryY he asked, when the music
stopped. He offered her his arm. At
the door Of the ballroom they passed
Beatrice aud her mother. Their eyes
rested on her. and with q sudden ter
ror Elizabeth perceived that she was
recognized.
"What Is the matter7' Lester asked.
as they sat down. "You are not feel
Ing wellf May I get you a glass Of
waterf"
She shook her head. Lester placed
his hand upon hers.
~Do you think do not know who
you are, cinderellar be asked. 'for
all that maskf See II can guess.
You are Miss Benton, and you ran
away to the dance"
"And l can never 20 home" said
Elizabeth In panic. "She recognized
me. had never been to ball be.
fore, and could not bear not to just
once. don't know what shall do"
"Ill tell you" said Lester. You
need never 60 home again II you will
marry me-"
| He mistook the look In her eyes
"Oh. Cinderella" he cried. stretching