A Modern Cinderella

etty. Some of the parlor furnishings were packed away, everything swathed in linen. The closing exercises of the ki

he babies fretted and Marilla took them out morning and afternoon with strict injunctions to keep on the shady side of the street. It seemed to grow hotter and ho

are going," dec

knows I shall miss you enough, and j

slippers. She was very glad, for sometimes his talking almost se

he middle of it. Many of the families were away. She sat on one special stoo

own on the second step, leaning against the stone column and pushed the carriage to and fro. Curio

t was the matter with her legs? they seemed to have lost their strength. She crawled up again. All the world,

howled. Some children came to see what was the matter two quite big boys among

e row here

, slim woman in a soft gray dress and hat with violets around the crown. She crossed

ough to wake the dead,

er Miss Armitage saw that

. "What can be the matter?

isters-twins. And thats the nus

w where the

in Arch

u take th

l-ye

hem," rejoin

he sat down on the step an

I see the flutte

hospital," propo

ot seem to notice anything; then the lids fell a

e across the street,"

a feather. She opened the door and asked him to

k. We'll have a doctor and see what is the matter. Then I'll deci

ma'am," and he touche

faint, but something is the matter. Get a warm bath read

ing out. Would be u

or little body was painfully thin. Then they carried her to the

e curls and fine as silk. I

those babies, twins I suppose they are

happ

. Now I'll find a nice nightgown,

very heavy and dull. Her lips moved, but the tone was very 64 low.

r little

flew around

ething had happene

she detailed t

d in the alcove, white window drapery, a carpet with considerable light blue i

d. All her strength seems gone. And a case of hea

"I have seen her sitting there several

d be enough for such a child to manage. Overwork and under

65 seemed to fall from absolute weari

my mind. If this awful heat would let up! I'll leave some drops to be given to her and w

er it. Poor little thing, deformed and all that. This child has a nice straight body a

ds anything for her. Poor things! Why are

going

riest. Don't be worried. These drops will keep up her streng

ey would be feeling much alarmed, no doubt. She explained to Jane and put on her hat again and picked up her sun umbre

made a note of the number. Arch street was some distance farther west, and then only a block or so. A very nice looki

answered the door. And now p

trouble," apol

ace, nearly opposite where the little girl

sister can't leave the children. We have been almost crazy!

row. The policeman proposed sending her to the Hospital, but I am one of the managers of the

Pansy dear, do hush! You miss Marilla, don't you? The best li

against her shoulder and gently patting her. She did

f September. We thought it would be so nice for Marilla, too, she'd kind of run down thou

s she been w

tron said. I think she was very glad to come. She's had a good home and plenty to eat. And one funny thin

drew a long breath. Pansy

and she'd tell them stories. I think she must have made them out of her head-funny things and she'd act them off and the babies would laugh and laugh-it was as go

tage was

factory until she gave out. We 69 sent her to the Rest House in the country and she did improv

are as good as kittens though they can't scamper around so much. And they're so fat they won't walk very soon. It'll just be sitting round and

en would com

e her so much. I don't see what could have happened to her. She has been out in the fresh air most of th

ken at all. She lie

nk she 70 will die?" and Mrs. Bor

r days when overcome with the heat.

od not to send her off to a hospital. How ever should we have found he

ome and tell them to send her in th

d." She followed her v

Miss Armitage. "And I hop

u-for eve

y wafts of wind wandered along, whic

ou notice any bruise on the child's head while you w

nd I really did not look only to see that it was in a nice,

ane all she had

e kind of people. B

ed to the settlement H

ld be very glad of the position. She wo

re dead. Now and then she gave her the drops and fanned the air about her. The morning came and the city w

ve the ear that had a small bit of discoloration, but

her. Jane held her up while they gave her a little milk which she swallowed

itage's interview and n

she has worked harder than any one imagin

not torment the little ones, push their playthings out of the way, give them sly pinches or tweak their hair. She did hate to tell tales on

than a bird," Brid

e real country, and grass, and everything. I'm so tired of the

et was almost

ken for her. "And she was sure she should like the ladies and the pretty little boy. B

clouded up and the evening brought a most

ow. Miss Armitage sat reading. Jane had gone out for a walk

tly at the woman sitting there in her soft,

her?" Marilla asked in

smiling in

ther one, but then it was night and we went t

?" in a soft,

ery new Cinderella dances with the Prince, you

g the child had

better?" she

and sighed. Then she sa

where are the babie

And the babies and all the fa

so q

oped again and

, and seemed to study

such lovely music and dancing and everybody was so gay. It's beautiful he

You have been ill. And

mbled and everything looked so queer, blue and red and full of stars,

he babies were taken home. And you have be

n the home and we had to stay in bed. I was so hungry. O

at Mr. B

ease to hav

e brought a

omething to eat-a

s good. Thank you. Who brought m

I guess," w

be turn

her face was toward the sk

if I should

nd I'll re

through the evening, but was rather restless all night. No one had to wa