A Modern Cinderella

own stairs, Miss Armitage let

tle patient to

't quite like the heart action. And I

cold her-?" in a h

t. So many of the little Cinderellas don't get half a chance with life, the stolid ones do better. But she could hold an audience with that sto

at. So 101 many of the child prodigies

or the nicest surgery being coarsened by contact with rough iron and hard tools. He would lose the fine touch by hard manual labor if he worked for his education. No one knows all the children sacrificed to Moloch. But the little girl!

one of these girls' summer homes. That at four dollars a week would have paid six girl's a week's wages. His name goes down on the generous 102 list of course

atter before me. Take good care of our little girl-

little face was framed in with rings of shining hair, the lips were palely pink and parted with a half smile, the skin still showed blue veins. With a little

basket of flowers in the center. And there was Jane to wait upon them, and 103 she seemed so pleased to have Marilla down stairs though the little girl had held tight to the bannister, lest she should lose her balance and fall. Ev

, she could feel the quiver. She had not been waited on this way since the night in fairy land. Bridget had a way of shoving things towar

a portfolio of engravings on a sort of stand, and you could sit there and turn them over without any effort. T

f letters. Miss Armitage looked them over casual

ss Armitage

st heartbreaking way. We've had no rest day or night. Ellen is very good and patient, but the babies simply won't let her touch them. Marilla always knew just what to do. She was so entertaining. She certainly was born for a nurse girl, though I thought she was most too young when I took her, I've never let 105 her lift them, for they're like a lump of lead. They have grown thinner and I do hope it will keep on, unless Marilla makes them laugh so much they fat up again. They have each cut two teeth and they had to be lanced. Sister and I have had an awful time. We shall be so

purchase it and tell him. We have all her clothes down here. There is a beautiful big lawn with hammocks and everything, and 106 if s

Mary B

es. It was not quite a heartless letter but, it had no special sympathy for the poor little C

airs? I am so tired. What do you sup

Yes, we will go upstair

d the slender body. Mari

xt morning, and Miss Armi

oman any soul!" he

means of knowing how sev

might 107 have died with just a little more. She doesn't go. She won't be

u don't

shock and there is time enough for her to outgr

s no doubt in hi

is positively in love with her. I'm not sure

mother of girls. I don't know abou

two disapp

r. You couldn't get any refined ambition in that vain and silly brain. It is casting pearls before swine. Save

her?" She glanced up wit

t is a good way off. When that man co

and was quite profuse in his tha

quite an exhausting fever at first. She was not able to come downs

e need her so much! Did you-" he flus

t her quite worn out, but it was being overcome with the heat and sh

for a week. I've scarcely 109 slept an hour at a time and Mrs. Borden is clear worn out. She thinks just the sight of Marilla would comfort them. We might go on keeping that Ellen,

felt really sorry for him. Yet how prov

rtunate that Marilla didn't give out on your hands. Wo

think she might come down next week. The

ness. I'm afraid she cou

and led the

. Mr. Borden studi

l sorry. I don't know what we shall do. Mrs. Borden had counted so on her coming. And she said over half a dozen times that I

ed them sighed and opened them again, the

don't you remem

your coming. We keep her

Marilla sat up.

I hoped you would be well enough to go down with me this afternoon. Their mother will be telling them you will surely come. Poor little gir

to be away from Jack; indeed, sick babies did no

. The doctor said i

them. You made them laugh so, Marilla. You know just how to do it. Well-it can't be helped, but you mu

ne and the doctor. And the yard i

to come back. But you belong to us

turned

and ask Jack not to tease them, and-and-" she swallowed over a

I shall be in town next week

face over on the pillow and cried as if her heart would break. Could she go back to th

ft voice with its infinite pity

them, and I feel as if it was foolish to be funny when there are so many sweet things to think of and books to read and your beautiful music. But I must go away from all that, and somehow heaven looks n

t to have you get well. Some one might say-'He let that little girl die when he might have saved her,' but they wouldn't kno

k. But today it seemed to be-d

iled you. Oh, I a

n so good. But I don't quite understand how anyone can bi

ed up and put in a place almost like a prison where they have to work whether they like it or not. And some 114 ev

n at the Home, but––" and sh

half starved you a complaint could be

truth were not quite so true, and the things that looked so delightfu

and all, and of course I must

to keep back the tears. Jane entered a

that evening, and kissed her good night with motherl

r them. 115 The Bordens were not rough or heartless. Bridget had spoken well of them. The child had a comfortable home, and s

some music lessons. There had been a lover and a dear friend and the old tragedy had occurred, that might have been more heartbreaking if her mother had not been taken ill. F

ic value was to be stored with a friend, the rest sold. And then

cy to Hilda. 116 The house and its surroundings were loveliness itself

y life. But my wife, as you have heard, was an invalid and not inclined to travel. We lost our two chil

istening to music that stirred every pulse of her soul, haunting art galleries with loving compa

ing up some business and then the longing seized her to return to the home of her youth, to have a real home where she coul

d center where two important lines crossed, and the river was navigable. Then Main Street was devoted to really fine stores, Brandon to offices and men'

ecided on Loraine place. The houses stood in a row, but they had a pretty court yard in fro

children. How odd it seemed! She thought sometimes that she felt reprehensibly young, as if she was having girlhood ov

d so very dependent on human kindness. If there was one of her own flesh and blood it would take possession of her very soul, all her thoughts, all her affection. But it should have been hers earlier in life. Now she

was now teaching. And there had been one with a charming voice and an attractive face who had been injur

y spent upon her. But 119 Miss Armitage insisted on spending it a year when the girl threw up he

at Paris. Then most of the fortune had been swept away. He returned to America and some way drifted to Newton. They were just starting the hospital and he found plenty to do. He could live frugally. To help his still p

dumb with surprise. She r

te impossible; it cannot be. I like you v

eager eyes and i

week. I heard you telling

s a proud smile

e sixty, rich in experience, famous, a real man among men, I sh

you been loved so much that you can throw away a man's honest, honorable, tender love that

splendid friendship. I liked you so m

r have you for a friend than any other woman

venly between the two points, when

arilla listened with a throb of joy, though she did not know the words they were saying

hand and glanced up with a

t night?" she asked

hy-what

and beautiful here. But it is right. I am her bound-out girl, and I was glad to go there. You wouldn

or a child's understanding, and she was afraid of a rather painful time. And the wo

thought-" flushing daintily, "that maybe Jane might marry, and you would want some one in her place and if it was-me," rather tremulously-"I could come-I love you so. I'd be your Cinderella always.

e were tears in her eyes. She was touched with

d be ill at any time, I will have you brought here, and you shall stop

are so good," and she kissed the

23 How delightful it was to be rubbed so

m not sick at all only I get tired e

to be waited upon! Marilla ga

n. Children ran about or swung in hammocks. Hens were fairly shouting with no regard for Sunday. Birds were caroling all sorts of joyous tunes and the tree twigs were gaily dancing. And here and there such beautiful drifts went over the sky, ships, she called them. They were going to fairy land-something that was not quite heaven, but a lovely place 124 for all that. There must be so many lovely places in this great