CINDERELLA’S SLIPPER.
"And bo you are twenly-one to-day, Albert P Who would have thought it ?” And gentle “aunt Buoy” looked, op into the
youth’s bright face, half wistfully, half sorrowfully, for she remembered his mother, one of her own girlhood’s tenderest, and best-loved friends, and that mother had not lived to see the day that would have filled her heart with pride and joy. A step-mother ruled in Albert’s home, a wise and good woman, but one who had little else beside these qualities in common with “aunt Lucy’s ” girlhood’s friend. “Yes, twenty-one,” said Elvina Warren, Albert’s younger and pet sister; “and. oh, aunt Lucy* such a jolly ball as we are to have to-morrow in celebration of it! Half the town are coming, and all the girls in the place who are invited have studied nothing else but their toilettes for the occasion for a month past. They are all vicing with each other for Albert’s favour, for you know he is considered the greatest catch in the place; and bol ween you and me, auntie, it is enough to turn the head of a saint, to say nothing of a member of that sex wpich is prone to vanity as sparks are to fly upwards.” “You saucy puss!” cried Albert, pulling her curls and pinching the pink tips of her pretty ears until she cried for mercy. “ Aunt Lucy ” laughed, and rescued Elviua from his merciless grasp. As Albert moved off, “ aunt Lucy ” drew the girl into a quiet corner of the drawingroom that she might ply her with a few sober questions concerning the morrow. •;Miss Lucy Warren, or " aunt Lnoy ” was the old maiden aunt of the family, who came out of the quiet country nook in a little village twenty miles away, when summoned to family rejoicings or sorrowings. Albert Warren, eenr., was her only brother. Long ago, in the old school-days, Lucy Warren had two cherished friends, Henrietta Brian and Polly Thorne; in her heart she held both very dear, but of the two she would have preferred that Albert should choose artless and gifted Polly Thorne to wife. He however, thought differently; he eff red his hand and heart to Henrietta, and Polly became the wife of a wealthy man who lost all he possessed in an unlucky speculation a few years after they were married. Ho died in debt and disgrace, and his wife soon followed him to his grave, carried there by a broken heart, it was rumoured. They left one little girl, a dependent upon uneympathising relations ; and almost the only sunshine of the poor child’s life came to her through Mrs Warren, until her death, and from “ aunt Lucy.” Albert Warren had risen in the world, and Won much success iu business. His residence was a fine handsome house just outside the town, and his son and daughters were courted and flattered by every coterie in Helmdey. The coming of age of a young fellow just fresh from College, like Albert Warren, junr., was au event of no inconsiderable importance in this sleepy liitle market-town. Elvina had not much exaggeratad when she described the effects of the anticipated ball upon their friends generally. “Now tell me who are coming,” said “ aunt Lucy ” to Eivia; “ I should like to know when and what I may expect to meet to-morrow evening.” “ Well, first of all there are the Prices,” said Elvie, in thoughtful tones; “I don’t know whether you remember them. A quaiter of a century ago I believe they were nothing much; I think Mr Price was engaged in some low business or other; but now they are almost the head people in Helmsley, and it is rumoured thut Mr. Price is to represent one portion of the county in Parliament next year. Any way, the Price girls pride themselves upon their right to Our noiice, and, I believe, consider themselves first favourites in the field for*to-morrow.”
"Elvie, my dear, that sounds very like sporting slang.” “ I beg a thousand pardons, auntie, but you see when one has a favourite brother one naturally gets corrupted. Then there are the Dumnorrs—come down aristocrats. I question if they will be able to afford so much as new dresses to-morrow 5 but then there is a so t of lingering odour of gentility about theta that gives tone to a social gathering, so we will call them the seas'n ; ng.’' "My dear, satire is a dangerous thing to indulge in; .it rather checks than invites friendship,-|;Are the Browns coming tomorrow P”' "Do you know them, auntieP Yes, of course they ore coming; at least the gills nre. I cannot think what makes Mrs Brown still sieakof them in that ridiculous manner. I should think they are quite thirty, perhaps more —passees of course.” And here Elvie drew up her pretty girlish figure, and glanced over her shoulder into the mirror, where her blooming features and luxuriant curls were reflected. _ Aunt Lucy took no notice of this little ebullition of vanity, but said, speaking thoughtfully — " I do not know much of them but I am interested to know more. They are relatives of her who was once my friend, Polly Thorne, and they have taken charge of her only child.’’ “ Can that be the awkward, shock-headed looking girl we sometimes see in the holiday s P We have never been introduced j she always seems to be expected to leave the room directly anyone calls, and she does so so nervously and awkwardly. She goes to school, docs she not, auntie “ I believe she is earning her education, which she will be expected soon to turn to account as pupil teacher in a school. But she is not a child, Elvie ; she must be between sev. Uteen and eighteen years old.” " Why that is my age, and she does not look more than thirteen or fourteen. They dress her in the most gawky fashion. Are they kind to her P” " I believe they are not unkind, after their own interpretation of the law of kindness. Polly Cathcart is the daughter of your own dear mother’s chosen friend. Has ehe been invited to the ball P . “ Why, no j I am sure not,” said Elvie, opening wide her eyes. " Mamma would never think of such a thing.” “ Ought the poor child, on account of her misfortunes, to ho debarred from enj iyment (hat j ou, being ju-t her own age, love ? It is not through any fault of her own that she is not upon a par.wiih yourself as to posi ion. Her father was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Helmsley when yomfj was only a struggling factor." •< I w : sh you ha I been here to remind us of our duty bo Miss Cathcart, before this, auntie 5 I am afraid it is too late now.’’ "It is never too late to try to remedy a a wrong. Would your ma umtt object to send her an in vita 1 ion P” “ I am sure she Wou’d not hive objected had she thought of it in time; but now, if sent it will seom as if we do not expect her to accept it, as we have not given her time to prepare a dress even.” " I will see to that. I think you are about her height, Elvie P” Elvie opened Wide her pretty blue eyes. " And I know that you have several white dresses you will never care to see again, and yet that are not much the worse for wear.” Elvie caught eagerly at “aunt Lucy’s meaning. “ Yes, indeed; I have a white grenadine that would he just the thing if it was smoothed over and trin med with something fresh and bright.” « Gome and show it to me, and we will hold a consultation.” Tq U m\UnuQd A }
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WSTAR18850314.2.17.8
Bibliographic details
Western Star, Issue 930, 14 March 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)
Word Count
1,312CINDERELLA’S SLIPPER. Western Star, Issue 930, 14 March 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)
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