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1 JA a il 4 I 1 I 1 new years vear s I 1 fantasy tasy ii f y by PHILIP KEAN j L S 3 01 y Amoel ald rr ft i hii am HE long una line of people 1 stretched down tho the wind ins ing walk in front of the white house and through the gate and out into the y street on new years year a v day nil all the world might s come and shake hands ltv with the president and it at seemed as it if halt half the fa world had availed itself s of the privilege marcia marks felt elt al gj most overpowered by the thought of the honor that was before her marcea iad ad not yet learned to shrug her shoulders at high position and august officials she had been in washington only three weeks that she was waa soon to have a peep at the wonders of which she had heard so much seemed like a part of the fairy lore which she had loved as a child she v wished dished that there was some one who might share her pleasure nut but she had made no friends so she shifted from one foot to the other moving forward slightly as tar far up tip at the other end of the una line people were admitted through a magic door it was very korv cold but marcias Mar clas heart hear t was warm for the first time in her life she war wac earning money and she was sending part of it home then too she had bad a new hat bat which was a 11 wont you get in hero here with me mea great cause of bap pines it was the farst really lovely hat that she had ever possessed she did not dream that her exquisite blonde beauty framed by the big hat was attracting the attention not only of the pedestrians but of the occupants of the autos and of the carriages that drove slowly in line toward the other entrance where a privileged few were admitted at once to the blue room marcia feasted her eyes on tho the pretty gowns and for the first time as sho she stood there in the cold a little bit of envy entered her heart why t she ride in luxurious co comforte comfort efort 7 sho she had beauty and youth and loved a good time but even as the thought entered she sha put it away t she lucky enough with her 60 a month and her new nev hat and once more her face was bright and she held her head bead high then suddenly she gave a startled glance under the brim of her hat as the door of a great motor car opened and a voice said wont you get in here with me the woman who spoke was beautiful with the beauty of old age under her wide hat her hair was white but she held herself with grace and dig anity oh ob marcia faltered and the lady said quietly get in my dear I 1 will explain later so marcia followed by the eyes of 0 the crowd stepped into the wonderful car which went slowly up the driveway then the beautiful lady turned to her with sparkling eyes was your grandmother martha witherspoon she demanded why yes the beautiful lady clapped her hands bands 1 I knew it the minute I 1 laid my eyes on you she said As ion stood there with your head held high in that haughty little way and with your blue eyes and your red gold hair it was as if my dear school friend had come back to me grandmother Is the dearest thing ming marcia barcla said and as pretty as ever 1 I lost track of her the beautiful lady told her when I 1 went abroad years ago and when I 1 saw you I 1 going to run the chance of not I 1 finding you again so I 1 mado you get in and made you lose your place in the line oh I 1 dont min mind that said marcia 1 I can go back to the end and watt wait indeed you wont said the beautiful lady 1 I am going to talc take e you right along with me to the blue room I 1 am to stand behind the recel receiving ving line and you shall meet the tha president and go on to the east room and walt wait from me there but I 1 am riot not dressed for that marda da demurred 1 I am going to play fairy godmother and put my wrap on you your glov 3 are all right and your hat bat and you shall have my violets and presto prest of you will be a young lady of fashion marcia pro protested but for ju just r t one moment the curtains of the closed car were drawn as aa the tha wrap was slipped rom tho the fairy godmothers shoulders od ad tr transferred to marcias Mar claa more slen er ones one s an and d then the crowd looking on saw aw two exquisitely gowned women side by side eljo the younger one blushing beautifully over ever her har bouquet ot of violets and valley lilies the rest was waa a dream to little marcta marcia the entrance into the brilliantly lighted rooms the music the rustle 0 of silken gowns the presentation to the president Preside nL she sh drew a great breath ot of delight dells ht ai a she aha settled nettled herself finally in a corner of the east room but there was vaa more to tollow follow tor for in a few moments the balry godmother sent the prince he was wa the nephew of the lie t beautiful lady and he be was via to ta take e care of marela marcia and he did take care of her most moat graciously and he talked with her as if she were a princess instead of a very shabby little girl with her shah shab boness covered by a borrowed cloak arent you warm he be said to her once and marela marcia said hurriedly oil oh no dut but when he said again 1 I think better let me take your wrap she laughed and confessed its your aunts cloak and I 1 wish you could see what a very shabby little suit I 1 am wearing under it and the prince said the cloak any prettier than the hat and that the hair under the hat was the prettiest of all and just then tho the beaucl ful lady came along and asked llave have you made friends with my boy marela 1 I think ho he la Is lovely she said and blushed prettily she was carried on off to dinner with the beautiful lady and the prince went too and when mareld marela took off the cloak lie ho said he liked her in her simple simpie little suit only you must still wear the violets they match your eyes it was all very dear and delightful but that night when marela went home to her poor little apartment she told herself that of course she bhe must not expect anything more it was a now new years fairy tale talc and that was all gut but the beautiful lady came every day and took marela marcia out with her and often the prince was there and at last one day marela marcia said dear beautiful lady you must not you are spoiling me for everyday things dut but she ahe did not say that the real rea reason for her protest was because of the prince lie he was such a charming prince and she felt that tor for her own peace of mind she must not see too much of him and as marela marcia withdrew more and more the t he prince one day demanded of the fairy godmother wheres our cinderella she insists the old lady smiled on sitting in the ashes she says we are too fine for her with our pumpkin coaches and our palaces Il humph said eald he prince 1 I 1 guess we will see about that ile he thereupon sought marela marcia in her shabby habby apartment marcias Mar clas face was radiant as she welcomed him but you must not come again she said eald when he be was leaving why not because said marela which was not a real reason 1 I shall come as often as I 1 please he be said then marela stood up very straight and an d tall 1 I am only a shabby little cinderella she said eald and I 1 must A but you must not come again ah she said when he was Lea leaving virg I 1 work and I 1 the time lime to fritter away with fairy godmothers and princes who wear gardenias then ho he looked very sober a anil na asked do you think I 1 fritter awn awa roy my time yes marcia told him 1 I do well tomorrow I 1 am going to work he told her they have ordered me to the philippines and I 1 shall be gone six months 1 six months I 1 something in her voice made him say sharply you care I 1 marcia tried to say oh no but her lips wen white and her voice ashook i shook then the prince panco gathered pa her into I 1 j his arms you shall go with nu mv little cinderella he said from the tha minute I 1 saw you in lour fairy ROI god mothers cloak I 1 knew you were tho the one woman and I 1 krew you were the one man she told him later but somehow I 1 felt that it would never really conn come true lor it seemed only i now new years year 9 fantasy 1 a axa aary ar the new year la is but a mirror y ty of the years that are past and it IN JJ may bring before beford you all that tha t I 1 Is best and brightest helpful and gi hearten heartening in g truest and holiest hollest ho liest 1 or it may sum up tor for you all that tha i g Is debasing and dishonorable g you alone can determine these J a things g the folly ot of casting pearls be before lore pork lies in that we ought to begin with pumpkins |
