ls
went through their parts with such funny life-like motions that the boys
and girls forgot they were not watching real actors.

It was the scene of the ballroom, however, which was the real triumph of
the evening.

"How did those clever children ever do it?" exclaimed Mrs. Gray, aloud,
when the curtain rolled back and disclosed the ballroom of the palace,
with a drop curtain at the back showing a vista of marble columns and
pillars. A gilt chandelier was suspended in the middle, from which
stretched garlands of real smilax. There were rows of little gilt chairs
against the walls filled with dolls in stiff satins and brocades. And
one large throne chair with a red velvet cushion in it, on which sat the
prince, who spoke with the voice of David Nesbit, and entertained his
guests in royal state. After the exciting arrival of Cinderella, Nora
played a minuet on the mandolin, the tinkling music of which seemed best
suited to the doll drama, and the prince and Cinderella executed a dance
of such intricate steps and low bows that the audience was convulsed
with laughter. There were even suppressed titters from behind the
scenes. This dance, which had been devised by Tom Gray and Grace,
necessitated two extra threads to manipulate the feet. It was most
difficult and had required long and tedious practice, but the results
were quite worth all the time and trouble.

Mrs. Gray laughed till the tears rolled down her cheeks and made a
personal appeal for an encore, which was given; but there was a mishap
this time; Cinderella's threads became entangled and she came near to
breaking her china nose. Audiences are invariably most pitiless when
they are most pleased, and have no mercy on exhausted actors. At the cry
of "Speech! Speech!" the Prince stepped forward and made a low bow.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "we thank you for your approval and if
strength and breath permitted us, and the lady had not injured her nose,
we would gladly dance again for you."

Then came the last scene. The step-sisters made desperate efforts to
wear the slipper; Cinderella finally retired triumphantly on the
prince's arm, and the curtains closed only to open again a few moments
later upon a scene which bore a strong resemblance to Oakdale High
School. The fairy godmother occupied the center of the stage while the
entire company of dolls were lined up on either side. Cinderella and the
prince, each held the end of an open scroll, which bore a