National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-06-28

politely handed her to a seat formy
aunt's sake, and commenced a con.
versation which / strove to render
Interesting, though my mind was
very absent that day 50 absent
that III one of the pauses of our dis.
course, incautiOusly drew out my
pocket handkerchief to wipe my
forehead, and with it-h0rrors OF
horrors. the little bronzed -colored
slipper, with its blue rosette.
shook it hastily from my lap to the
straw beneath, but the old lady had
seen it, and | felt aghast as | re-
membered that the story of that
slipper for the left foot of my pretty
Cinderella would cost me probably
$4,000 Of my very discreet aunt's
money.
Should | throw myself on the old
lady's mercy at Once-in the omni.
bus by contessing the truth But
would she be likely to believe me 7
| thought not. should only have
falsehoOd added to the black list al
ready prepared, doubted not, for
presentation to my aunt. | knew
the old lady would not 90 as far as
| did, for she had already told me
her destination so | kept my own
foot on one edge # the little slippe~
determined to p,ck it up again, spite
OF all, at the first opportunity.
4 think you have dropped some
thing, SIR said my aunt's friend,
coldly.
Nothing of consequence, think,
thank YOU | replied in confusion.
i should rather think it was of
great consequence she remarked
cruelty doubtless the young lady
wants her slipper matched or mend
ed
The young lady! What young
lady : All IF | could only find this
Cindel : Deeply mortified, |
said no mos, and the old lady soon
left me. | went into the office, car
rying my handkerchief in ifferent
! pocket that | might not draw out
the slipper with it, and sat down to
my writing but my head was con
fused, and the little bronzed slipper
danced over the page, over every
leaf of the ledger, in each line of
the memorandum book. If things
60 on like this | exclaimed mental
lv, Il shall grow mad about this
slipper. | almost wish | had never
seen it,
just then one of the partners
came into the Office. Haley he
said did you pick mp an account,
written on a slip of paper, of al or.
der to be executed for Nh. Grylls r.
i did, sir, and put it in my pock.
ct.book, as | thought You had most
likely dropped it.
Thank YOU. Haley. Just like you.
admire a fellow that has his wits
about him
put my hand in for the pocket.
book, and forget all about the slip.
per for a moment in my pleasure at
my employers praise ; but 1t had
not forgotten me, and tumblcd out.
The sandals being entaDgled with
the pocket book hung from my hand
as | slipped the elastic off the pock
et.book, and then the slipper drop
pedto the floor. All this happened
much more quickly than | hav,
written II, but grave frown rested
on my employers face as | handed
him the slip of paper.
+ Take care, Haley. Don't resent
it if ! give you fatherly word o
advice. 1t is better young man
should not carry such things in hi,
pocket /; at least should not allow
other people to see them"
| looked up III aStonishment a
Mr. Arnold, second partner in til,
firm, was fifty years OF age. and s
bachelor. What did he know abou
such things'
i think could explain to you
, satisfaction, sir, that this is an ac
cident, if you had time, and reall.
! invoices nothlng at all wrong
Il quite believe YOU, Haley bu
, every one won't be so merciiul.'
r Mr.. Arnold went ont and close,
, the door. never thought, neve
i guessed before what elab Jrate OH
cumstances might depend upon
, slipper but when ] got home | och
:. ed it away, determined to bring II
I mere annoyance upon myself b
o keeping it so close at hand.
| had invited one, two or thre
r young men, few days afterwards
to have a pull on the river, and the
to sup with me.
}. After a pleasant hour and ha
we came back, hungry and exhile
( ated. l conducted my friends I
@ my rooms, and while we chatte
!. Mrs. Pottle brought in supper. .
n discussion arose about a lecture ,
: Ruskin's, and his opinion about
t. certain lecture of Turner's.
- i can tell you exactly what l
= said,' | exclaimed, pulling out m
@ keys and opening my desk, 'for
/. copied the paragraph into a no,
Il book
r. l turned down the lid, and ther
e in the sight of my three friends, W.
IL not only the notebook, but the Ii
\. tie left slipper for that unknown, III
~ seen foot. A roar of laughter r
II called me TO my senses.
l. rs that Chinese specimen III
o leyi l heard you had bought one
It What a sly boy You are! WI
II il she Haley 4