The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-24
The Magic Slippers.

they would have had to look behind shady
and fragrant hedge of wild roses and grape
vines. There sat tho witch, MS her brother
Allen called her, with book in her hand, and,
wonderful to relate, a grave look upon her
face
II do wonder if that tradition about our
family is true. l will ask grandmother all
about it when | see her."
II do wonder if that tradition is true" said
little Eva, again, just as she was about to sink
to sleep. "If it is true, and the shoes are vet
i'll existence, [ will borrow or steal them, and
that as soon as possible"
\ great cloud of dust, and great rattle of
wheels heraldcd the approach of the coach.
And in that coach was Evas long looked for
schoolmate, Gertrude Wayland. At the gate
of Farmer Arnold's substantial mansion stood
Eva, waiting eagerly to catch the first glimpse
of her friend. Her brother Allen, hidden in
secure nook was also looking out with no little
curiosity to see the red-haired divinity, so much
vaunted by his sister.
"After all said he to himself as he walked
toward the brook with his fishing apparatus un-
der his arm, - l did not dislike the looks of her
much as I thought | should. but that is no
reason that should fall in love with her." And
Allen, who had no small share of vanity, laugh
ed aloud.
Nov, Allen, I've caught you at last" cried
Eva, triumphantly, as she discovered her
brother readiug under the favorite hedge
"Now stand mp and let me introduce you to my
friend Gerty, the best of schoolmates."
Allen arose and greeted the divinity i'll the
graceful and seif-pUssessed manner natural to
him. For the first time he had full view of
her face by the morning light. 1t was not
beautiful face, not even a pleasing face at first
sight, and Allen was a keen admi er of beauty
hut it was q pecuiiar face, such one as makes
an impression upon ones mind not easily for
gotten. Eyas face was flushed with her morn
ing walk, but Gsrtrude's was remarkably pale
there was, too a soberness and dignity about
her, which was entirely stranger to Eva's
character. Allen, as he entered with much po-
liteness though it'll little zeal into conversa-
ton in which Eva took the principal share, Sc
ere ly wondered how two such dissimilar char
scters could have formed such close friend
ship. But he concluded that there was no
accounting for women's whims.
" You must drive us over to grandmother's
to-day, Allen, said Eva. 81 positively must
go there to-day
"Well, then, if that is the case, l will drive
you over, and as women never can keep
secret i'll the course of time yours will come
out and then l shall have my laugh"
agreed" said Eva, :" only drive us over"
1t was pleasant drive of five or six miles,
yet Allen, who usually took the principal part
in conversation, was remarkably quiet, listen
ing to the chat of the two girls without at
tempting to interrupt it.
Her hair was not red after ALL it was really
pale, golden color, and floated around the
white face as he had seen it in some pictures.
After all, she was unlike any one else he had
he had ever heard. But the idea of falling in
love with her was really too absurd to contem-
plate.
GRANDMOTHER" said Eva, after long
silence which she employed in contemplating
the movements of very pretty little foot,
which tapped nervousy upon the floor,
Grandmother, wish you would tell us the
legend of the magic slippers, which heard
once when was very little girl. It's tradi-
ton about our family, isn't it 7"
"Why, child it's only silly story about a
pair of slippers. No one believes it now-a-
days"
"But the story, grandmother, if you please"
"Well, said the old lady, as she adjusted
her spectacles, "they say that an ancestor of
ours was once climbing steep and rugged hill
and found near the topa poor man, covered
with wounds and nearly dead with cold and loss
of blood, Our ancestor carried him home in
his arms and tended him carefully until he was
recovered. When the stranger grew strong and
well, they discovered that he was very hand !
some man, with eyes remarkable for their bril- !
hancy When he was going away he gave to t,
the wife of our ancestor pair of slippers. |
There was nothing remarkable about the slip |
pers themselves, but as the story runs, they !
were endowed with a rare gift by the stranger. |
Any woman in his benefactress' family, whose |
feet these slippers would fit, provided also that
she were true hearted woman, while she wore |
the magic slippers, would have all the wishes |
made at that time realized. But there are but |
few of our family whose feet the shoes would |
hit from those who have worn them, however,
there have come wonderful stories of their |
great virtue. But as for ME, Eva, have an
idea that the story is all nonsense. The slippers
would never begin to fit my feet, and / never
had any faith in them, so that no wishes of
mine ever were realized in that way"
But have you really got the slippers grand
mother ?" said Eva, eagerly.
: 81 did have them, when | was young per-
haps they are in the attic somewhere now.
hunt after them?"
"Yes, grandmother l really think they
would tit me, and should like to try them."
Such looking, and such devastation never
was heard of before. Grandmother would
have been struck dumb if she could have seen
her attic during the progress of the hunt
Gerty set herself to putting to rights what Eva
left in disorder, but it was no easy job Sud
denly Eva uttered cry of delight.
"Ive found them" cried Eva triumphantly:
E;now l wonder if they'll fit"
And away ran the madcap covered with dust
and nest of bewildered spiders.
- declare" said grandmother, "if they
don't tt you exactly one would think they
were made for you"
And sure enough they fitted exactly. Eva
took them of very soon, and folded them up
III their wrapper, remembering that grand
mother had said that she who wore them must
be a true hearted woman. She wanted time to
think whether she were true hearted or not.
II so happened that Eva had no more oppor-
tunlties for trying on the slippers while the
visit lasted. So she carried them home with
her. Allen did not make his appearance to
drive them home, but in his stead one of the
farm laborers.