The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-11

making will leaving me his entire property, |
amounting to several million dollars? My |
dear, this is almost as good" l.
We said no more about the bet for several
days. noticed that Theo improved the
shining hours with her best boots. She wore
them all the time. On the afternoon of the
oath, as l came home from shopping expe-
dition, noticed span of horses before the
door, and thought, as 1 ran up the stoop,
Theo is always in luck; she is going out with
Fred Alton. At the door, waiting for it to
open, was boy with a parcel addressed TO
s'Miss Theodosa Louise Marsden." With
thrill I recognized Uncle Johns writing.
The door opened. Theo was just coming
down stairs, looking lovely and so stylish.
made up my mind that would say nothing
and let her have her drive in peace. But the
boy, instead of leaving the bundle and going
at once, demanded to see Miss Marsden.
Theo stood before him. "The gentleman
said, Miss, that was to give this to you
yourself" And Theo is left looking at me
in blank dismay.
s'My doom is sealed. Go in, May, and tell
Mr.. Alton that | am detained moment, but
will be down directly. Talk your incest; he
will cut me tomorrow, but he may transfer
his attention to you"
"You surely don't mean"-I began.
81 surely do, ma'am; bet is a bet, for
where honor is, justice will prevail, though
Satan may rule tor time,' as the grocer
happily mentions in his advertisement"
go in and talk incoherently for ten min
utes TO Mr.. Alton. Down comes Theo again.
Her face is flushed, and her attempt to be
perfectly at her ease is not entirely success.
hope nwardly that she does not feel half as
nervous as do. I talk more volubly, and,
if possible, more incoherently. Mr.. Alton
evidently mas not yet noticed the monstrOsi-
ties. They fascinate me. Theo looks as if
she would like to shake me. cannot re-
move my eyes from them. They are so ''evi-
dent"-they are so hideous. follow them
to the door in walking swoon. They go
down the stoop; he has not seen them yet.
L shut the door, rush back to the parlor and
watch him help her to her seat Then see
bis face moment; it is study; amazement
and amusement struggle for mastery. In
moment he has removed every particle of ex-
preston from his countenance, and makes DO
sign, save that one uncomfortable look, which
shall never forget Theo, I see, has re-
covered her sef-possession; perhaps her
smile is a trfe too bland to be natural;
Just notice it and they are gone. That night
asked Theo if she told him. NO." she
ans wers; 81 mean to follow papa's advice,
may need my privilege of telling some one
more than did to-day; though, at first, 1
thought 1 could not keep it from him; he
was very Qulcb luI sOLuc Llluc3 Jul lOOhSu dL
| me 10 the funniest way, opening his mouth
as if to say something, and shutting it again
| without uttering word. Finally, had to
laugh, then shook my head at him and said,
| ASK me no questions l had a delightful
drive, and don't believe he will cut me
after ALL"
There is no use denying that Theo had a
| trying time, especially at first. She avoided
| Broadway all she could, but, in honor, she
could not refuse to 90 anywhere on account
| OF those shoes. That was in the agreement
Uncle John drew up, excepting, of course,
| where evening dress was required. must
say, think Uncle John might have had the
shoes fit little better. They were more
ugly than can tell, but their worst feature
was the copper on the toes. 1t made them
so prominent. l have not half Theo's deli
cacy or refinement, yet would not have
| worn those shoes for all of Uncle Johns pos
sessions. l did not tell Theo so, however,
helped her all I could-but confess to have
had more fear that she would lose her pretty
earrings than hope that she would win the
$1,000. Theo, think, had no doubt of the
result; she was good pluck and wore them
bravey. She told Uncle John one night, in
answer to the oft-repeated inquiry, how she
liked them, that she was ''gettlng quite fond
OF them" Sundays she certainly did dread.
She went to an out-of-the-way church, and,
OF course, had the carriage to 60 and come
but the getting in and out was not, she as
sured me, ''unalloyed bliss" And could
believe it, for Theo was girl every one no.
ticed. Besides" she said, sit seemed wicked
to go into church with those things on
her feet" To make a long story as short as
| possible, by the middle of November, every
was not behaving as, in their opinion, we'll
conducted member of society should. She
went to an obscure church; she attended no
| parties; she avoided people, and, marvel of
marvels, people and especially young men,
avoided her. Theo certainly was "dodged,''
but she pretended not to notice, and do
not know that she cared at all.
remember, though, that when it was very
pointedly done one afternoon by Mr.. Lathrop
and Dick Chester, she said to me, smilingly,
that it reminded her of little remark made
by Jean Teterol. in the last novel of Victor
Cherbuiez: Everywhere is heard the
sound OF sabots advancing, and vanished
boots retiring" l was particularly disguised
that day with Mr.. Lathrop. He had always
seemed to like Theo very much, and, indeed,
had been remarkably attentive until Theo
undertook this nonsensical wager, and even
| during the first week or so of it, Theo liked
him quite we'll thought. He was a hand
some fellow, gentleman through and
through, and, withal, an exceedingly brilliant
man; must acknowledge it, though at the
time refer to 1 thoroughly disliked him.
| Still, as presume | need not assure you, to
meet man, young, handsome and intei-
gent, not to say brilliant, is hardly an every
day affair. Theo used to say when she first
knew bin, that it was delight for girl to
talk to him, as he always paid her the COM
pliment of supposing her bright until she
proved to be idiotic, and so many men who
Cnuld hn infnrQctipu bau
adopt principle the reverse.
One night early in December the Long
streets gave reception: great affair to us
as Thee was to go. They are particular
friends oil Uncle Johns. and he insisted upon
her accepting the invitation so of course he
bad to permit her to wear slippers. which he
did provided she wore those sensible shoes 10
and from the scene of festivity. We were in
the dressing room. Mamma had gone down.
but was waiting for Theo to get her shoes
|. of, aud substitute slippers to match her
pretty dress of white silk aud tulle, when we
heard her name mentioned in the adjoining
room which was devoted this evening to the
use of the gentlemen.
| ''Mss Marsden is here" said some one.
SIS she ?" said another; 81 wonder if she
inte nds to dance in those shoes?"
"She has them on" said the first. ~ saw
them as she came up stairs; peculiar freak
| for such girl, isn't tip"
A door shut, and we knew by the sounds
| in the hall that the takers were going down.
| Suddenly voice from the same room, which
l recognized with start as Mr.. Lathrop's,
said: -
"Alton, it is rumored that you can tell, if
you wish, why Miss Marsden wears those
Shoes"
'Is it?' said Mr.. Alton, without any de-
NAL in his tone. Then, slowly, "Possibly it
| is bet"
| thought to myself, that is just like Fred
Alton, to let them believe he knows-he is
so loyal to Theo.
II should be sorry to think it bet,"-this
from still another voice, which l knew be-
longed to Arthur Wilmot, Mr. Lathrop's
Fidus Achates.
"Why?" queried Mr.. Alton.
Because" returned Mr.. Wilmot, sMiss
Marsden does not seem that kind of girl, and
l should feel she had lowered herself if
knew she would, for the bravado of winning
bet, make herself so conspicuous and so
much the subject OF idle comment"
Il agree with you, Wilmot," said Mr.. La
throp: "but do not at all believe it is bet,
As you say, Miss Marsden is not that kind of
GIRL"
Mr.. Alton whistles softly that air of "Nan-
II JILL I'll