Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-12-12
BELLE BRANDON,s BOOTS.

to himself. There are too many young
men in New York. There is no chance
for me. I've spent my money, and
every possible effort. Perhaps I'd bet
ter go enlist and fight tho Indians-or
hang myself"
But what had this to do with Belle
Brandon's bootsp You shall see. That
very day Bellies father had written to
the mistress of the school in Chicago al
which his motherless daughter had re-
ceived her education:
"MY DEAR MADAM: Please send my little
girl 70 me at once. have engaged rooms at
the Queen Victoria, and long for her. In
close check which will discharge my indebt.
edness TO you so far as money can do IL, and
pay her expenses" ETC., etc., etc.
And Belle had hidden adieu to. her
school friends, and was on her way, mt
tended by quite little crowd, to the
station. Her trunks had been sent the
day before, expressed to her father, and
though, of course, she had a little
traveling-bag, she would have nothing
TO think of.
Everybody was glad.of this, for Belle
was one of those young women who are
always taken in charge by their friends,
as though they were brittle bits OF
porcelain. Directions for her eating
and sleeping were poured in her ear;
bits of advice: Don't lose your ticket
don't stick your head out of the window
don't be frightened when the whistle
shrieks; don't allow strangers TO speak to
you-this from the French teacher-and
all this mixed up with adieux, hugging,
kissing and Misunderstanding. Even indie
pendent Miss Ophelia Phaller, who GU,
her hair short all round, and would
have had no hesitation in starting any
midnight for Egypt, with few things
shall be glad to hear that she is safe. v
81 suppose" said another, lit is be.
cause she is so small that one feels
afraid she may be carried off against hel
will, or lost somewhere, like little
parcel"
Then the whistle blew, and the bel
rang, adieux were uttered, and the train
was heard to shrek its way along i'm the
distance and was seen far away, like Q
queer sort of serpent winding about the
hills. Belle felt lonely at first, and cried
little. Then she began to cheer ur
and looked at the passengers and
watched their doings, and laughed al
most of them internally, schoolgirl
fashion. She slept comfortably thai
night in her compartment, and became
by morning quite an old traveller; anG
as we have not time to describe hel
journey we will say that it passed of
pleasantly, and that as the evening ap
rive in New York she never felt in bet
ter spirits. She had made herself as
spruce as possible; and now she tool
her travelling bag into her hand to ar
range it, for no maiden lady was evel
so particular about her small posses
sons. Her purse was in the bag, o.
course, her handkerchief, and Q, clear
collar or two, q box of jewelry, the bool
she had had with her to read-you al
know what it held. And there was
little bottle of polish, well corked, ant
little sponge with which to touch III
her shoes before she left the cars. Tht
shoes were high ties and easily taker
off In the privacy of the compartment
Belle could do as she liked. She laid
newspaper on her lap, frightened tn,
little toes of the pretty shoes and Sc
them on the window sill to dry; her has
also stood there. And now she wrapped
the paper about the sponge and bottl,
and proceeded to throw them away, fol
she could not re-cork the bottle suf
ficiently well not to risk spelling hel
bag if she restored it to its place there
Rolling all into q little ball she threw I
through the window. As any DO,
would have prophesied, it hit the handle
of the bag; the bag tottercd, strucl
against the shoes, and the next secont
the window sill was clear Belle thrus
her head through the aperture; far ii
the distance lay, beside the rails, tire,
black specks, which vanished as sh,
looked. Her bag, with all her none,
in it, and her only shoes. She wa
going into New York like beggar
penniless and shoeless.
If her bag had not followed the tie
she could have got into cab and driver
to some shoemaker's; for to arrive a
the hotel in stocking feet would b.
dreadful; but, as IL was, that mortifica
ton must be faced. She would call
cab and tell the driver-whatp
"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Oh, dear!
don't remember the name of papa's no
tel!'' moaned Belle, wringing her hands
"Thc card il Is written on is in tina
horrible bag"
The climax had arrived, Here sh
was rushing into New York alone, no
only penniless and shoeless, but home
less. She did not know where he
father was to be found. She had n,
other friend in the city.
She could not go back to Chicago, be
cause sho had no ticket-no money (,
buy one. She could not telegraph :,
her father, addressing him at 81 dom
know where hotel" She could write I,
Miss Rock; but where should she stay
What ahould she do meanwhilep Ever
If they would give her pen, ink and pa
per, and let her sit in the depot, sh
might starve to death:
II shall go crazy" said poor Belle
wringing her hands. 1 certainly Shal
go crazy"
Who can wonder that she said SOP
However, there was nothing for it bu
10 alight when the depot was reached
the great glass-roofed place so crowde,
with strangers. With her shawl-stra,
in her hand she hurried into the waiting
room and sat down on q bench.
During this short progress she wa
stared at as though she had been Jumb,
or the living skeleton. The myster,
attached to those little red stocking
seemed TO be really alarming. He
fellow travellers might have understoo,
the cause Of hatless head. Imagina
ton might have pictured a stron,
draught and an open window, but
was nos possible to comprehend shoeles
feet. Shoes do not blow of.
Some of the old ladies frowned on he
as n very improper person. Som
young ones giggled. A little girl wake,
backward and stared into her face witt
open mouth and round eyes; and he
mothc, said:
step, Ann Maria; though really
cant wonder-such q queer thing Z,
do"
ITO DOR repeated the unfortunat
you're lady TO herself. '.Has the woman
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