Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-09-17
THE LEFT SLIPPER.

THE LEFT SLIPPER.
Il thought fairies were obsolete, and
Cinderella nowhere exclaimed one
morning, drawing ont from under the
SOFA of my sitting room small slipper
for LETT foot; "but if ever there was =
lady, be ,hc Cinderella or Su>annah,
who had smaller foot than this would
fit. should like to see her. that all.
sat down again TO my coffee and
ham, and W ndrrcd however il could
happen that Mrs. Pottlc. my worthy
and ohsc,riou> landiady. should have
allowed the slipper to have been over
looked in the 'lhorough cleaning she
had assured mr always took place be-
tween the exit and cntrcc of her differ
cnt sets of dodgers; yet here il was. The
shining of the soft, bron2c-colorcd Sip
per had attracted my eye rs the sun lit
up the abNSS beneath the sofa and now.
what must | do with it? Perhaps. after
all il was Mrs. Politics own; but !
laughed at the idea Of her clcpllaniinc
foot finding entrance there; perhaps IL
clongcd To child or grandchild: but
il was not probable intcrprc' alton of
the mystery. II could surely not he
kept under the sofa for ornament: and
vet how should such Thin. a. one
slipper not hc missed If the owner pos
scsScd two feet
However, the little innocent looking
slipper, fit 10 case Il very fairy's foot,
lay there and DESTROYED my peace of
mind a. | looked at it. My readers
may laugh at me rs they choose: but |
will frankly comics, that. while some
men fall in love with bunch of curls
a pair of ewes. Il smile, II hand, voice,
] was, before breakfast was half over,
head and ears in love with II slipper. II
was folly nonsense of course; but ~
it was. Philosophers would say il was
the form that my Imagination, CON
iurcd up ~ the real owner Of the slip
per: but don't care To be- 50 particular
believe fell in love with the little
slipper itself. such pretty little thing
il looked aud felt n turned il ov,r in
my hand, with it, -ilkcn sandals. and
ro>cttc of blur. and it, neat lining ol
white silk: Il dainty litilc article. in
deed, lIcrfumcd with >ot, sweet odor
OF roses, that all lis long i>olat n from
H. sweet mi-lrcs, had not wholly tie
sttovcd.
| heard Mr.. Potllc ascending the
stairs with my letters, and hastily put
the slipper in my coat-pocket ] had
Diet ,rmincd that ! would he guilty oi
theft, if theft it was, sooner than part
with my new treasure. The landlady
entered, "Icttcr>, -ir. il You please
sir ~
Thank YOU. answered, cooll,
and let her 20 again: thoagh longcd
for the history of her previous dodgers.
] thought she. eyed me suSpiciouSly
but, of course, | was mi>takcrs and
turned and finished my breakfast. and
then broke open the envelopes oi m,
letters.
ring the bell Mrs. PottIc enters.
am sitting ON the sofa reading the pa.
per: but Just say carcles>ly: "lou
have kept these lodgings some time.
suppose, Mrs. Pottlc?'
'1.aw! yes, sir" she answers, stop.
ping short in the general gathering To.
.cth + of plates and dishes: nigh upon
twenty years. Through my poor sam.
ucl being taken oil early, sin ! wa,
obliged TO begin ut forty. Now In
turned sixiy though some do say
said Mrs. Pottle, with Il smile. THAT
they har,Ily can think it's more than Il
few years ago began I'm 80 much
The same.
There they are right | said, will
ing to propitiatc Mrs. Pottlc. "Y,r
might u, well pass for fifty, and n young
looking woman at that. But, however
what sort of people do you mostly gct
hcrc?-young men, like | am. in mcr
chants Offices on something of thai
kind?'
"Why. yes, sir. First and last. Nv,
had some scores of clerks and junior
partners; but still 't>n' { always so; bu
there was one young man nearly tn,
first ! ever had
did not exactly want twenty years
list Of lodging. so | interrupted tn,
worthy soul by saying: ''l,ut who hav,
you had lately who was the last now
before came?''
"a curious old couple, sir, rs yo,
ever cast eyes on
f.. OLD gaspcd. T.
Mrs Pottlc did not, suppose, motto,
my agitation, but replied; AYES, sir
the gentleman Is about scycnty-liyo.
should think, and the lady might be ;
year older or youngcr-not much dif
ference between them. But beg YOU
pardon that's your bus, sir. An,
Mrs Pottlc disappeared with the ira,
just rs the horn and rafting wheel
were distinctly heard near the terrace
| put on my hat mechanically. an,
went down stairs, vcXcd with the abrup
termination 10 her recital. A. ! rod
along, the thought struck me that TIN
whole affair was trick, and Mrs. Pot
tie wanted TO bind me to the spot. o
make mo Interested in her house, OF in
vo;glo in somc foolish love affair. Thi
decided me TO take 10 notice ot her Ut
tcmptS ut conversation for the future
and not even TO permit her 10 finish th'
story begun in the morning.
just then The onnibu. stopped, an,
an old maiden lady. whom had know
through her acquaintance with u mucl
respected aunt of mine, similarly cir
cumstanccd % 10 age and matrimony
entered II. ] politcl. handed her io
seat for my aunt sake. and commence,
n conN orsaiion which stroyo 10 rcndc
interesting, though my mind was cor
tainly very absent tina, day; 50 abscn
that in one OF the palIseI OF our dis
course incaut'ously drew ont m,
pocket handkerchief Ia wipe my fore
fead, and with II horror OF horrors.
the little bron2c. colcrcd clipper, will