Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-06-20
THE LEFT SLIPPER.

II thought fairies were obsolete. and
Cinderella nowhere" l exclaimed one
morning, drawing out from under the
so OF my sitting room @ small slipper
for a LETT foot; 'sbut if ever there was a
lady, be she q Cinderella or Susannah,
WHO had a smaller foot than this would
fit. ] should like to see her, that's all."
| sat down again to my coffee and
ham, and wondered however it could
happen that Mrs. Pottle, my worthy
and ~obsequious landlady, should have
allowed the slipper to have been over
looked in the '.thorough cleaning" she
had assured me always took place be-
tween the exit and entree of her differ
ent sets Of dodgers; yet here it was. The
shining of the soft, bronze-colored Slip
per had attracted my eye as the sun lit
up the abyss beneath the sofa; and now,
what must 1 do with it? Perhaps, after
all, it was Mrs. Pottle's own; but l
laughed at the idea OF her clephantine
foot finding entrance there; perhaps it
belonged to a child OF grandchild; but
it was not a probable Interpretation of
the mystery. 1t could surely not be
Kept under the sofa for ornament; and
yet how should such q thing as one
slipper not be missed, if the owner pos
sessed two feet.
J However, the little innocent looking
slipper, fit to case a very fairy's foot,
lay there and destroyed my peace Of
mind as l looked at it. My readers
may laugh at me as they choose; but 1
viii frankly confess that, while some
men fall in love with a bunch of curls,
a pair OF eyes, a smile, a hand, o voice,
| was, before breakfast was half over,
head and ear in love with a slipper. 1t
WAS folly-nonsense-of courses; but so
il was. Philosophers would say it was
the form that my imaginations con-
jured up as the real owner of the Slip
per; but l don't care 10 be so particular
Slipper itself. Such a pretty little thing
it looked and felt as | turned it over in
my hand, with its silkcn sandals, and
rosette OF blue, and its neat lining of
white silk; a dainty little article, in
deed, perfumed with a so.t, sweet odor
OF roses, that all its long isolation from
it, sweet mistress had not wholly de-
stroyed.
heard Mrs. Pottle ascending the
stairs with my letters, and hastily put
the slipper in my coat-pocket. [ had
determined that [ would be guilty of
theft, if theft it was, sooner than part
with my new treasure. The landlady
entered, Letters, sir, if you please,
Sir"
''Thank YOU" l answered, coolly,
and let her 20 again; though l longed
Tor the history OF her previous dodgers.
thought she eyed me suspiciously,
but, Of course, | was mistaken; and
turned and finished my breakfast, and
then broke open the envelopes of my
letters.
ring the bell. Mrs. Pottle enters.
l am sitting on the sofa. reading the pa
per; but l just say carelessly: "You
nave kept these lodgings some time, 4
suppose. Mrs. Pottle?"
LAW! yes, SIR" she answers, stop
ping short in the general gathering to-
.cthzr Of plates and Dishes; ''nigh upon
twenty years. Through my poor Sam
uei being taken off early, sir, l was
obliged TO begin at forty. Now I'm
turned siXty-though some do say"
SAID Mrs. Pottle, with a smile, .'that
they hardly can think it's more than q
lew years ago I began-I'm so much
The same"
"'rhere they are right" 1 said, will
ing to propitiate Mrs. Pottle. "You
might as we'll pass for fifty, and a young
looking woman at that. But, however,
what sort OF people do you mostly get
hsre'--young men, like l an, in mer-
ehants' othess Or something Of that
"Why, yes, sir. First and last, I've
mao some scores Of clerks and junior
partners; but still 'hsn't always SO; but
mere was II young man-nearly the
first | ever had"
l did not exactly want a twenty years
1sl OF lodging, so 1 interrupted the
"orthy soul by saying: "But vino have
you had ~ately-who was the last now,
before 1 cameo"
"A curious old couple, sir, as you
ever cast eyes on"
Old" | gasped. 81
Mrs. Pottie .Sd not, l suppose, notice
my agitation, but replied: Eyes. sir;
we gentleman Is about se%yentY-fiye, l