Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-03-28
My Sisters slipper; Or. Love Will
Find a Way.

slipper. We are not working In the
shop because some of the machinery Is
out of order, and you may be sure we
are only too glad to get a little rest.
1t is pretty hard to be poor. and
doubly so for beautiful girl like Nora.
l never could understand Jed Hamp.
ton could 60 away and forget such a
face as hers. That was three years
ago, when we were all living up In
Vermont with Aunt Huldah. Jed
Hampton was a summer boarder and
fell ill at our house, and Nora nuIsed
him until he was well. 1 thought they
were in love with each other, but at
the end of the season he left with only
good-by
] knew it cut her to the heart to have
hin run off in that way, but she hid
her sorrows and tried to forget him.
After Aunt HULA died and we
were thrown on our own resources a
friend got US both situations in a large
Boston factory, and here We have been
ever since. Only yesterday Nora
alarmed me by saying that the senior
member of the firm for whom We
worked had made her an offer OF mar
rage.
Why a crusty old bachelor of fifty
y
was a mystery, but Nora had decided
to accept him, because We were so
dreadfully poor. ! knew in her heart,
however, she still cherished the mem-
ory OF her handsome lover, Jed Eamp-
ton
hr. Steele is coming for his answer
this evening and note how wan her
face looks as she sits by the open win
dow, sewing on the shabby slipper.
From the street come the sounds of a
boy singing .Silver Threads Among
the Gold.:'
.'Of all the Impudent little beastsl''
4 spring up In amazement at my sis
ter's ejaculation, and then We both
burst out laughing, for there, on the
outer edge of the window. ledge, sits a
ridiculously solemn little monkey, with
Nora's slipper tightly clasped IN one
skinny arml
We are in the second story OF long
brick block. with balconled windows,
and the animal has probably made his
way hlther with ease from some neigh
boring apartment.
We both make a dash at him, but he
eludes US and is gone. Nora, looking
after him, presently reports that he has
entered the fourth window from ours,
and wonders:with laugh If she will
ever see her slipper again.
While we are discussing our modest
supper of bread and butter, apple sauce
anu tea, our iandlady knocks at the
door. L arise and open it. Vaguely
in the shadowy hall behind Mrs. Bur
CESS looms tall, dark figure.
"Miss Ellis, this gentleman has Jour
sisters slipper-at least i told him that
/ thought it was hers. VIII you"--
But the good woman never finishes
her sentence, for the man moves for
|w. I'd and looks directly over my head
Sora. who had pushed her chair
back from the table and stands smiling
bravely, but 80 white that L fear she
will faint.
"Step In. Mr.. Hampton" l say,
graciously, adding by way of explana-
tion to Mrs. Burgess, The gentleman
Is an old acquaintance"
Mrs. Burgess, betaking herself down
stairs, close the door with q throb-
bing heart and await developments.
Jed Hamptonl ! do not wonder
Nora loves hin, he is 50 big and dark
and handsomel
Nora, poor child, is trying to utter
some conventional words of greeting,
but he will have none of iU, and L
laugh and sob simultaneously as he
takes one long stride and swoop5 her
into his arms.
s'My darling! little sweetheart
he cries. joyously. Have 1 really
found yon?-and all owing TO that alb
surd little monkey which / brought
home from Cuba!''
But Nora has dropped mask of ice
over her face and is pushing him
away.
Jed looks at me imploringly. 'What
is it, NellI She isn't promised to some
other fellowp"
l shake my head. ave thought that
you were promi 5ed to some other girl. :"
/ venture. despite Nora's frown of re-
monstrance.
am determined to have this affair
cleared up if possible. The thought of
Mr.. Steele's intended visit makes me
desperate.
Jed fushes guiltily. $50 1 was," he
says, "promised when a mere boy to a
girl of whom l wearied in a year. But
! held myself in honor bound to her.
actually ran away from Nora. L loved
her so 1 dared not stay. What a
despicable brute L must have seemed
to you'll What was my relief, on re-
turning to the woman whom intended
to marry, to find that she had thrown
aside her vows to me TO wed another.
She also had wearied of that boy and
girl betrothal.
Business detained me for time In
the West, and when 1 returned to find
Nora you were both gone, no one knew
where. All this time L have been
hunting for you. To-day Jocho-lucky
monkey-brought me this little slip
per-" Here he takes 1t rather senti-
mentally from breast-pocket and
kisses it with great tenderness, which
performance L witness with approval
Nora with shy bushes and laughter
Enquiry leads to the discovery of my
little Cinderella. And now, my dear,
when viii you marry me?" he queries.
with q buslness-like manner tina. re-
joices my soul.
"Oh. jedi L don't knowr' stam-
mers Nora.
She does not push him away now,
however, when he draws her again
within the circle OF his arm and
smooths her soft dark hair with gentle
fingers. Neither does she refuse TO
kiss MIN when he bends to touch Eer
lips.
And so my sisters romance is TO
have pretty ending, for Jed is silent
member of a prosperous hardware firm
and Nora will not have to wear shabby
slippers any more, and am to have
home with them.
Mr.. Steele? Oh, well, 1 will con-
fess that have wronged him. He is
old and ugly, but he has kind heart
under his queer, gruf exterior. feel
sorry for his disappointment Of course.
though 1 cannot wish matters other
wise.
What do you suppose is his wedding
present to Nora? Why nothing less
than check for $1,000. After all he
might not have been a bad brother-in-
law.