The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-09-19
THE SLIPPER TRICK.

This varnished dancing pump was
slipped of the foot Of an exquisite young
man ut a reception ut one of the leading |
salons Of Paris. MY eminently correct
readers need not turn up their aristocratic
noses at the vulgar lack of delicacv be-
trayed by my exquisite young man. Let
him among you who does not adore q
dainty foot cast the first stone.
Octave Latournelle-that is my ex-
| quisite young mans name-was not only
perfect dancer. He possessed not only
two very nimble legs. but two very MIN
| BILE hands. whereof the adroitnesS was
the admiration of all his friends. Indeed
the most expert conjurer would not have
been ashamed to own him for a pupil.
| At his word of command watches passed
from one pocket to another. gold coinsi
vanished into thin air. flowers grew upon
him as If on magical bush-he drew
them forth from his pockets. his sleeves.
his waistcoat. his cravat. in quantities
rufhcient to decorate the corsages of all
the ladies present. and this after having,
by way Of preamble. turned his pockets
inside out, rolled up his sleeves and
opened his waistcoat In a word. he was
the enchanter of the best drawing rooms
and the spoiled child of the ladies.
Perhaps, rather than the spoiled child,
he considered himself the petted dar-
ling. AT any rate he was in love. and lie
made that fact known with the audacity
that often gives success.
The Object of his alteration was the
young wife of General Pascalon-it is
only the husbands rank that restraints
me from mentioning the disparity Of
their ages. But all generals have young
wives, which is only another proof that
the truly brave do not recoil from dam
gers of any kind. 1t is traditional in
cases of this lind that the husband
should be jealous, bat General Pascalon
was not so. But if he was not an Othel-
10 neither was he fool.
Trusting in the loyalty OF his young
wife. he cherished no illusions. He en-
Joyed many Palais Royal farce-with
his wife by his side more often than not,
which was imprudent perhaps-but he
, also escorted her to balls, never plead.
ing his age as an excuse, and waited pa.
: tiently for her till after the cotillon,
!. and to all appearances his wife was quite
content.
II Perhaps she was SO. But there were
plenty of young fellows who would look
down at you from the high superiority
+ of their % years If you ventured to ex-
press such an idea and say:
: sWith an old fellow like that! Really
you are too refreshing"
The general was not to be laughed at
& He knew his danger, not only before al
the world had seen it, but before any ont
! else suspected 1t, and he saved his honor
: like man OF intelligence which indeed
he could have done in no other way.
And this brings ms down at last to tn.
y varnished slipper Of the exquisite young
man. !
: I have said that the affair took place
in the midst Of q reception. Dancin1
was going on In the larger rooms. Tn
general was chatting with some Of th'
older guests in small room adjoinina
o the one set out with card tables. H
happened to osElance carelessly towar,
D. the players and started suddenly in sur
prise.
Bless me-" said he, putting up hi
!, glasses, there's my wife at q whist table
u Icertainly thought she was waltzing O
polkaing or something. and there sh'
J. is playing whist. She must be yer,
tired. for she never plays cards and i
.. always dancing. shall have to scolt
!. her. he added, with laugh, for in
dulging herself So much in her favorit
pleasure that she has to do penance a
the card table. and he strolled leisurel,
70 toward the players.
,-l A jostle sznocking his glasses from hi
.. eyes as he reached the whist table. h
stopped to pick them up and saw be
meath the table a slipper. patent leath
= er pump. from which its tenant had es
! capped. and now. shod only in fine blacl
J, silk hose. was pushed against the littl
foot of the generals wife. But he ais
noticed that the latter constantly avoide,
the foot that SO persistently pursued he
own.
Hum" said the general, taking il
q the situation at a glance, 1.-The fortres
Is attacked, but it is well defended.
" have arrived just in time" Then, smil
r ing calmly as IL he had seen nothing
d leaning over his wife's chair, questioning
y and advising her play. he devoted him
> self to feat that would have furnishe,
y q dramatist with an irresistibly comi
u theme. considering the difficulties Of tn
! situation. The general had undertake.
II to draw toward him with the tip Of hi
a boot tha abandoned slipper, provokin
'. every instant sudden jerks from jostle'
d feet. protestations from disturbed play
q ers, astonished looks from those VIII
,s .anl1 - the extraordinary movamAnt
wi r.,N --.--------- -
/ Like ship without rndder is ma
" or woman without health and the nee
i essary strength TO perform the ordinar
duties Of life. When the appetite falll