The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-26
CHANGED SHOES.

anu HIS opIOIDlallv Slllall nondS and
feet. On tho latter he particularly
pridcd himself.
He was the most eligible of bachelors.
Equally, OF course, he was being ever
lastingly stalllcd by husband hungry
mammas and daughters. But they could
make nothing of him. Their most
sircnic efforts simply frightened him.
But exemption was impossible He
was young, single, II viscount. He had
1928, 600 II year
One autumn, three or four years ago
Lord Pctcrsficld went down into Sussex
to stay with his friends the Wentwarps.
at Wcntwarp hall, Il very fine old coun-
try seat.
For one thing, they understood his
character and did not worry him with
excessive hospitality. And then, for
another, the daughters of the house
Mabel and Maud--vcry pretty girls,
too, by the way-did not run after him
or make eyes ut him. They were simply
friendly and cordial with him
Now Viscount Pctcrsficld had con-
tracted dcplorablc habit of casing his
pinched toes Ivy kicking off his pumps
during the progress of dinner and only
resuming them just before he had to
jump up in Difference to the rising of
the ladiCs
He WAS rather sorry when he saw
Lady Wcntwarp preparing to mako the
signal, and he had to feel for his vacant
pumps He found them ard got them
on i'll timc-phcw! Certainly they were
abominably tight! They seemed to
throw him forward On his toes in II
way to which he was not accustomed.
Only rs the last fair diner swept past
him. on her Way out. did he realize that
his toes were being tortured III IA pair of
ladys shoes.
They were high hcclcd, of black satin,
with large rosettcs and silver buckles.
He had no difficulty III recognizing
them They were Mabel Wcntwarp's
Then he saw how it was An unin-
territorial exchanges. The Young lady
must have kicked off her shoes also, and,
meaning to resume them, have un-
knowingly resumed his instead
He decided that his best course was
TO slip away, on some prctcxt OF other.
while the gentlemen were still smoll-
ing their cigarettes; then To hurry up
stairs to his bedroom and exchange the
satins for q second pair of pumps.
which he had fortunately brought with
him.
Having decided on This line of action.
he murmured-with Il very rcd facc-a
few excuses and apologies to his host,
and then performed Il Skillful and speedy
exit with so much rapidity as to make
it impossible for the black satins to he
seen.
Now, rs he passed with rapid and
nervous stealth along the corridor which
led to his room, he happened To notice
that ono of the bedroom doors on the
way stood open. He recognized whose
room it was 1t was Mabel Wentwarp's.
In an instant he had popped them safely
inside the door of her room and was
proceeding with lighter heart toward
his own apartment ut the end of the
passage.
On reaching his own room he turned
up the gas and was about to hunt out
his second pair of pumps from Il cup
board when his eyes fell upon his best
pair-tho pair which Mabel Wcntwarp
had Notwithstanding in Il con
He saw how it was Miss Mabel hav-
ing discovered her mistake had had the
promptncss and dclicacy to replace
them thus in his room. 1t was certainly
most tactful and considcratc OF her.
When they Joined the ladies. Lord
Pctersiicld still, however, felt rather
nervous in case any of the fair guests
might have shared Miss Mabcl's discov-
cry about the exchange OF shoes. But
he was soon set free from anxiety on
this point by Miss Wcntwarp herself
who, taking the opportunity to approach
HIM as he stood for Il moment alone
murmured with Il blushing, downcast
look
Il found out our little mistake, Lord
PctcrSficld, and at once restored your
property to Your room. Sh, No one
knows anything about it. All" (turn-
ing her eyes down. upon his vanished
toes Il sec that You have already re-
claimed your own"
At that moment Julia SlandcrSon
swoopcd down upon her prey and 10
his great annoyance forcibly annexed
him for the rest of the evening.
Next morning after breakfast the I'm
fortunate viScount noticed that this per-
si.tcnt young lady was still lowering on
the pOdncc. He cvadcd her at the cx-
pon>r of some skill, and Slipped of into
The dampost and most secluded portion
OF The garden to enjoy his cigar alone
Mabel Wcntwarp startled him by sud
denly appearing at his side. Her face
was white and distrcsSful. Her ewes. he