The Somerset reporter., 1897-02-18
CHANGED SHOES.

Young Viscount Petersfield was re-
markable for three things his intense
bashfulness, his INDIGESTION of character
and his abnormally small hands and
feet. On the latter he particularly
prided himself
He was the most eligible of bachelors.
Equally, of course, he was being ever
lastingly stalked by husband hungry
mammas and daughters. But they could
make nothing of him. Their most
sirenic efforts simply frightened him.
But exemption was impossible. He
was young, single, a viscount. He had
1925, 900 a year
One autumn, three or four years ago,
Lord Petersfield went down into Sussex
to stay with his friends the Wentwarps,
at Wentwarp hall, 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-very pretty girls,
too by the way-did not run after him
or make eyes at him. They were simply
friendly and cordial with him.
Now Viscount Pctcrstield had CON
tracted a deplorable habit of easing his
pinched toes by 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 ladies.
He WAS rather sorry when he saw
Lady Wentwarp preparing to make the
signal. and he had to feel for his vacant
pumps He found them and got them
on i'll time-phew! Certainly they were
abominably Tight They seemed to
throw him forward on his toes i'll a
way to which he was not accustomed.
Only as the last fair diner swept past
him, on her way ont. did he realize that
his toes We're being tortured in pair of
lady $ shoes.
They were high heeled, of black satin,
with large rosettes and silver buckles.
He had no difficulty i'll recognizing
them. They We're Mabel Wentwarps
Then he saw how it was, An unin-
territorial exchange 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 preteXt or other,
while the gentlemen were still smok-
ing their cigarettes; then to hurry NJ
stairs to his bedroom and exchange the
satins for second pair Of pumps,
which he had fortunately brought with
him
Having decided on this line of action,
he murmured-with very red face-a
few excuses and apologies to his host,
and then performed skillful and speedy
EXT with so much rapidity as to make
it impossible for the black satins to bt
seen.
Now, as he passed with rapid and
nervous stealth along the corridor which
led to his room, he happened TO notice
that one 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 at the end of thu
passage
On reaching his own room he turned
up the gas and was about to hunt out
his second pair of pumps from cup
board when his eyes fell upon his best
pair-the pair which Mabel WentWall
had Notwithstanding in Il con
spicuous position by his dressing table
ii s;.% how ii was. Miss Mabel, hay.
ing discovered her mistake, had had til,
promptnesS and dclicacy to replace
them thus III his room. 1t was certainly
most tactful and considerable of her.
When they joined the ladies, Lore
Petersfield still, however, felt rather
nervous in case any of the fair guests
might have shared Miss Mabel discov-
cry about the exchange of shoes. But
he was soon set free from anxiety on
this point by Miss Wentwarp herself
who, taking the opportunity to approach
him as he stood for a moment alone
murnured with blushing, downeast
look
Il found out our little mistake Lore
Pctersficld, and at once restored YOU
property to your room. Sh! No ont
knows anything about it. All" turn
ing her eyes down upon his vanished
toes) 4 sec that you have already re.
claimed your own
At that moment Julia Slandersor
swt ed down upon her prey and IL
his great annoyance forcibly annexed
him Tor the rest of the evening
Next morning after breakfast the un
fortunate yiseaunt noticed that this per
sistert young lady was still lowering OF
the bounce. He evaded her at the ex
penSa of some skill, and slipped Oft int
the dampest and most secluded portion
of the garden to enjoy his cigar alone.
Mabel NcntWarp startled him by sud.
deny appearing at his side, Her face
was white and distrcssful Her eyes, h
not .ced, where bright with unshed tears.
oh, Lord Pet~'ticld, she cxelaim
&c, forgive my intrusion, but | saw
Sou come ont and have followed You,
because I--I-haye something Il
must tn ye
"I-I-Iut there is nothing the
matter remarked his lordShip, look
ing embarrassed and conscious Of 8
vague sense of alarm.
"I-I-camot deceive you. A great
deal is the matter And--it has all