The Press., 1898-09-15
TALE OF A SLIPPER.

Madame, would you mind if &C., eompanied Francois to his mothers hone?'
 ''No, am perfectly willing, but be back by II o'clock
 Madame may be assured of that. We shall be here long before II. Pierre is down stairs, and if madame should need anything'-
 ''All right. You may go, Mariette, and remember, II o'clock. :"
 The Countess of Laispare had left her chateau in the neighborhood of CoAa- piegne, and leaving all her servants, with the exception of her maid, whom she took with her to Trouville, intended to stay a few weeks in Paris long enough to see all that was new and in- teresting-and divert herself with what ever offered itself in the way of novelty.
 Mariette, her maid, was delighted with the idea of the short sojourn in Paris, for she could see her fiance, 8 brother of the janitor of the apartment in which they were stopping.
 Mime. Laispare, pretty widow, was 8 trifie fatigued by day spent in go- ing from tailor to dressmaker, from dressmaker to milliner. She was stretch ed comfortably in a reclining chair, and her whole attention, after her maid S departure, was centered in a book she was reading It was intensely interest ing, and she read on until midnight without noticing how quickly time was passing. The sound of the clock strik- ing 12'aroused her.
 ''Is it possiblel had no idea it was so late. And where is Mariette?''
 Sure that her maid had not yet re- turned, she passed out on the little bal cony from her drawing room, overlook ing Eried1and avenue, and began look ing vainly for the figures of Mariette and Francois
 After a short time, as they did not appear. she began to feel anxious and a little irritated. In her impatience she struck her foot repeatedly against the iron railing of the balcony, and direct ly the heel of her slipper caught in the ironwork, the slipper was pulled from her foot. and, falling, just escaped the face of a late promenader who stood star gazing beneath the balcony.
 He uttered a startled exclamation, and, stepping in amazement, he picked up the missile, looked at it, turned it over, then, carrying it to the street lamp, examined it carefully. His sur prised look gave way to one of amused pleasure. In fact, the slipper complete ly eclipsed the legendary one of Gin derella. It was small enough for the foot of a child and made of black satin, embroidered with gold.
 The passer, feeling like the prince in the story, knew that the wearer of, the slipper had a pretty foot and that the next thing to do was to find her.
 "Well, said he to himself, "let's begin. This slipper didn't fall on my head from heaven. It came, evidently, from that lighted window. I thought I saw figure there moment ago. We'll, then, here goes.
 Concealed in a corner of the balcony, the countess had watched the panto- mime, feeling all the time a strong de- sire to laugh. The man, in approaching the light, had given her chance to ob- serve him minutely. He appeared young and good looking; in dress and bearing he was all that could be desired. The young woman told herself that he had U NOAJ oA4s csAO cO ohO AOAu not at all alarmed when he approached the door of the building and rang the bell.
 As no one responded the first time, a second followed it, and then a third, prol onged, energetic and loud, which met with no greater success than the first two. F.
 "He will waken every one in the apartment house except that sleepy headed janitor. What shall do? l don't see anything but to go and open it myself. E. @~- ~
 And accepting her part boldly the countess descended the stairs, blaming Mariette severely for having put her in such position. Opening the door a crack, she said: .A
 "A thousand apologies, monsieur, and please give it to me quickly. !"
 But such haste was entirely outside the plans of M. de Ia Briere, the man who held the slipper. .'.5
 In truth, madame, regret exceed ingly not being able to grant your re- quest, but the object which have just found is. I think. rather precious, and