, 1898-07-07
TALE OF A SLIPPER.

companied Francois to his mothers
homer"
"No, I 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, IL o'clock"
The Countess of Laispare had left her
chateau in the neighborhood of Com
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 s%ojourn in
Paris, for she could see her fiance, \
brother Of the janitor Of the apartment
i'll which they were stopping.
Mime. Laispare, a pretty widow, was
u tritie fatigued by a day spent in go.
ing from tailor to dressmaker, from
dressmaker to milliner. She was stretch.
cd comfortably in a reclining chair, and
her whole attention, after her maids
departure, was centered in a book she
was reading 1t was Intensely interest.
ing, and she read Oh until midnight
without noticing how quickly time was
passing. The sound of the clock strik.
ing ~ aroused her.
SIS it possible! l had no idea it was
SO late. And where is Mariette?"
Sure that her maid had not yet re-
turned, she passed out on tho little bal.
cony from her drawing room, overlook.
ing Friedland avenue, and began look
ing vainly for the figures of Marietta
and Francois.
After a short time, as they did not
appear, she began to feel anxious and a
little irritated. In her impaticnce 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 promenuder who
stood star gazing beneath the balcony.
He uttered u startled exclamation,
and. STOPPING in amazement, he picked
up tho missile, looked at it, turned it
over, then, carrying it to the street
lamp, examined it carefully. His sur
prised look gave way to II of amused
pleasure. In fact, the slipper complete
ly eclipsed the legendary one of Gin.
derella. 1t was small enough for the
foot of n 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 OH my
head from heaven. 1t came, evidently,
from that lighted window. l thought ]
saw afigure there q moment ago. Well,
then, here goes"
Concealed i'll a corner of the balcony,
tho countess had watched the panto-
mime, feeling all the time u strong dc.
sire to laugh. The man, in approaching
the light. had given her II chance to OBJ
serve him infinitely. Heappeared young
and good looking; in dress and bearing
no was all that could be desired. The
young woman told herself that no had
n very distinguished air. and so she felt
not Mt all alarmed when he approached
the door of the building and rang the
bell.
AS no one responded the first time, n
second followed it, and then a third,
prolonged, energetic and loud, which
met with no greater success than the
first two.
"He will waken every one in the
apartment house except that sleepy
headed j~anitor. What shall I do? !
don't see anything but to go and open it
myself"
And accepting her part boldly the
countess descended the stairs, blaming
Marietta severely for having put her in
such II position. Opening the door a
crack, she said:
"a thousand apologies, monsieur,
and please give it to me quickly"
But such haste was entirely outside
the plans of NJ. de la Briere. the man
who held the slipper,
"M truth. madame, l regret exceed
ipgly not being able to grant your re-
luNsts WI taO obJGIt WulSA i law Juo
found is, 1 think, rather precious. ana
you will understand chat l feel q Ger
tain responsibility. Ii the slipper is
yours. it will of course fit you, and will
you allow me to assure myself by the
fornality Of trying it ONT"
Your conscience, monsieur, has a
very keen edge. but as you are not salts
fled in seeing ire standing hero OIL one
foot | suppose l must submit to the
proof you ask for"
She seated herself i'll enc of the large
antique chairs IN the hall aud puttin,
out her little foot watched him Us h.
gravely fitted the slipper upon it. TIL
instant it wa ON the foot was with
drawn and disappeared beneath h@
skirt, while Rene do La Briere arose.
somewhat disconnected. Nine. Laisparc,
standing on both feet this time, made
him the most gracious and at the SAM
time the most irooical Of bows. md
opening the door wide motioned the
young hi ont with . gesture in which
the grace did mot hide the authority.
But at IL moment when, decidedly
chaazined ard oonflssd, Rene wa
ssost tosoavA .spuapoaa 4 oud n
-l----s q