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

Madame, would you mind if I ao-
companied Francois to his mothers
homer
''No, am perfectly willing, but be
back by 1 / 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 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 sojourn in
Paris, for she could see her fance, q
brother of the janitor Of the apartment
in which they were stopping.
Mime. Laispare, pretty widow, was
trifle fatigued by day spent in CO.
ing from tailor to dressmaker, from
dressmaker to milliner. She was stretch
ed comfortably in 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.
els it possible 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 Eriedland 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 late promenader who
stood star gazing beneath the balcony.
He uttered startled exclamation,
and, STOPPING 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. 1t 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 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. thought ]
saw figure there moment ago. Well,
then, here goes.
Concealed in a corner of the balcony,
the countess had watched the panto-
mime, feeling all the time strong de-
sire to laugh. The man, in approaching
the light, had given her chance to OBJ
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
very distinguished air, and SO she felt
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,
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 janitor. 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
Mariette severely for having put her in
such 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 M de la Briere, the man
who held the slipper.
In truth, madame, regret exceed
ingly not being able to grant your re-
quest, but the object which have just
found is. think. rather precious, and