Passaic City record., 1900-06-16

Ef4x latter he particular
s. - ly prided himself.
He was the most eligible OF bache-
lors. Equally, of course, he was be-
ing everlastingly 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 925, 900 year.
One autumn, three or four years
ago, Lord Petersfeld went down into
Sussex to stay with his friends the
Wentwarps, at Wentwarp Hall, very
fine old country 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 Petersield 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 in time-phew! Certain
" they were abominably tight They
seemed to throw him forward on his
toes in way to which he was not ac-
customed. Only at the last fair diner
swept past him, on her way out, did
he realize that his toes were being
tortured in pair of ladies' shoes.
They were high heeled, of black
satin, with large rosettes and silver
buckles. He had no difficulty in
recognizing them. They were Mabel
Wentwarp's.
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, had 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-
ind their cigars, then to hurry up
stairs to his bedroom and exchange
the satins for second pair of pumps
which he had fol- tunately brought with
h;m.
Having decided on this line of &C !
tion, he murmured-with very red
face-a few excuses and apologies to
his host, and then performed skillfu
and speedy exit with so much rapidity
as to make it impossible for the black
satins to be seen.
Now, as he passed with rapid ani
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. II,
recognized whose room it was. It wa
Mabel Wentwarp's. In an instant b.
had popped them safely inside thu
| door of her room and was proceeding
with lighter heart toward his owl
| apartment at the end of the passage
On reaching his own room he
turned up the gas and was about tt
hunt out his second pair of pump!
from cupboard when his eyes fel
upon his best pair-the pair which
Mabel Wentwarp had appropriated
standing in conspicuous position b
his dressing table.
He saw how it was. Miss Mabel
having discovered her mistake, ha,
had the promptness and delicacy t.
replace them thus in his room. !
was certainly most tactful and con
siderate of her.
When they joined the ladies Lor
Peterfeld still, however, felt rathe
nervous in case any Of the fair guest
might have shared Miss Mabsl's dis
covery about the exchange of shoes
But he was soon set free from anxiet
on this point by Miss Wentwarp hel
self, who, taking the opportunity
approach him as he stood for amomer
alone, murmured, with blushins
downcast look:
| ssI found out our little mistake
Lord Petersfeld, and at once r.
stored your property to your room
Sh! No one knows anything abol
| it. Ahr' turning her eyes dow
upon his vanished toes) II see tn
you have already reclaimed yot
own"
| At that moment Julia Slapdersn