The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-01-13
CHANGED SHOES,
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remarkable for three things, his
intense bashfulness, his indecision of
character and his a5normally small
hands and feet. On the latter he par
ticu1afly prided himself.
He was the most eligible Of bachelors.
Equally, Of course, he was being ever
1astingly stalxed by husband-hungry
mammas and daughters. But they
could make nothing of him. Their
most sirenic efforts simply frightened
him.
But exemption was impossible. BE
was young, single, a viscount. He had,
825,0OO 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, a very
ane 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
81 make eyes at him They were sins
ply friendly and eordial with him
Now Viscount Petersfeld 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 va
cant pumps, He found them and got
them on in time phew! Certainly
they we're abominally tight! They
seemed to throw him forward on his
toes in way to which he was not ac-
customcd Only as the last fair diner
swept past him, on her way out, did
he realize that his toes were being tor
tured 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 il 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 dcciled that his best course was
TO slip away on some preteXt or other
while the gentlemen were still smolI-
ing their cigarettes, then to hurry up
stairs to his bedroom and exchange
the satius for a second pair Of pumps
which he. had fortunately brought with
him.
Having decided on this line Of ac
4ion. he murmurcd-with very red
face-a few excuses and apologies tC
his host. and then performed sllillfu
and speedy exit with SO much rapidity
as TO make it impossible for the blacl
satins to be seen.
Now, as he passed with rapid ant
nervous stealth along the corridor
which led TO his room, he happened
70 notice that one of The bedroom doors
on the way stood open. lie recognized
whose room Il was. It YVES Mabe
Rentwarp's. IN an instnnt he haC
poppe6 them safely inside the door o
her ronm and was proceeding with ,
lighter heart toward his own apart
meut at the end Of the passnge.
On reaching his own room he turned
up tie gas and wRs about TO hunt on
mis- second pair Of pumps from cup
board when his eyes fell upon his bes
pair--th pair which Mabel Wentwarl
had appropriated standing in a con
spicunls position by his dressing table
lie saw bow It was, Miss Mabel hay
ing discovered her mistake, had had tn
promptness and delicacy to replae
them thus in his room. Tt was certain
ly most tactful and considerate of hel
When they joined the ladies Lor
Petersfeld still, however, felt pathe
nervous in case any of the fair guest
might haze shared Miss Mabel's dis
covery about the exchange of shoe
But he was soon set free from an2iet
on this point by Miss Wentwarp he.
self who taking the opportunity to al
praaeh him e. be stood for 2 momeT