Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-11-15
gasped. .'Imagine the scene in the

boudoir of the brown-eyed one, when
your dainty canoes arrived. Don't
stand there petrified. Hurry NJ, get
out your old ones and come along"
'But 1 haven't any old ones! Gave
them all to my small brother long
ago. What use have I for dancing
shoes?" dejectedly. Now that all
possibility of a dance was at an end,
he longed most unreasonably for the
unattainable. Forlornly, he arrayed
himself.
you'll have to sit out most of your
dances-if you get any," said his
friend, consolingly; mine are all en-
gagged. never take any before half
past ten"
Nobody will want to dance with me
in these thick things" sighed the
other, surveying his shoes ruefuIly.
However, they made start finally,
Charlie gayly arranging future pro-
ceedings as they went.
"Now, if the brown eyes are there,
| what luck. I'm sure to know her; 1
know everybody. I can see it ail-in-
PRODUCTION, start of recognition, hope
less confusion, gallant friend to the
rescue-all satisfactorily explained in
T. moment"
"Never!" calculated Met edith,
| clutching his arm. Suppose she's
girl who CHATS a fellow unmerciful-
ly?''
"Why, she cannot. She's in as much
| of box as you are"
"Oh, no, she isn't! She forgot all
about me and my patent feathers as
soon as she entered the store.''
"We1l, hope for the best, my afflict-
ed friend,'' said Charlie.
| Presently they reached the brill
liantly lighted hall where the first
cotillion of the season was under way
Gayly the couples were marching
back and forth through the mazes of
the figures, and Interestingly his
| eyes did not mislead him-was the
"brown-eyed one" demurely leading
all that lovely train of followers.
Meredith leaned against the door fac
ing, and Graham noticed the look of
| CONSERVATION, almost of fear. upon
| his face.
"She's here, is she?" he asked
eyes, there, leading" he answered,
family.
"That! Beatrice Harloel Well,
you are a lucky dog! She's the jol
lest and sweetest girl on the hill"
Later on Meredith was introduced,
and one glance of the brown eyes
was enough. Totally unprepared for
| the meeting, no sooner did their eyes
meet than the remembrance swept
over her of the "great clumsy thing"
in front of the shoe store. Laughing.
she put out her hand: ooh! DR.
Meredith and I have met before, if
rather unceremoniously. You must
excuse our haste of this afternoon
we were in such hurry!"
cit was all my fault, assure you,"
he answered, eagerly. So far, she
did not connect him in any way with
the mistake of the dancing shoes. ST
am SO late" said Meredith. II am
afraid there is no hope for me on your
card; I am not going to dance myself.
out hoped I might find some kind
friend who would take pity on me and
sit out one occasionally" Once moth
ing had ever been further from Mere
dith's thoughts than the absurd "sit-
ting OUT of a dance with girl; but,
now-well, circumstances alter cases.
that's all.
"Oh!" she answered, ST was late,
too. I have only the cotillion en-
gagged. I will give you one later on"
Charlie, who had been an amused
spectator, could restrain himself no
longer, in spite of an imploring look
from his friend.
"Why were you late, Bee? You told
me you expected to be here early, on
| account of your friend"
'sSuch funny thing happened"
she laughed. "Come here, Sue. and
help me tell about it."
CHANGING at the young doctor, one
look at his conscious face was enough.
"Oh!" she cried; "why! you-you are
the mani"
Then the tension gave way and the
quartet laughed long and merri!y.
whats the joker" was asked on
all sides; but taking Sue hurriedly by
,, the hand, Beatrice made her way to a
1 retired corner, motioning to Graham
to bring his friend.
I'VE must exchange condolences
l she said.
"And Shoes" murmured Graham
soto voce. So, with much laughter
. and clatter of tongues, the whole
affair was made clear. to the mystif.
cation Of all their friends and ac
quaintances.
The following year DR.. and Mrs
John Meredith (nee Harloel set uT
housekeeping in a coy fat on Geary
street, where there is a mystery still
unsolved in the doctors study. Hang
| ing beside his desk, within convenient
Z reach of his right arm, is the we'll
. known figure of Miss Bonita" grace
fully swinging her toes as Of old. But
upOn those toes are now fitted dainty
slippers of white suede, held in place
|. ;. by huge bows of white satin ribbon.
To all, inquiries, Bee merrily an
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