Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1901-06-15
II Baby's shoe.

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behind the counters and handled
wares with the deftness of their
more humble sisters. The accumu-
lation of cast-off articles, which clut-
ter the attics of every household,
was spread upon the counters and
shelves. Crowds of people, from
the lowest to the highest grade of
society, thronged the store, elbowing
each other rudely. AT the further
end of the long store was table
piled high with children, clothing
of every description. "Your choice
for IS cents!' was the motto upon
the card, hung conspicuously above
the table. Almost hidden beneath
the pile was a little heap of baby
shoes and stockings, and among
them a tiny pair Of blue shoes. They
were a bit faded and worn, with
faint creases at heel and toe, where
the chubby foot had pressed it's
weight against mothers knee. The
soft, white hand of the sales-lady
seemed to linger caressingly upon
this particular pair, as she sorted
over the clothing for each new Gus
toner.
There were round-taced Irish
mothers, with their frowsy-headed
offsprings cEnging to their skirts !;
yellow-haired Swedes, whose won
dering blue eyes took in every detail
OF the crowded table, and dark
browed Italian women carrying
their babies within shawis that
were their only covering. Bernice
Colby served them all graciously
and sweetly, yet, as each turned
away, her eyes glanced with half
relief at the tiny blue shoes, still un-
claimed.
How foolish l ann she whispered
to herself. why cannot / give
them up?"
With a sudden impulse she held
them out as a broad-taced Irish
woman, with child in her arms,
stood beside the table.
"Och! Mem, but them's foine, in
dade," said the woman, with gay
laugh, "But Jamey's fut ne'er'd
squeeze into the loikes o them"
4 scarlet wave swept Bernice's
check as she dropped the little shoes
and hastily sought among the cloth
ing for something more suitable for
the sturdy "Jamey." Far back in
the store, partly hidden by the
crowd, a man stood, watching Ber-
nicc's table. 1t was dark, hand
some face, yet showing. the marks OF
dissipation. AS he witnessed the
little scene a sneer curled his lips.
"Heartless and cold Willing to
sell her dead baby's shoes" he NUT
tered.
Hastily pushing forward, the man
approached the table. His upturned
coat collar and the soft felt hat, pull
ed down over his brows nearly con-
cealed his face, yet as he brushed
past the eyes of the two met. For a
second the woman's heart seemed to
stand still within her bosom, as she
recognized the mans face; then he
passed by and was gone.
That night, as Bernice was being
driven to her own luxurious home,
she leaned back amidst the soft
cushions with weary sigh. Not
because of the unusual exertions of
the day was she spent and weary,
but the sight OF that dark, gloomy
face, that for five years she had
longed, yet dreaded, to see, had COM
pletely unnerved her. With the
past thus opened, the waves OF mem
ory submerged her. Five years be-
fore Bel.nice Colby had been happy
wife and mother. Then the dark
anpel had suatched from her arms
their precious burden. Selhshly
yielding to the grief that overwhelm-
ed her, she had neglected her witely
duties until her husband had sought
more cheerful company and con-
ISOLATION in the Wine cup. Suddenly
awakened to his Incorporate habits,
repugnance and disgust for the time,
syvept love from her heart, and heed
less of his repentance and remorse,
she drove him from her with sting
ing words of bitter scorn.
She sent him from her to do battle
alone with that dreadful demon that