The Topeka state journal., 1905-12-07
TIE EVENING STOR r
The Romance of a Slipper.
{ By Nirginia Leila Wentz.)

uOW ana loked across at the pine
woods. 1T was one of these country
windows. to open which demands
/ strength Which IS as the strength of
ten, and which, when opened, refuse
/ to be closed again save with the
archaic force of q battering ram.)
Even though I do live in a Harlem
! fiat pOndered Kitty Graham I've
been accustomed to windows that re-
4 manned up without any visible means
of support. Since I've come to the
Berkshires I've learned better. Seems
/ 10 me that one volume of Thackeray.
! doesn't keep the window up high
enough" She gazed searchingly about
the room. Il reckon one of my high
heeled slippers villa about do it," and
she inserted a bit of personal prop
eriy with no mean skill. so that the
heel raised the sash two or three
/ inches higher
That isn't much," she concluded
trifle warm with the exertion, ''but it's
something. And how delicious that
pine fragrance ISL She bent her
pretty head so that her little nose
! drew in long breaths of the sweet air:
then picking up her letter she went
down stairs.
Mrs. Barnes" came Miss Graham's
silvery voice from the hall. shall I
leave my letter here on the tablet Or
is 1t too late for the butcher?"
SakeS aliVei yes. He was here fore
you Was up returned Mrs Barnes
cheeTfully, from her rocking chair on
the front piazza. But maybe therell
be somebody along presently ON their
way to North Adams. ] ou might stick
it in the railing in case anybody does
come" she added.
Kitty sauntered to the fence and
leaned over the railing. But no one
was in sight.
Suppose walk over to North
Adams myself" suggested she. rs it
far2" She tapped the belated en-
VelOpe against her small white teeth.
Land yes, child! ITS
The gate of the "other house"
/ ereaked as it was pulled open. They
could always hear that gate creak.
Mrs. Barnes stopped rocking and look
ed uD the road.
Here comes Professor Thornton" she
said placidly. But of course. We
"H'm!' murmured Kitty absently,
| why not2'
The professor was d tall, aristocratic
looking man of middle age. AS he ap-
| preached, followed by a handsome coll
/ lie, Kitty went to the gate and held out
her letter with frank, winning smile:
If you're going to the village would
you mind mailing this for me2" said
she gravely. I should be very much
obliged.
Mrs. Barnes from the rocker on the
piazza, looked at the girl with mild re-
proach, but met no glance of apology.
kitty's wide gray eyes were following
| Professor. ThorntOns aristOcratic flg-
ure down the road and evolving some
questions. She turned abruptly:
who is he2 Why did you hesitate
about asking him? Don't you think
he'll mail it all right2 It's to mother
and it's very important, and you don't
think he'll drop it, do you?
And what Mrs. Barnes therupon told
her was. in substance, if not in words,
something like this:
He was Professor Hamilton Thornton,
of New York city, serving, as MS mis-
tress, Star-eyed Science. But of Woman
(xith a capital W) and her Ways IAN
other capital w he was totally isno-
rant The iciest of iced water vas
warnl-so rumor had ito the look he
| bestowed upon women.
"Aud how ever you braced up spunk
enough to ask him to mail that letter,
concluded Mrs. Barnes, rocking way
back Il don't know.
'Ho! humi'' yawned Kitty. well.
the woods for mine.'' and with a nod Of
farewell she passed out OF the gate.
over the slippery needles she went
till she reached a tall tree whose si1aft
went straight up, not bothering itself
with branches for thirty feet. kIere she
threw herself down and leaned back in
the embracing roots. plying the people
in towns, and heavinS a sign OF satls-
faction.
If only dear mother could be with
me. though said she mentally But
of course it's impossible. Oh, TINS
oxerty-stricl1en. WOrK-a-day world!
She couldn't help thinking of the pretty
little estate in Virginia which yielded
nothing. and of the subsequent hard
ships which she and her fraii, delicate
mother We're enduring.
"WeH. the doctor said If I'd stop
fretting and would try to enjoy every
moment of my month here in these
fragrant hills I'd be I'll right for my
winter work So I'm only going TO
think of pleasure, and-and bracing
things And while the resinous PARK
gave forth its spicy smell reclining
against the roots of the pine tree, she
laziIy watched the small and active IN
sects which went pottering about the
needles and moss and soft earth
"Oh it's delicious, and Eestful[so
arms above her head.
THAT night instead of lighting nef
bed room candle, she went 70 tne VIZ VIZ
dow through whose uncurtained frame
t5e moonlight poured in. 1t was sun
unheld by the volume Of ThackeIay
a1d nv the high-heeled slipper 1he
Octoher night air was quite chilly, tnere
vas too much of it. Kitty Lhcughs'
while she was getting feaoy LOl Dlssl 49,
she'd close it from below, and prone
q 60 s9i sfaying the sash with her right
shoulder. she tried to extrlcate the sup
ner and the book. But. alas! the sllpt 5li2t
per eluded her and tulnDied Heel ms
into the path below; - ,,,, and
F5itty's first thought was to run anu anu
eatcb II hack. But she was utterly
sleepy. iser ~Oh, phawl" yawned sne'
sl1JpS ..,,bsts the use? I'll get it in the morn
ing. 1t isn't going to rain' the
cram full Of stars
The next morning very early, Prince. !
the big collie, came running IN 70 ing nis
master. waving his tail excltedly, @ ;r,,sa,e a1,1
dropped something at his feet, -, AiiT,., fhs |
no lleartItIug. 'pirlI hefeyed him expectantly
Professor Thornton looked az tlis |
thing which Prince had deposited at MS |
feet without touching II. r,,+
r. was slipper, he saw now Bul
~ ;ncredibly tiny it looked on MS |
e0pause es0 Of floor, how helpless and v1Sss 1851.
= -.iol-ed II IN a bit gingerly W ~, |