Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-10-31
EVENING SHORT STORY.
THE SHOES IN
THE CORRIDOR.
BY W. S. DEAN.


room. He had forgotten which floor
it was on, but he could tell by the
numbers on the doors. y
AT the third landing he stopped to
regain his breath.
Tired" he muttered, as he tilted
his opera hat to the, back of his head.
These hotels are like Jacobs ladder
when it comes to stair climbing"
Suddenly his eye was arrested by
the daintiest pair of shoes he had
ever seen. Dick advanced for a closer
inspection.
"A girl with a foot like that" he
apostrophized, must be perfect. A
dream of a foot should like to
know that girl. I've never seen any
thing prettier than those little shoes!"
Next day he made friends with
more walters before breakfast and
lunch time than he had previously met
in years of travel-until he found the
right n
Then he learned who "she" was.
At three tables distance Dick Mostyn
capitulated to the charms OF Miss
Beryl Ferney the same evening at
dinner. She was prettier even than
he had imagined she would be-from
her shoes.
In the buffet later on Dick c%ontrived
to give Ferney pere the impression
afterwards communicated to Ferney
mere-that he was a nice young fell
low"
Official introduction followed in the
d~rawing-room. She seemed shy at
first, but any pretty girl would with a
mother and a %lorgnette lowering in
the vicinity.
When Dick had switched off the
paternal conversation, and Mrs. Fer
ney had gone to finish a letter, he and
Berry, got IN well enough.
Before they parted he had learned
that rubies were her favorite stone,
that she thought the "veronique'
waltz the prettiest dance music this
season, that she eve missed a char
ity ball, and that she intended shop
ping for mother" next afternoon.
Dick also "shopped' that day, and
the pleasure Of meeting was naturally
quite unexpected" on both sides.
Nor did Beryl seem to mind Dicks
compliments. They had a ring of sin
cerity about them that both pleased
and charmed her. +
They were often together in the
days that followed, and each night
Dick walked upstairs to his oom
after he had finished his last cigar.
Tbncn doinfy chnoc IN tho third HnnrN
landing appealed to his sense of the
artistic. Besides, he was much in
love.
Don't you think" he said to Beryl
one evening, that small things fire.
q~uently shape ones d~estiny?"
Il suppose they do, sometimes" she
replied.
I'm quite sure of it," said Dick, en-
phatically. For instance, | fell in
love with you before | saw YOU, and"
Il didn't know" she began, with a
pleased little blush.
No; | hadn't told you in so many
words, but you must have cen 1t all
along, darling" said Dick, and there
was no one to see him when he kissed
her.
Its so romantic, darling" he said.
"But | did. Two dear little shoes out
side a certain door on the third floor
landing captivated me, and | fell in
love with the owner on the spot, for
| knew she must be an angel"
I'm not an angel" said Beryl, aL-
most tearfully, as a deep blush rolged
her cheek.
But | think you are. dearest said
Dick. And there's no doubt he did.
Next day Beryl was confined to her
room with a severe headache. Dicks
agitation was pitiable. Beryl was evil
IDENTIFY too i'll even to scribble an an
swer to his endearing messages.
Then he heard she had been out.
Dick was at once a prey to all the
anxieties which beset. a lover. She
must be %purposely avoiding him. But
why?
Dick waited about for hours in like
ly places. Even the dainty shoes had
disappeared from the third floor land
ing.
At last, when reduced to the depths
Vi d young mdn ) despair, ne IOunu
her hiding in a corner of the drawing
room. A glance told him she had
been crying.
What does this mean?" he asked,
tenderly. and before she could run
away he had firm hold of her little
hands. why have you been playing
hide and seek and making me miser-
able? And why have o been cry
ing, darling?"
20, II can't tell you. Dick!" and
the soft glow of the shaded lamp made
the tear drops in her eyes more beau
tiful than jewels.
Dick drew her closely to him.
What dreadful thing is it?" he asked,
coaxingly, and with mock seriousness.
"It's-it's the shoes, Dick!" and she
cried gently on his shoulder.
We'll darling. what about them?
Haven't | said they were the sweetest
little shoes in the world?"
Yes, that's the trouble"