The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1906-12-01
Little Red Shoes.

What dear little red shoes!n said Mrs Gar.
nett pauslng IN front of a window on the Corso in
Rome. I'm sure they would Just fit babv.''
men think we had better go in and buy
them, Mr. Garnett's eyes twinlled, "for Ellen
ought to have pair of shoes. 1t must be whole
week since she had any new ones"
But these are so cunning Toni Think how,
pretty they would look running round the deck of
the steamer! o, Tom, isn't it nice that in two
weeks we shall be sailing When l think that baby
hasn't seen her native land yet I can hardly wait
to get home. It's really sad not to be born in ones
native land"
Then YOU a subject for commiseration. for
after bull like that I'm convinced Ireland must
be your native land"
Mrs. Garnet Joined in her husbands merry
laugh and, drawing her arm through his said:
Now you must buy those shoes lust to make nm
Tor poling fun at me-
1t IS impossible to say which enjoyed and adj
mlred the red shoes the more that afternoon baby
Ellen or her mother The nurse took the child for
a promenade in front of the hotel, and Mrs Gar
nett, ostensiby reading on the balcony watched
almost every step of the proud little feet so daint-
lily shod in shiny red leather.
fortnight later at Naples, Mr.. Garnett ten
DERBY supported his wife as they walked up the
gangplapk of a great steamer. She leaned heavily
on his ARM and all the sparkle was gone from her
glrlsh face. Listess and wan, she sank into deck
CHAIR and the boat left Its mornings she hid her
face III her arms, anxious to shut away forever the
sight of the Italian Shores where baby Ellen stricl-
en- with fierce, sudden fever, lay in the English
burning ground.
q think" said the ships doctor, the third day
out, when, grave and worn, Mr.. Garnett came to
him for advice, that if your wife would cry or give
way IN any manner TO her grief she would be bet
ter. She must be reused from her apathetic con-
dition. 1t is dangerous"
yes, she grows weaker hourly" answered Mr.
Garnett sadly. He returned to Mrs Garnett and
pn1+ i,,4o a e
the voyage, bat without success.
That evening weary and discouraged Mr.. Gar
nett stroled among the steerage passengers trying
to put away the fearful dread of double sorrow
that was fast growing in his heart. A beautiful
darl-eyed baby toddling toward him. with one tiny
foot bare and the other in a worn shoe and stock
ing, brought a fleeing smile to his lips. He stroked
the cloud of soft brown locks, and the mother,
pleased the attention. explained that Annunciata
had lost her shoe the dock the day they sailed.
and that she insisted upon wearing the she had
left.
May [ borrow your baby for a little while :"
asked Mr.. Garnet, with fair imitation of the
mothers Neapotan dialect And, holding out his
arms to Alnunciata, she came to him with sweet
confidence.
Dear" he said. few minutes later, standing
before Mrs. Garnett here is small felow-voy
ager who needs pair Of shoes. Can we fit her
outI
90 Tom :" she cried. and the swift look Of pain
which came into her face almost broke his resolu
ion.
Shall ! help you find a pair. We can take lit
tie Annunciata into the stateroom with us. Come"
Mrs. Garnet rose and slowly followed her hus-
band. He placed the baby the berth and I'M
locked one of the steamer trunks.
"Ellens things are here, aren't they, dear!" he
asked. as calmly as he could. And Mrs. Garnett
lnelt down and lifted the little garments out of
the trunk until she came to pair of shiny red
shoes; then she burst into passion of weeping.
so wild and uncontrolled that Annunciata cried in
fright.
For a moment Mr.. Gamett feared that the food
of sorrow would be too much for her, and he was
about to try to calm her when she brushed away her
tears and said, sobbing:
"I'll put them on the child myself
In a minute the bewildered Annunciata was on
her lap gazing rapurousy at the bright shoes that
trembling fingers were fastening ON her little feet.
Then two hungry arms held her in long embrace,
which. for the sake Of the red shoes, perhaps An
nmciata bore without protest.
Now take her to her mother, Tom. She must
want her. And, Tom, when you come back think
can talk to you of Ellen
Mr. Gamett lifted the baby and kissed has wlfe's
check and the gentle tears there gave him new
lope.-Y ouths Companion.