Smyrna times., 1906-06-20

halt.a@.y toward the pocket. then rap
iGly away from it. toto
"Oh, pray cont feel any obligation
in the matter" was the hint, with just
a bit Of ice in the tone.
ITO avail myself Of the most fortu-
nate opportunity that ever befell an
undeserving beggar." he finished,
laughing hilariously as he assisted her
70 her feet-that is to say, her foot.
Mere words cannot approximate the
delight of that trip in the neighbOring
much too neighborin0 camp. They
laughed like children and clutched
each other in frantic mirth. And with
what exceeding care and deliberate
ness it was necessary to proceed The
most inoffensive pebble was occasion
for wide detour, i'll spite of the la
mentable fact that it increased the dis
tance And did the little unshOd silken
foot so much as caress the ground in
its wabbling career Dudley was ready
to weep in wOrshipful contrition. 1t
was almost too much joy to discover
IL NhC NOul sc VI lliC ny NlCt lCdl
sation that this was Tom Hutton's
ranch-dear old Tom that he hadn't
seen since the college days-and Gin
derella his wife's guest.
But, as all pleasant moments come to
an end. so must this, as Cinderella
dropped, tired, but still merry, into a
chair on the bungalow piazza.
nd ho, I
ly, looking down upon her with COM
pelling eyes, caused his heralds-no;
| think you know what the prince did
without my telling you.'
"Ah," she cried, her own eyes falling
under his scrutiny. 'but first you've to
find the slipper"
"Yes, first I've to find the slipper
And when it is fOunu I've the advan-
tage of knowing where dwells Cinder-
ella-and that the slipper will fit
(Which last is yet to be provenr'-
teaSingly.
May put it to the test?" he begged.
"Oh, Faintheart" she whispered
mockingly. TRY and see.'
Whereat Dudley began most pecul-
lar course of behavior Going quickly
| around the corner of the cabin. he
bumped his head softly several times
| against the logs, gave himself a vio-
lent shake and then strobe through the
trees to the low rock in the little clear
/ ed space at the edge of the bluff. Sit
ting down. he plunged an empty hand
into the deep pocket and brought it out
full of stout brown walking boot of
small dimensions.
To his credit be it said that there
was self denunciation in his aspect as
he sat turning it ,miserably over and
over. Oh, yes; of course he'd had il
there all the while. Well, hadn't he
tried to let her have it at the very
first, and didn't she keep interruptine
till he couldn't-that is to say, didn't
want to? SUPPOSE he was the biggest
cad on record, he'd wager no fellow
ever had better excuse! Hang it
What did she have to look at him that
way for? How could he deliberately
hand the thing over and put an end t.
the happieSt few moments he'd evel
spent, or ever expected to spend, fol
that matter? For surely by this fool
ishness he'd dished any prospects o.
further acquaintance about as effec
lively as possible Well, anyhow, thi
was torture; might as we'll have tn,
confession over with and go off ant
shoot himself.
In three minutes he was back. TIL,
trial trip had taken twenty to navi
gate. She was waiting and still alone
Oh, yes; rub it in! She might hav,
cared if he hadn't spoiled it all.
Most eager knightp' she called il
greeting. WAS it wings? Nothin;
else could have taken you down tn
ravine and up again in this time"
For answer he knelt without a wOrI
and put the fateful shoe in place wit
elaborate care. He would have tina
privilege before he forfeited her favo
forever. Then
Il found it in the ravine before
climbed up at ALL" he said abruptly
1T was in my pocket all the while
Now send me away, for 1 can't go III
less you do
But Cinderella leaned forward to tax
his remorseful face between two bu
terfy hands
'Oh, boy, boy" she cried softly
most innocent of boys! Did you thin
l didn't know? / saw you pick it u
down below-no, you shall have all tn
TRUTH it fell let it fall because
saw you"'
Just then Tom Hutton, comm
around the corner of the house, dC
cided he could quite as we'll postpon
his errand.