Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-03-03
The Romance Of
a Slipper
By Virginia Leila WentE
Copyright, i,o6. bp r.. c. Parcels
BY Virginia Leila W


When Miss Graham had finished her
letter and laid her pen down. she saun-
tered indolently to the small window
and looked across at the pine woods.
II was one of those country windows
to open which demands strength which
Is rs the strength Of ten and which,
when opened. refuse to he closed again
save with the archaic force of a bat
tcrlng ram.
Even though | do live in Harlem
fiat" pondercd Kitty Graham, I've
been accustomed to windows that re
manned up without any visible means
Of support Since I've come to the
Bcrkshircs I've learned better. Seems
to me that one volume of Ihackeray
doesn't keep the window up high
enough" She gaZed scarchingly about
the room. II reckon one of my high
hcclcd slippers viii about do IT," and
she inserted that bit of personal prop
erty with no mean skill. so that the
heel raised the sash two or three inches
higher
THAT isn't much" she concluded, a
| triie warm with the cXcrtion, but it's
something And how delicious that
pine fragrance is She bent her pref
| Is head so that her little nose drew In
long brcaths 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 /
leave my letter here on the table? Or
is 1t too late for the butcher"
"Sakcs alive. Yes. lie was here
fore you was up" returned Mrs.
Barnes chccrfully from her rocking
chair on the front piazza. But maybe
there'll he somebody along presently
on the way 10 North ADAMS You
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 Ad
am, myself" suggested she. "Is it
far?' She tapped the belated envelope
against her small white teeth.
Land. yes. child. It's
The gate of the other house" creak-
ed as it was pulled open. They could
always hear that gate creak Mrs
Barnes stopped rocking and looked up
the road
Here comes Professor Thornton"
she said placidly. but. OF course. we
couldn't ask him"
Him" murmurcd Kitty absently
why not:"
The professor was tall uristUcrat
ic looking man of middle age. AS he
approached. followed by handsome
collie. kittie went 10 the gate aud held
out her letter with frank, winning
smih.
"lf you're going to the village would
you mind mailing this for me?" said
she gravcly. II should be very much
obliged"
Mrs. Rarnes from the rocker on the
piazza looked at the girl with mild
reproach, but met no glance of apology
Kitty's wide gray eyes were following
Professor Thornton's aristocratic fig
ure down the road and evolving some
questions. She turned abruptly.
who is he: Why did you hesitate
about asking him: Don't you think
he'll mail it all right? It's TO mother.
and It's very important, ana you don't
think he'll drop II. do you?"
And what Mrs, Barnes thereupon
told her was In substance If not in
words something like this:
He was Professor Hamilton Thornton
OF New York city serving ms his mis-
tress star eyed science. But of Won
an with n capital W. and her Ways
(another capital w he was totally lg
norant The iciest of iced water was
warm, so rumor had II. 10 the look he
bestowed upon women.
And how ever you braced up spunk
enough to ask him to mail that letter."
concluded Mrs Barnes. rocking way
back. II don't know"
lilo! Hum" yawned Kitty. well.
the woods for mine" And with nod
OF farewell she passed out of the gate.
over the slippery needles she went
till she reached tall tree whose shaft
went straight up, not bothering itself
with branches for thirty feet. Here
she threw herself down and leaned
back In the embracing roots. plying
the people In towns and heaving a
sigh of satisfaction
IF only dear mother could he with
me. though" said she mentally. but of
course it's impossible. oh, this power
~ stricken workaday world She
couldn't help thinking OF the pretty Ill
tie estate in Virginia which yielded
nothing and of the subsequent hard
ship which she and her frail. delicate
mother were enduring.
We'll the doctor said II I'd stop fret
ting and would try 10 enjoy every mo
mcnt Of my month here In these fra
grant hills III be all right for my win
ter work. so I'm only going TO think OF
pleasure nnd-and bracing things"
And while the resinous bark gave forth
its spicy smell. reclining against the