Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-01-19
LITTLE RED SHOES.
They Brought the Tears that Pos.
sfbly Saved n Life.

Mrs. Garnett, pausing In front of
window on the Corso In Rome I'm
sure they would just nt baby"
Then 1 think We had better 90 In
and buy them" Mr.. Garnett's eyes
twinkled, "for Ellen ought to have a
pair OF shoes. 1t must be a whole week
since she had any new ones"
But these are SO cunning, Tom
Think how pretty they would look run
ming round the deck OF the steamer. o.
Tom, isn't 1t nice that In two weeks we
shall be sailingl When l think that
baby hasn't seen her native land yet,
can hardly wait to get home. It's real
ly sad not TO be born In ones native
land"
Then you are a subject for commits
GRAFTON, for after a bull like that I'm
convinced Ireland must be your native
land"
Mrs. Garnett Joined In her husbands
merry laugh, and drawing her arm
through his, said, Now you must buy
those shoes sust TO make up for poking
fun at me-"
and admired the red shoes the more
that afternoon, baby Ellen or her moth
er. The nurse took the child for
promenade In front OF the hotel, and
Mrs. Garnett. ostensibly reading on the
balcony, watched almost every step OF
the proud little feet, so daintily shod In
shiny red leather.
A fortnight later, at Naples, Mr.. Gar
nett tenderly supported his wife as they
walked up the gangplank OF a great
steamer. She leaned heavily on his
arm, and all the sparkle was gone from
her girlish face. Listless and wan, she
sank into a deck chair, and as the boat
left Its moorlngs, she hid her face in
her arms anxious to shut away forever
the sight of the Italian shores, where
baby Ellen, stricken with a fierce, sud
dent fever, lay in the English burying-
ground.
81 think" said the ships DOCTOR the
third day out, when, grave and worn,
Mr.. Garnett came to him for advice
that II your wife could cry, or give
: way in any manner to her grief, she
would be better She must be reused
} from her apathetic condition. 1t is dan
gerous."
Eyes, she grows weaker hourly" an
swered Mr.. Garnett, sadly. He return
ed to Mrs. Garnett and tried to rouse
} her interest In some of the events OF
the voyage, but without success.
That evening. weary and discouraged,
Mr. Garnett strolled among the steer
age passengers, trying to put away the
fearful dread of double sorrow that
was fast growing in his heart A beau
tiful, dark-eyed baby toddling toward
him with one tiny foot bare and the
, other In a worn shoe and stocking
brought fieeting smile TO his lips. He
, stroked the cloud OF soft brown locks,
so different from Ellen's sunny curls,
and the mother, pleased at the atten-
. tlon, explained that Annunciata had
lost her shoe ON the dock the day they
, sailed, and that she insisted upon wear
. ing the one she had left.
. May borrow your baby for little
6 while?' aslSod AR Garneft with a fair
Imitation OF the mothers pretty Neapol-
[ itan dialect and holding out his arms
to Annunciata, she came to him with
sweet confidence
Dear" he said, few minutes later,
@ standing before Mrs. Garnett, here Is
b small fellow voyager who needs a
d pair OF shoes. Can we fit her out?"
y 20 Tom !" she cried, and the swift
T look OF pain which came into her face
s almost broke his resolution.
e "Shall l help you find a pairf We
: can take little Annunclata into the
stateroom with us. Come"
= Mrs. Garnett rose and slowly follow
e ed her husband He placed the baby
L on the berth and unlocked one of the
+ steamer trunks.
"Ellen's things are here, aren't they,
dearY he asked, as calmly as he could ;
and Mrs Garnett knelt down and lifted
the little garments out OF the trunk
!, until she came to pair Of shiny red
; shoes then she burst into a passion OF
: weeping, so wild and uncontrolled that
Annunciata cried in fright
For a moment Mr.. Garnet feared
. that the flood 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, sobblng
;. III put them on the child myself"
: In minute the bewildered Annun-
i ciata was on her lap, gazing rapturous-
|. ly at the bright shoes that trembling
J. fingers were fastening on her little feet
Z Then two hungry arms held her in q
, long embrace, which, for the sake OF
l. the red shoes, perhaps. Annunclata bore
/ without protest.
Now take her to her mother. Tom
, She must want her. And, Tom, when
you come back l think | can talk to
t you OF Ellen"
e Mr.. Garnett lifted the baby and
/ kissed his wife's cheek, and the gentle
e tears there gave him new hope
Youths Companion.