Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-02-09
LITTLE RED SHOES.
They Brought the Tears that Poe
sibly saved a Life.


Mrs. Garnett, pauslng in trout of a
window ON the Corso In Rome. I'm
sure they would just fit baby"
Then think we had better 80 In
and buy them" Mr.. Garnetts eyes
twinkled, "for Ellen ought to have a
pair OF shoes. ~ 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 sailing! When l think that
baby hasn't seen her native land yet, l
can hardly walt 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 Garrett Joined In her husbands
merry laugh, and drawing her arm
through his, said, Now you must buy
those shoes Just to make up for poking
juu III HE.
1t is impossible to say which enjoyed
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. Garnet, ostensibly reading on the
balcony, watched almost every step of
the proud little feet, 50 daintily shod in
shiny red leather.
A fortnight later, ut Naples, Mr.. Gar
nett tenderly supported his wife as they
walked up the gangplank of 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 It's 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.
Il think" said the ships doctor, the
third day out, when, grave and worn,
Mr.. Garrett came to him for advice,
that If your wife could cry, or give
way IN any manner to her grief, she
would be better. She must be reused
from her apatAetlc condition. 1t is dan
! gerous.'
yes, she grows weaker hourly" an
swered Mr. Garnet, sadly. He return
ed to Mrs. Garnet 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 a 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 a tleeting smile to his lips. he
stroked the cloud of soft brown locks
and the mother, pleased at the atten
ton, explained that Annunciata haC
lost her shoe on the dock the day they
sailed, and that she insisted upon wear
Ing the one she had left.
May l borrow your baby for a littl,
while?" asked Mr.. Garnett, with faIl
imitation of the mothers pretty Neapol
itan dialect; and holding out his arms
to Annunciata, she came to him Will
sweet confidence.
Dear" he said. few minutes later
standing before Mrs. Garnett, here IL
small fellow voyager who needs O
pair of shoes. Can We tit her out?'
20 Tom - she cried, and the swift
look of pain which came into her face
almost broke his resolution.
"Shall l help you find pair? We
can take little Annunciata into the
stateroom with US. Gomez
Mrs. Garnett rose and slowly follow
ed her husband. He placed the baby
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.. Garnett 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, sobbing:
IN put them on the child myself.
In a minute the bewildered Annun-
riata was on her lap, gazing rapturous-
ly at the bright shoes that trembling
fingers were fastening on her little feet
Then two hungry arms held her in q
long embrace, which, for the sake OF
the red shoes, perhaps, Annunciata bore
without protest
Now take her to her mother, Tom
She must want her And, Tom, when
you come back l think l can talk To