The Forrest City times., 1909-03-19


 slipped off the foot Of an exquisite young man al reception at one of the leading salons of Paris. My eminentIy correct readers need not turn up their afisfocratic noses al the vulgar lack of delicacy betrayed by my exquisite yedug man. Let him among you who does not adore a dainty foot cast the fsst stone.
 octave Latournelle-that is my ex- qHisite young mans name-was not oHlY q perfect dancer: he possessed net only two very nimble legs. but two very nimble hands. whereof the adroi,- ness was the admiration of all his friends. Indeed. the most expert con lurer would not have been ashamed to l own him for pupil At his word of command, watches passed from one 1 pocket to another, gold coins vanished into thin air. flowers grew upon him 1 IS If OH a magical bush-he drew them l forth from his pockets. his sleeves. his i waistcoat, his cravat. in quantities sufficient to decorate the corsages of all the ladies preesnt. and this. after l having. by way of preamble. turned his l pockets inside out, rolled up his sleves. and opened his waistcoat. In l word, he was the enehanter of the l best drawing rooms and the spoiled child Of the ladies
 Perhaps. rather than the spoiled child he considered himself the petted darling. Al any rate. ne was in love and he made the fact known with the audacity that often gives success. The object of his adoration was the young wife of Gen Pascalon-it is only the husbands rank that restraints ne from mentioning the disparity of their ages. But all generals have young wives, which is only another proof that the truly brave do not re- coil from dangers of any kind It is traditional. in cases of this kind, that the husband should be jealous, but Gen Pascalon was not SO But, if he was not an Othello. neither was he a fool. Trusting in the loyalty of his young wife. he cherished no illusions He enjoyed many a Palais-Royal farce with his wife by his side. more often han not. which was imprudent. per hapS-but he also escorted her to balls never pleading his age as an excuse. and waited patiently for her till after the cotillon; and to all appearances his wife was quite content.
 Perhaps she was so. But there were plenty of young fellows who would lock down al you from the high SUI periority Of their p years if you ven tured to express such an idea. and say:
 With an old fellow like that Really, you are too refreshing"
 The general was not to be laughed at. He knew his danger. not only be- fore all the world had seen il, but be fore anyone else suspected it. and he saved his honor like a man of intell- sence-which. indeed, he could have done in no other way
 And this brings us down al last 10 the vanished slipper of the exquisite young man
 l have said that the affair took place Tn the midst of reception. Dancing Was going on in the larger rooms the general was chatting with some Of the older guests in small room adioin- ing the one set out with card tables. He happened to glance carelessly toward the players, and started sud denly in surprise.
 Bless me said he, putting up his glasses, there's my wife at a whist able certainly thought she was Vatzing CT polkains or something. and there she is playing whist
 \ ioslle knocking his glasses from his eyes as he reached the whist table, he stopped to pick them up. and saw beneath the table slipper. d pafent-leather pump, from which its tenant had escaped and now. sl.nd oaly in fine black silk hose was lov- lasly earessing the little foot of the generals wife But he also noticed hat the latter constantly avoided he leot that SO consistently pursued her own.
 Hum H said the general. taking in the situation at glance. the fortress IS attacked but il is well defended have arrived just in time Then -mliing calmly as if he had seen uoth- ing, leaning oyer his wife's chair que= liening and advising hee play. he de. voted himself 10 a feat thai would have furnished a dramatist with an l.- reslstibly comic theme. considering tha difficulties of the situation. The gen efal had undertaken to draw toward h5m with the rip of his boot the absn. doned slipper. provoking every instant sadden jerks from iostled feel Pfofes- at.ous from disturbed players. aston shed lcoks from those wha could see he extraordinary movements Of his leg and the remenstrauce from his Wife:
 My dear, what makes you knock mE chair abou' so? You are giving me a headache
 M tE.s moment the mistress of fhe house came up to ask Latoulrellc if hs would net perform one of his anus