The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1910-04-30

at were those he was after. While the
clerk was engaged in doing MP MS
package, Tom inquired of him how
long the shoe had been on tle mar
Eet.
We have had our stock Of them
but four days. 1 have sold a dozen
pairs myself-the first pair on the
day before Yesterday
The very day / found the clay
thought Tom. I'll wager anything
it was the shoe Of this first customer
that made my imprint. My task
grows easier. Now to find out all
1 can about the purchaser" He con-
tinued aloud "And SO the lady was
quick to recognize the merits OF the
new footwear"
'I1deed she was; and such styl-
ish young lady, too"
"Wno was she? You have so in
terested me in this shoe business that
I would like to know her name
cab! There is where you get me;
I never met her before"
pointment. but the clerk did not un-
derstand it. The man who was IN
search OF an ideal could elicit no more
information here, SO, paying LOT MS
purchase, he left the store.
When next Harry Hall entered the
apartments of Tom Stanton, he
thought he had grounds for the be-
lief that his friend was insane upon
at least two subjects-shoes and
ideals; for, occupying a prominent
position upon the richly carved man
telpiece. was a pair Of ladies shoes.
He stared at them. then at Tom
tom, what does this mean?' ne
asked.
What does what mean?"
+ "Confound it, the shoes, Why are
such things on your mantel? why
are they in your possession at all?
Are you a lunatic? 1 cannot under
stand you of late?"
"Well, Hal, I am not crazy, nor am
I the towns idiot. 1 purchased those
shoes to-day, and if my hopes do not
prove Elusive, I have reason to be-
lieve that my future wife will yet
wear them. / say, are they not beau
ties?"
"Your-your what?" gasped Har-
ry. "The idea of a man buying shoes
for his future wife when he hasn't
so much as an inkling of who will I'LL
that position, If it is ever filed
which is very doubtful in my mind.
Tom, you have taken leave of your
senses"
"Not at all, my friend. But I am
on the track of the future Mrs.
Thomas Stanton. Listen, and I'll tell
you all about it,"
'All right-I'm all attention.
$50 you see," Tom said in conclu-
sion, "the case has narrowed down
to this; l have but to find the pur-
chaser of that first pair of shoes to
accomplish the first half of my task;
the future bride will have been dis
covered. The second half of the task
will be to win her, and 1 am self-con-
fident enough to believe l can do it.
"Ha! ha! ha, Ho. no! ho." Har-
ry broke out into hearty laughter.
well, what is so funny"
BEG your pardon, Tom, but it is
enough to make any one laugh! Ha!
ha. ha! Just to think if it should
turn out to DE the case.'
eff what should be the case?"
Suppose after all your trouble, the
wearer of the shoe proves to be a
married woman"
Stanton started back in his chair
with an i'll suppressed groan. Why
had that thought never occurred to
him? But it was too late to back
down. And, after all, the chances
that the unknown was not married
were at least equal to the ones that
she was.
Il hadn't thought of that" he said,
after he had somewhat recovered
from the shock.
Then isn't it about time you be-
gan? And now I have something to
tell you. Marguerite Hazelton, my
charming cousin, has been at the
home o. my aunt for the past week.
She is the sweetest little creature
you could dream ola temper as
sweet as June rose, and with more
sense than twenty average girls COM
bined. Give up this wild goose chase
for an unknown ideal, and try to win
the affection of the fair Marguerite.
She is just dying to meet my chum.
Will you go to see herr"
eff you desire it," was Stanton s
half-hearted reply.
The following afternoon, while the