The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-07
THE EVENING STORY
His Lady of the Slipper.

AAoSAuS uGllV0Tou QeT opinion OF
the first act. Miss Whitley leaned
back in her seat and yielded to the
temptation of removing and re-
adjusting her slipper, with her foot
as lever. 1t proved fascinating
progress, and engrossed her attention.
The lights going out recalled her with
a start. The start disturbed the po-
sition of the lever" She CROPPED
madly till she touched the heel of the
truant slipper; then curled her toe
over It's edge. 1t rose on end. her foot
slipped, the slipper shot forward and
she tracked only the bare floor.
| Fred" she whispered. tapping
her companions arm. I've lost a
The curtain had risen on a chorus
OF beauties. Fred being only her
brother, replied: "Oh, never mind,
Wen get it afterward," and be-
slowed all his attention on the
stage.
| But Miss Win1ey's foot was cold.
and poutingly she curled it UP un-
derneath her. Row spaces are not
built to meet such emergencies. and
in settling herself Miss Whitley
ahead and to the left of her Its oc-
cupant turned around, then withdrew
his gaze reluctantly
| Fenshaw was not interested in the
act He began to weigh the assets of
| the chorus against the unusual tint
of Miss Winley's hair. He slouched
back in his seat. to catch another
glimpse of her. He did not turn
again deliberately.
Something impeded the stretch of
his legs. He stopped. stared. and
picked up golden slipper. Graceful,
not much too big for his hands hold
ing, still warm to the touch, it rested
on his flattened palm. Fascinated he
knowing why thrust it stealthfly into
the pocket of his overcoat. A slight
movement from behind distracted him,
and gave excuse to turn and gaze
again upon Miss Whitley. Intuitively
he placed the slippers ownership,
and quickly sought confirmation in her
| expression. But Miss Whitley, adapt
ed to the uncertain gallantry of a
brother, had dismissed the matter
from her mind until after the play.
The cramp from her position was
| alone responsible for her restlessness.
When the curtain dropped so did
! Fred, dutifully, on hands and knees.
Vainly he searched. The people slow
cleared he walked through them,
called the usher, explained how, be-
/ ing slipper, it was impossible for it
to be somewhere around Meanwhile.
Miss Whitley stood on one foot, regard
ing his efforts with mingled disdain
and despair
| Fenshaw. drifting over toward the
side exit, had not gone out. The soli-
4 tary figure attracted her. Their eyes
met. In flash she understood Here
was where he should have come for
ward and ended the quest But he
didn't He closed his hand over the
tell-tale bulge in his pocket and
waited.
you might ask" she began to
Fred. "er-af-don't bother" as he
looked up inquiringly. "Only We'll
have to go home before joining the
crowd. You run ahead and find our
car
She took off her other slipper and
tucked it under her coat.
i "Why?" asked Freddy.
| Easier walking; l refuse to limp"
| you'll catch your death of cold.'
Miss Whitley shrugged her Shout
any rate she philosophical. Then
patheticaHy. "You don't think any
one can notice. do you. If I let my
gown flop?" She trailed majestically,
if cautiously, up the aisle behind him.
her beautiful robe gathering up an
undue share of dust.
She was very angry To be sure,
the man had fine eyes but he also
had her slipper. She felt sure of it;
yet she couldn't tell Fred. 1t was
| so absurd. How could she?
Only few persons remained in
the entrance as she stepped into the
motor. One of these was Fenshaw.
She saw him clearly. He had edged
| CIOSe DIS fToQ dpDTOaCdeQ the chau1-
feur in an endeavor to hear. Miss Win
| ley became enraged. Then suddenly
the lure of the game rose in her veins.
In spirit Of challenge, she leaned
out and called audibly to her brother:
Tell him-home!" and as the
door, closed on them Fenshaw
caught a glimpse of hair as golden
as the slipper that was running the
shape of his pocket and of eyes with
a matching CLEAN of mockery.
| FQnShaW
stage, which is beyond that of the
merely single young man. This does
not mean, however, that he was
without his moments of impulse A
vacant taxi stood encouragingly at
hand. He sprang in.
worth your while to follow and
keep track of that carl" he directed.
Dizzily they spun along to discount
it stopped. So did Fenshaw, slightly
in the rear. He paid extravagantly
for his success. dismissed the taxi,
took accurate note of the house the
Winieys entered, verified the number
as they passed inside, ascertained the
street and then turned homeward with
a tune upon his lips. For was 1t not
Mrs. Hartfield's street ?-sympathet
energetic. matchmaking Mrs. Hart
feIdi And Just three doors below,
too! Surely she knew the glorious
Lady of the slipDeri If that were so.
He laughed aloud at the rosiness
|, OF his outlook.
In the morning he called UP Mrs.
fairfield. No hour was ever too
early for her. She agreed with Gag
erness to his suggestion. She consid-
cred Fenshaw her most obstinate and
at the same time her most worth
while" case. He had never confessed
to need of her before, and his hint of
distress was heartening sign So she
broke an engagement for bridge, and
with the tea table laid and some of her
husbands best cigars at hand an hour
too soon, she sat looking out of her
window, impatiently tapping her foot
in rhythm to the clocks ticking.
Fenshaw was almost prompt He
tarrived exactly on time. and, with q