Smyrna times., 1913-04-16
ABlue Ribbon
II Served For a Shoestrins.
and Thereby Hangs
the Tale
BY F. A. mitchell

Harry Spangler. light hearteu young
man OF twenty. opened the front door
and went out for walk. He was i'm.
maculately clad "a silk hat. a light
spring OvercOat. glOved and carried
cane. There is always a weak spot
somewhere about US. and the weak
spot in Mr.. Spangler's attire was one
frayed shoestring. He had not gore
far before 1t was dangling under his /
heels He stopped near a stone stoop |
and. putting his foot upon a lower |
step. was about to tie It ,7hen he |
discovered that It was broker Not !
only was II broken. but broken In the
middle, and In order to right 1t he must
take II out. readjust one half Of II and
throw the other half away.
To do this necessitated sitting down
on the stone step and taking of his
shoe. Looking about him to see that
no one was near to see him in such an
undignifed position he busted OF the
step with his snow white handkerchief.
seated himself and went 10 work. Hav-
ing withdrawn the string In endeavor
ing to get Il back In place he discover
ed that the metal tip had been fiattened
and would not go into the holes. The
cut end would not go IN without the
skill OF a needle threader He sue
ceeded. however. in doing the job
when he discovered that the string
could not be tied. one end being made
shorter than the other.
Asf Spangler was sitting there look
ing at the shoe when along came a
young lady a couple Of years his junior
dressed as Immediately as he and
withal very pretty. She endeavOred
to repress a smile at the situation.
which she took In at once, then in the
kindness OF her heart began to feel
over her cOrsage. her shoulders, for
something with which 10 replace the
broken string. Finding a narrow rib
bon she detached II and handed II tC
the handicapped man. but the look OF
despair in his face az being able 10 In
trOduce II into his shoe so affected hei
that. taking or her gloves. she intro
Guced the ribbon with her own def
fingers. Harry put on the shoe. tie,
the ends OF the ribbon. then risinl
shook the leg OF his trousers down owe
It. He was arofuse In his thanks. lift
ed his hat with a bow he had Oftel
practiced before the glass. and the cir
who had succOred him passed on Al
that was left OF her was a blue rlbbol
a quarter OF an inch wide and abou
sixteen inches long.
| When Spangler returned TO his hOm
he took the ribbon out OF his shc'
smOOthed out the kinks and cOnten
1 plated Il as a valued mementO OF III
girl whose charming person It had de,
grated and whose fingers had placed
in his shoe. Then folding It two q
three times, he ran II through the bu
tonhOie Of his coat tied Il In bow
knot and vowed he would leave
there till he should meet the don,
again.
Mr.. Spangler's mind was not so ~
j OF important subjects but that the
was room for pretty girl who hs
given him a smile for himself and
- ribbon for his boot Whenever
- looked at the ribbon, rememberiI
where Il had been. he was distress
20 think that II had descended from
\ position in the neighborhOOd OF viole
TO rubbing against malOdOrOus sh
blacking. II kept fresh in his mil
that pink and white complexion, tho
eyes OF the heavens own blue. tho
coils Of blond shining in the suniigl
that dainty figure. displayed by a fas
iOnahly cut costume.
Spangler never went out on 20
street without wearing the ribbon Il
in a butterfly knot In his buttOnho
Several months passed without
meeting the donor again. when O
day, turning a corner, he came sudd'
" " upon her. She passed him withC
, any sign OF recognition whatev
of though he caught her gaze moments
" fastened on the ribbon In his b
tOnhOle. Notwithstanding that II wO
not have been etiquette for her TO
tice a stranger. even though she
succOred him In distress, he felt h
that she had not shown some evidei
. OF having met him before. But
passed on I'm among the throng, and
did not know that he should ever m
, her again.
But hopeful. ne continued TO W
the ribbon. Every day for a year
turned the corner where he had
her. fancying that she might have
n casiOn at times TO pass that way:
saw her there no more. But one 3
nifty day while standing on a curb wheE
Re. crowd had gathered 20 see process
pass he turned. and there In a wine
arle- with Others was the girl who
me haunting him. He stood looking al
~, her for some time. but whether
inn saw him or whether she was ignOl
sight Of his presence he could not tell.
ian Jam any rate. she ignored him. LOatl
be was 10 leave her without learI
something by which he might Z
Zoo 100 her. he felt Obliged TO move on lest
Dis consider his stare an impertinence
/. and Spangler felt tnat the girl had an
vantage over him and was holding