Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-04-12

Blue Ribbon
l. Served For a Shoestring.
and Thereby Hangs
the Tale
BY r. a. mitchell

BY r. A. mitchell

Harry Spanglcr q light hearted young
NAN Of twenty. opened the front door
and went out for walk lie was i'm
maculately clad = silk hat. light
spring overcoat. gioyed and carried a
cane There Is always weak spot
somewhere about u.s. and the weak
spot IN Mr.. Spnngler's attire was one
fraycd shoestring lie had not gone
far before II was dangling under his
heels lie stopped near a stone stoop
and. putting his foot upon "A lower
step. was about To tie IL when he
discovered that II was broken Not
only was II broken. but broken in the
middle. and in order 10 right 1t he must
take il out. readjust one half Of II and
throw the other half away.
10 do this necessitated sitting down
on the stone step and taking or his
shoe. Looking about him 10 see that
no one was near To see him in such an
nndiguiiied position he busted OF the
step with his snow white handkerchief
seated himself and went TO work lIav-
Ing withdrawn the string In endeavor
ing to get II back in place he discover.
ed that the metal tip had been iiattened
and would not 20 into the holes. The
cut end would not 30 In without the
skill of needle thrcnder. lie sue
ceeled. however In doing the job
when he discovered that the string
could not he tied. one end being made
shorter than the other
Mr.. Spangler was sitting there look
ing at the shoe when along came i
young lady couple Of years his Junior
dressed as Immediately as he and
withal very pretty. She endeavored
TO repress smile at the situation
which she took In al once. then in the
kindness OF her heart began To feel
over her corsage her shoulders. for
something with which To replace the
broken string. Finding narrow rib
bon she detached II and handed 1t to
the handicapped man. but the look OF
despair In his face Mt being able 10 In.
troduce IL into his shoe so affected her
that. taking of her gloves. she intro
duced the ribbon with her own def
fingers. Harry put on the shoe tied
the ends Of the ribbon. then rising
shook the leg of his trousers down over
II. He was profuse in his thanks. lift.
ed his hat with n bow he had often
praciiced before the glass. and the girl
who had succorcd him passed on All
that was left OF her was a blue ribbon
quarter Of an inch wide and about
sixteen inches long
When Spangler returned 10 his home
he took the ribbon ont OF his shoe.
smoothed out the kinks and contem-
plated II as n valued mcmento OF the
girl whose charming person II had dec
Grated and whose fingers had placed II
In his shoe. Then folding II two or
three times. he ran II through the but.
tonhole OF his coat tied Ii In bow.
knot and vowed he would leave II
there till he should meet the donor
again
Mr.. Spangler's mind was not so full
OF important subjects but that there
was room for a pretty girl who had
given him a smile for himsel: and
ribbon for his boot. Whenever he
looked at the ribbon. remembering
where II had been. he was distressed
TO think that II had descended from its
position in the neighborhood Of violets
10 rubbing against malodorous shoe
backing II kept fresh In his mind
that pink ana white complexion. those
eyes OF the heavens own blue those
coils OF blond shining In the sunlight.
that dainty figure. displayed by fash.
ionahly cut costume.
Spangler never went out on 10 the
street without wearing the ribbon tied
In n butterfly knot I'm his buttonhole
Several months passed without his
meeting the donor again. when one
day. turning corner. he came sudden
~ upon her She passed him without
any sign ~ recognition whatever
though he caught her gaze momentum
~ fastened on the ribbon In his but
tonholc. Notwithstanding that II would
not have been etiquette for her 10 no
tice stranger. even though she had
succored him In distress. he felt hurt
that she had not shown some evidence
Of having met him before But she
passed on in among the ihrong. and h
ala not know that he should ever meet
her again.
But. hopeful. he continued 10 weai
the ribbon Every day for n year he
turned the corner where he had met
her fancying that she might have oc
casion AZ times 10 pass that way. yet
saw her there no more. But one gala
day while standing on curb where
crowd had gathered 20 see procession
pass he turned. and there IN window
with others was the girl who WAS
haunting him. He stood looking mn NJ
her for some time. but whether she
saw him or whether she was ignorant
Of his presence he could not tell ~
any rate. she ignored him. Loath ms
he was 20 leave her without learning
something by which he might trace
her. he felt Obliged 20 move on lest she