Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-15

ana went out Tor walk. tie was I'M
maculately clad "a silk, hat, light
spring overcoat, gloved and carried q
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 gone
far before it was dangling under his
heels. He stopped near stone stoop
and. putting his foot upon a lower
step, was about to tie it when he
discovered that it was broken. Not
only was 1t broken, but broken in the
middle. and in order to right 1t he must
take it out readjust one half Of it 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
undigniied position he busted or the
step with his snow white handkerchief,
seated himself and went to work. Hav-
ing withdrawn the string in endeayor-
ing TO get 1t back in place he discover
ed that the metal tip had been fiattened
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.
Mr.. 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 endesvored
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 to replace the
[ broken string. Finding a narrow rib
| bon she detached 1t and handed 1t to
! the handicapped man, but the look of
despair in his face at being able to in
troduce 1t into his shoe so affected her
that. taking off her gloves, she intro
/ duced the ribbon with her own deft
fingers. Harry put on the shoe, tied
the ends of the ribbon. then rising
shook the leg of his trousers down over
il. He was profuse in his thanks. lift
ed his hat with bow he had often
practiced before the glass. and the girl
who had succored him passed on. All
that was left Of her was q blue ribbon
8 quarter Of an inch wide and about
sixteen inches long.
When Spangler returned to his home
he took the ribbon out of his shoe,
smoothed cut the kinks and contem-
plated it as a valued memento of the
girl whose charming person it had dec
grated aud whose fingers had placed II
in his shoe. Then folding 1t two or
three times. he ran 1t through the but
tonhole of his coat. tied it in a bow
knot aud vowed he would leave 1t
there till he should meet the donor
again.
Mr.. Spangers mind was not so full
OF important subjects but that there
was room for n pretty girl who had
given him a smile for himself and a
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 I'm the neiGhborhood of violets
TO rubbing AGAINST malodorOus shoe
. rlIckinE. 1t kept fresh in his mind
that pink and white complexion. those
eyes of the heavens own blue. those
coils Of blond shining in the sunlight
that dainty figure. displayed by fash
ionabE cut costume.
Spangler never went out on to the
street without wearing the ribbon TIED
in n butterfly knot in his buttOnhoe
Several months passed without his
meeting the donor again. when one
Cay, turning corner. he came sudden
~ upon her. She passed him without
rny sign Of recognition whatever
. though he caught her gaze momentari
Iy fastened on the ribbon in his but
tonhole. notwithstanding that il would
not have been etiquette for her to no
, tlce 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 throng, and h'
did not know that he should ever NEE
> her again.
But, hopeful. he continued to veal
the ribbon. Every day for a year HI
her. fancying that she might have &C
a cHsion Mt times to pass that way; yc
r saw her there no more But one gali
] day while standing on a curb where 1
0 crowd had gathered to see a processioi
D pass he turned. and there in window
I with others was the girl who wa
| haunting him. He stood looking up a
her for some time. but whether sh,
saw him or whether she was ignoran
p. OF his presence he could not tell A
T any rate. she ignored him. LOath a
he was to leave her without learning
. something by which he might trac
/ her. he felt Obliged TO move on lest sh
: consider HIS stare an impertinence
Spangler felt that the girl had an nd
vantage over him and was holding O
to it. maa Who wishes the acduain1
:, ance OF a lady must find the means 70
8 an Introduction There Is among r.
fined women that gateway which mus
n be passed before the two can hav
g anything in common II the lady
about 10 sail Tor the other side Of II
world and the man she would like
know stands beside her, it is a poll
# honor yrrft