The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-11-21
A Broken
Shoestring
BY MARTHA v. MONROE

that was not my home a friend. who
wished to show me some attention. but
was obliged to be absent during NY
sojOurn, gave me an invitation card to
one of the meetings of a dancing club
OF which he was member. To kill
time l concluded to so. but l knew
none of the ladies who would be there.
nor was there any person to introduce
me. Had my friend who gave me the
invitation been there l would undoubt-
edly have enjoyed the evening. AS 1t
was l had very slow time.
] saw there a young lady who was
evidently similarly situated as l was.
She was very attractive looking, but
was nevertheless a wallfiower. l would
have been glad to know her. but
could only do so by addressing her
without an introduction, which ] had
not the assurance to do. She saw me
looking at her wistfully, and l saw an
amused smile on her face in conse-
quence. This should have encouraged
me to speak to her. but was fearful
not have been so backward.
But the wallfower. A few days
after the dance while passing along
the street saw a young lady with her
foot on step trying to tie her shoe.
1t Is not an easy matter for a woman
on the street carrying q parasol and
reticule to do this, so volunteered to
do 20 hnr
l bent over her foot, and while pulling
on the string it broke. l Immediately
took off one Of my own shoes, placed
it where she could rest foot on 1t.
removed the shoe with the broken
string and substituted my own shoe
string. Then. the shoe business set
tied. l turned and looked at her.
She was the wallflower l had seen
a few evenings before.
Her smile indicated that she recog-
nized me. Indeed. 1t was the same
amused smile l had seen on those
same lips. However. she treated me
as a stranger to her. but asked me for
my pocketknife and. cutting or a bit
Of loose trimming from her dress.
handed it to me, with the wof1s:
'The only return I can make for
your shoestring."
She passed on. and I stood gaping
after her. cursing myself for a fool
that had not had the courage to ask
an acquaintance, for by her gift she
certainly conveyed what constituted
permission for me to address her.
My courage came. but too late.
started after her. but she went up
steps leading to a front door. The
mink saw me coming and doubtless
knew what I was about to do. With
the same amused smile she entered the
house and closed the door behind her.
1t was in part that amused smile
which showed me how backward had
been. and 1 was now brave enough in
all conscience. But what could I do?
Suppose l should follow her into the
house. Even If such an act were not
a, breach Of propriety it might serious
~ compromise her before others and
would surely be embarrassing for me
/ couldn't loiter about the door waiting
for her to come out. All / could do
was to give the matter up. trusting
that she lived In the house she entered,
and If she did might by passing 1t
frequently catch sight of her again.
But my stay In the city came to an
end. and, though I spent hours watch
Ing the house from distance, | did
not see her. went home. wearing the
bit of cord she had given me in my
buttonhole. and continued to wear /.
indefinitely. One day some months
after my return. When driving an auto
on the street. ! passed another car
driven by chauffeur, and on the rear
seat was my girl Of the shoestring. l
saw her eyes fixed on her gift in my
same amused smile.
What COMPOUNDED luck! Had ! met
her on the ground l could have done
something to end these happenings,
but in car going at the rate Of twelve
miles an hour. while she was In another
moving at the same rate. there was no
hope. Nevertheless l slowed up and
turned. But the street was not wide
enough to turn without backing. ard
by the time | got around ! saw the
other auto quite distance ahead. !
put on power to take me at a rate of
forty miles an hour. A policeman on
a motorcycle ordered me to stop. !
drove on without paying any attention
to him. He gave chase. lust as over
took the auto / followed a pistol shot
cracked. and the rear wheel Of my auto
collapsed The policeman had put II
bullet into it.
The chauffeur Of the other auto. hear
ing q noise behind him. pulled to the
curb and stopped. The young lady on
the rear seat looked back and took In
the situation.
If man is going to have courage he
should have it at once. My putting
off taking the risk of snub placed me
in a very ridiculous and trying posi-
ton.
what were you doing going at such
n rate?" asked the cop.
81 was chasing"--
I stopped What fool to begin In
such q way. The dear girl came to my
rescue and put me to the blush for my
10 Urn rdnaSs M the same time