The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1918-06-28
THE LITTLE SHOE
BY JACK LAYTON.

from the theater. He had been about
to cross the road In order to hail a
taxi, when he noticed q dark object
half buried In the snow at his feet.
Billy's honest face wrinkled In perplex-
ity as he turned the thing over in his
hand, to him 1t looked like a chlld's
bedroom shoe. What else but bed
room shoe would be lined with quilt
ed satin, and furred around the top?
what" muttered Bill, would kid
be doing out In the street in bedroom
slipper?' He passed the question
over to the taxi driver.
"That there's woman's carriage
boot" the man explained
Billy was not offended. He was glad
to find someone to talk to. New York
had given a cold welcome to this big
free-hearted son of the West. Upon the
train coming he had noticed the diff
ference.
In Billy's home town everyone spoke
to everyone else. His car companions
had turned up their collars at his ap-
proach and unsociably lost their faces
within them. Billy was very lonely.
He was discouraged. Perhaps 1t would
have been better to have stayed and
spent his pile In the place where he had
made 1t; he was very sorry that
the age limit prevented him from going
to war, there, one might find comrades
and sympathetic understanding. Even
the home town had failed him In that
The other boys had all married, while
Bill was absorbed In the success of his
fortune. Now they were satisfied In
their homes and he was left outside.
But then, there had never been a girl
to hold his fancy. Bill couldn't tell
why, perhaps because he had continued
in the hope of finding one, like his
mother. She had been such tender
faithful creature. Bill couldn't think
of her yet without lump in his throat
yes, the girls he had met, were differ
ent. So he sat In the taxi looking down
on the little shoe and wondering what
to do with 1t.
Put an ad In the paper" suggested
the still grinning chauffeur. you'll
find. your Cinderella quicker"
The thing really might be valuable,
30 Billy inserted his ad. Brief 1t was.
"Woman's carriage boot found on
Broadway. Apply to Western News
paper Office"
Then because Billy was so very lone
ly In the strange city, and because the
chauffeur had put the thought intoehis
head, he dreamed dream about
possible Cinderella. Wealthy, she
might be, to wear boot like that, but
then his own wealth might match hers
And If she would only be kind-Billys
dream had taken beauty for granted.
Well, he had record to show back
there in the home town Of which no
man need be ashamed.
The answer came abruptly. "Will
finder return boot to suite s, White
stone Apartments, where he will be
rewarded for his troubles" The note
was SlSucu myTd DuTTOWS.
Bill felt the excitement of a youth
going to his first party, as he slipped
into his faultless overcoat and hast
ened to Riverside Drive. Unconscious
ly he was believer in "fate." Wasn't
there after all, destiny in that little
shoe lying directly in his pathf He
wished that the modern Cinderella
might have dwelt In humble circum-
stances, his education had been good,
yet was this propitious environment
for dream girl Of appealing gentle
ness?
He was shown into a luxurious room,
and found himself Nstaring stupidity
down into the fretful face of a silver.
haired woman ut 10 my boot, young
man." the old lady said brusquely. |
If you have any doubt, get down and
slip 1t on. Women are not wearing
No. 8 overboots as rule these days. |
will repay your trouble"
The Westerner found his voice.
obi no." he protested, "that's Ill
light"
Il insist upon paying for the ad-
7ertisement at least" the woman said
sharply and pressed bell at her side.
Then again Billy stared, but this time,
lot stupidity. His keen eyes had tax.
n on the light o. dreams A girl had
entered the room In response to the
ing. Her lovely face turned In imme-
late attention to the woman's. "Set-
lie with this man regarding the return
4 my carriage boot, Margot," Myra
'urrows directed, and left the room.
I was the dream GIRL who signed q
neck at The desk. the dream girl, who
ut 1t into Billy's hand with q compre.
ending smile. Il
You may as well take It," she said,
Mrs. Burrows is-determined."
And the Westerner forgot New
ork's code. He only knew that In a
aw moments he must leave perhaps
brewer. the one girl whose eyes shone
lear as child's, whose lips curved
soft appeal, whose voice had the
'nder ring that Billy loved to hear.
Who" he asked abruptly, "are
our
Il am Mrs. Burrows secretary. the
ri answered simply.
/