The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-10-31

"a ss s rs tB rs Us S sss z US z US SsS5sASl
on the steamer the next-day-but-one
after seeing my suitcase slowed the
first person my eye lighted on was
Clairel
Claire tripped up to me, delighted
but little embarrassed, and in her
wake followed lady whose face was
very familiar, as mine was to her, and
a smile of recognition broke out on
both of us at once and we exclaimed
at each other, "Why, you're the Lady
Of the Slippers"
Now "the slippers" were the top
notch of my wild extravagant life in
Paris and I'd never mentioned them
to Ann. I came by them in this wise:
Just as I was leaving for Vevay had
passed a little shop on a funny little
street and in the window was pair
of slippers. They were high over the
| instep-so they'd keep my feet warm
and decorated with the queerest orlen-
| tai pattern you ever saw, and they had
| low heels.
/ bounced into the shop to ask the
price, and at the counter stood an
other American lady with an identical
pair in her hand. demanded the
price.
zone hundred and twenty-five
francs" beamed madame, "and most
reasonable"
The other American woman and /
dropped the slippers like hot cakes
our reckless passion for spending
wasn't equal to twenty-five dollars for
a pair of slippers. Madame came down
ten francs and inveigled US into trying
on the slippers. There was differ
ence of half a size in the pairs and
they fitted as though they'd been made
in heaven. Madame came down ten
\ francs more and then knocked off FIVE,
and we bought them at hundred
francs a pair, laughingly telling each
other we'd caught each other in the
act and promising never to give each
other away.
/ had liked this American woman
and should have been glad to see her
, again; and here she was. She was
pleasant and unaffected, woman of
possibly forty; dark hair, black eyes,
waxy as to complexion; not what
would call handsome but with dis
tinct air.
I Claire had introduced her as Mrs,
Delario and later the child contided
that her father had found her by &C
' cident as he had me. That he paid
her fare over as an inducement to hel
' to come on this steamer-with me,
even then surmised. Claire and she
? shared the largest stateroom or
: board.
e There were two other women going
e over, but Mrs. Delario and I seemed
e the only ones able to keep our ses
: legs, while Claire stayed In her bertf
: for almost the entire passage.
j But the really friendly acquaintance
/. between Mrs. Delario and me began b!
e our being flung into each others arms
y when our risky little craft took al
e unexpected dive, trying to see If sh'
y could hit bottom with her nose. W.
made profuse apologies and droppe'
y for safety into the nearest chairs.
L was clutching vigorously at the arm
6 Of mine, when she fastened her gaz
e on ring I wore, reached out and tool
my hand.
!" She said, "What a very curiou
g ring-it looks as though it had his
t. tory" turning it for different angle
d and fumbIing at it as though she mean
K to draw it off.
II / said it had, and she asked me t
t let her take it off and try it on. ha
curled my fingers over hers to proven
i. it, for hate to have people trying O
g my rings. So shook my head an
le replied, '"That would break the spell.
Y She dropped my hand instantly
n said, excuse me- didn't know 1t wa
c. that, though 1 felt the spell-the occul
infiuence-before / touched 1t. 70
A know 1 think felt it that first tim
N we met when we bought the slipper
10 though / didn't see the ring. fe
re something occult all around you. 70
i'd are under the protection of very pow
Ell erful influences"