The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-10-16

EYaS6a as s sSs
get her home. They're going Cunard
day after tomorrow II she's able to
travel" &
- e E.
When came out of my stateroom
after seeing my suitcase slowed the
first person my eye lighted on was
Clairei
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. ami
q smile of recognition broke out on
both of US ut 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. came by them in this wise:
Just as l was leaving for Vevay had
passed little shop on 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 orien-
tai pattern you ever saw and they had
low heels.
l bounced into the shop to ask the
price, and at the counter stood an
other American lady with an identical
pair In her hand. I demanded the
| price.
"One hundred and twenty-five
francs" beamed madame, land 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
pair of slippers. Madame came down
ten francs and invelgled us into trying
on the slippers. There was a differ
ence Of half 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.
l 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 l
would call handsome but with dis
tinct air.
Claire had introduced her as Mrs.
Delario and later the child confded
that her father had found her by ac-
cident as he had me. That he paid
her fare over as an inducement to her
to come on this steamer-with me,
shared the largest stateroom on
: board.
There were two other women going
over, but Mrs. Delario and seemed
the only ones able TO keep our sea
legs, while Claire stayed in her berth
for almost the entire passage. 81
!; But the really friendly acquaintance
between Mrs. Delario and me began by
our being flung into each others arms
when our frisky little craft took an
unexpected dive, trying to see If she
could hit bottom with her nose. We
made profuse apologies and dropped
for safety into the nearest chairs.
was clutching vigorously at the arm
of mine, when she fastened her gaze
on ring wore, reached out and tool
my hand.
She said. "What a very curious
rlng-it looks as though 1t had his
= tory" turning 1t for different angles
y and fumbling at it as though she mean
: to draw 1t off.
i said 1t had, and she asked me t
. let her take 1t off and try 1t on. I hat
a curled my fingers over hers to proven
v 1t, for hate to have people trying OF
my rings. So shook my head ant
replied, "That would break the SPELL
She dropped my hand instantly
said, Excuse mel didn't know 1t wa
that, though felt the spell-the occul
l. influence-before ! touched 1t. Yo1
II know I think / felt 1t that first tim
e we met when we bought the slippers
% though 1 didn't see the ring. fel
n something occult all around you. 70,
:. | ara undar tho prntaction Of very nOW