Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-05-19
BLUE SLIPPERS
BY MILDRED WHITE


Copyright, 1929, Western Newspaper Union.
]. Carlton Saunders came to him
self with start, as Elizabeth spoke
his name. He knew from the tone Of
his sisters voice that she had spoken
before, and had been ignored.
you asked, my dear" he Ques-
toned.
"When you are going away" Ellz-
abeth retorted, isn't it about time for
one of your trips?'
Yes" Carlton answered, IL ought
to be in New York this week."
He frowned; it was diplomacy to
pretend these business trips a bore
and bother Otherwise, the two ell
derby and dominating sisters who were
his housekeepers and companions,
would feel themselves cheated Of the
participation Of pleasure.
AS matter of fact, Carlton Saun-
ders, In the prosy regime Of his small
town home, looked forward to these
escapes into an outer world with Sc
cret anticipation and enjoyment.
Elizabeth and Katherine We're good
sisters, annoyingly anxious concerning
his welfare.
]. Carlton appreciated their solicl-
tude, while he fretted under the con-
slant surveillance. There were those
who insisted that the kindly man
might long ago have rejoiced in
home of his own with a wife to share
1t, had 1t not been for Elizabeth's and
Katherlne's rule. But the brother I'm
his heart refuted this.
Were his sisters not bringing before
him constantly possible applicants for
matrimony2
"Yes," he answered Elizabeth again,
81 must be In New York this week"
1--WE will pack your valise," Katherine
said, land don't forget to wear your
rubbers."
But when he walked into the New
York hotel a few days later, he had
left, unconscIously, his habitual diff
dence at home. His name on the regis
ter was signed merely Jack Saunders.
The clerk bowed in greeting.
Cant give you your usual ROOM"
he explained apologetically, 1--WE are
filed up"
The room the bellboy ushered him
into was comfortable enough. But as
he turned to place coat and hat on the
hanger, ]. Saunders stared; filmy
blue cloud Of something had forestalled
him there. While all about the small
room was the indefnable fragrance of
tot, l., hnH
missed. Lilac, or lily of the valley or
just sweet springtlme-what was the
abiding OdOr which enchanted his
senses?
A tap on the door. Carlton turned
guilty. A woman's face was raised
| to his-her eyes were as blue as the
hlmy cloud on the hanger, but they
were not the eyes Of q young girl-nol
yet the calm gazing eyes that Eliz-
abeth would have recommended.
~ am afraid left some of my be-
lOngings in this ROOM" the sweet
faced woman said. 81 had decided to
occupy 1t when the clerk discovered
that the one / prefer was vacated.
SO they carried my grip in there. !
am sorry" she paused, and then at
his bow of permission, gathered up
her apparel and went on her way.
But the breath Of springtlme remained.
When j. Carlton went into the dining
hall at evening, he saw the young WON
an seated alone at secluded table.
He liked the plainness Of her blue
serge dress, which was such q different
plalnness from Julia Wells, or his sis
ter's; and he liked the piquant hat
that she becomlngly wore. AS he
passed down the corridor to his room,
It gave him an unaccountable feeling
Of relief, to hear the woman at the
hall desk address the lady Of the blue
cloud as Miss Darby" Miss, then
she was not married. He speculated
about her, as he bent over his writing.
The usually matter-of-fact John Carl
ton could not write he could not take
hold OF his work he decided to retire.
And there on the floor at his feet, lay
pair of small blue slippers, quilted
satin slippers with ridiculous fluffy
pompons upon either toe, SO, she had
forgotten these. They were the sort
of slippers a Cinderella of past dream
ing might have chOsen--to slip on In
the freight. The following morning
he sank into a chair In an ad-
Joining "coffee house" and opened
his paper Springtlme floated prOvoc-
atlvely around him, lilac and llly-of-
the-valley springtime. Two very blue
eyes smiled over a coffee cup, oppo-
site.
Good morning." greeted the lady Of
the blue cloud, thank you for return
ing my slippers"
~ travel" she told him upon their
third chance breakfast together, "for
a linen company. Imported linens.
My knowledge in that line was my
one chance for self-support after my
father died It's a good business, but
II leaves me homeless. Thats-the
drawback"
81 have a home" Carlton said
musngly, ian old place, with bushes
around It,"
Not" asked the woman eagerly
mot lilac bushesr
Carlton nodded.
"How | would love IT," she ex-
claimed.
II am old" he answered her irrele-
vanity. II was mourning over my
bald head this morning"
$50 much" asked the lady oppo-
site, that you quite missed the clear
youth Of your eyesT
When Elizabeth and Katherine re-
ceiyed a telegram some days later, they
stared at each other In speeches.
amazement
Married" read the brief message
from their brother, bringing my wife
home with me-"