Year: 1878




great ard only the most distress
ing and feet that took fun tens and half,n with the
big endeayorng TO work its in the direction Of
pair Of seevens@ Otherwise was presenable enough,
and fairly educated besides. thought could deci
pber mg fathers anxiety regarding this my fis appear
in society


Nelly wardeil was a handsome girl and her mother
who was widow had the reputation Of being wealthy.
surmised therefore, that he thought Nelly and myself
who had never exchanged word with each other, might
accdently knock up Irritation that would end in the
union OF both our families.


Although in by no means INDECENT circumstances
happened through my creessness TO have but one
pair of shoes that could at all to the party, and
these my utmost consernaton had ruined completely
while practcng waltz before the ooingglass about
hour before ii time to dress in state of dread
full alarm knew how difficult it would be to find pair
anything that would fit me- was equally satisfied
that my father whose temper the best in the world
would assert that had purposey burst the uppers and
soles asunder as to avoid accompanying him TO the
house of his old friends There therefore, not
moment TO lose; SO sending to neighborng shoemaker
in the hope of obtaining of relief the messenger
returned with pair OF somewhat heavy new boots about
an inch too tight and an inch too short that had been
made for customer for whom they too large, and
who bad ordered two sharp ios-nas tobe driven into
the heel Of each to keep him from slipping the icy
sidewalks, and which, in my anxiety to try whether they
would fit not, had failed to notice After half
hours fearful and almost fuitess exertion managed
get my feet wedged into them but not before Dick
Meredith called for who TO take MS in his trap
and who just entered my room as with one final jerk and
effort accomplished my all-but impossible task and
slipped on my overshoes that We're now mile too large
for


Had / given the subject moments considerations,
would not have informed him Of how the stood or of
how was beginning to suffer; but being dreadfuy per-
picked and maryred at the moment let the cat out OF
the bag; and to fellow who of the most ncor-
rgible wags in the whole town. excepting Nelly
Warde herself. who eternally playing the most mis-
chevous pranks upon all her friends and acquaintances,
without distinction.


When we arrived at the widows they we're dancing
quadriles for it somewhat late Dick helped me to
alight, my feet numb and painful that they
seemed about to fail altogether for scarcely knew
when they came in contact with the flags After few
steps, however got little relief although when en-
tered the hall and got peep at the glass the
brea- stand perceived that absolutely pink about
the cars from the fact Of the blood having been driven to


Not daring to complain | staggered through the pre-
senaton hostess and her fair daughter pretty de-
Gently, and subsided into corner determined TO make
my escape from the house at the earliest possible moment
and wondering at the and agility displayed by the
dancers in an adjoining apartment the foldngdoo of
which thrown wide open


When first entered the hall, and removed my India
rubber overshoes seemed stick to the floor every
step; but once within the ca1peted drawing-room this
sensation passed away and thought of it, being
sufficiently occupied with the pleasant consideration that
my feet steadily becoming larger and larger and that
if did experience sudden relief | should be
strained to rush from the premises without word of
planaton


While in this distressing state Of mind and while
ing the folly which tempted into dire dilemma,
noticed Miss Nelly whom Dick had just been speaking,
coming toward me. For single moment L forgot my
agony and arose from my seat but what my horror
and dismay when she took my in the most bewitch
ing manner possible, and led into the ballroom, de-
claring that must dance polka with her. thought


that should have sunk through the floor but there was
my father at my elbow and TO attempt to hesitate for
moment would, was satisfied lead to rupture
between us. Consequently, as best could, expressed
my delight at the honor she did me, and stood with her
the edge of the ready cut in the risk my
life the moment opportunity served


Now, when alighted from Dicks turnout = on the
hard stone flags the sharp points of the Iostnas must
have been bent into claws for did step the
polished floor tAan the sensation of the ha returned in
full force feet again stuck the boards if they
weighed twenty thirty pounds each Determined how
ever, to shake off the nightmare which to be
oveTshadowing me- made desperate effort, and
dashed off with my partner, while the wood flew in
ute particles like sawdust at my heels began plow
up the smooth expanse in the most frighful manner
that my only safety lay in courage and rapdy notion
raced my partner along until in passing open fire
place, picked up hearthrug with OF my demoni-
acal heels and whred among her feet The instant
dashing headlong into knot Of the first people
directions.


Fortunately, Miss Nelly who had for some time been