Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1885 — A BLUE SATIN SLIPPER. [ARTICLE]

A BLUE SATIN SLIPPER.

There was a church fair and festival on hand at Waynesville and all the young ladies were in a state of feminine flutter. Pretty brown-eyed Jenny Carson had one of the fancy tables. She also had a new dress for the occasion. The soft, shining folds of dark-blue silk •were draped over the bed, and Jenny was kneeling upon the floor, arranging the loops of satin ribbon to her taste, when Miss Bell Dorsey, who was Jenny's most intimate friend, burst into the room. “Oh. what a pretty dress, Jenny! Ton’ll look ravishing in it. You only need a pair of blue satin boots to match it and you’ll be the best-dressed girl at the festival.” “But satin boots are very expensive,” said Jenny, hesitatingly. “Oh," well, yes, somewhat But there’s nothing sets off ajlady’s appearance like nice shoes and gloves. I heard Dr. Chester say he never considered a lady well dressed if she wore ill-fltting boots or gloves.” And Miss Bell complacently crossed her own pretty French kids, while Jenny nervously put away the pretty silk. What Dr. Chester said was beginning to be a matter of some monent to Jenny Carson. She was conscious of a longing for the blue boots; but alas! they were too expensive for her. Miss Bell .presently took her leave, and Jenny, with half her pleasure spoiled, went on with her preparations. “Weil, daughter,” said her father at the dinner table, “do you need any fallals for your frolic to-morrow ?” “Yes, I do need some new shoes and some gloves,” said Jenny. “You do, eh? Well, what must I give you to buy them with ?” “Whatever you can spare, papa.” “Well, here’s a $lO bill. I guess that will be enough. Get a good, sensible pair of shoes, now; something to keep you warm this cold weather, and no flimsy things.” ‘ Yes, sir. Thank you, papa. PH do the best I can,” said Jenny; but she blushed, for it her heart she felt very guilty. However, she did mean to buy a pair of warm kid boots for every-day wear. She hoped to get the blue ones for about $4, which would leave enough for the other and for the gloves. But when she stood in Turner’s store and asked the price of the dainty shiny things offered her the clerk promptly responded: “Seven dollars, Miss Carson.” “Oh, dear! I was in hopes they were cheap,” frankly confessed Jenny, laying down the boots. “Indeed, they are cheap,” said the clerk. “I assure you. Miss Carson, we have sold these right along at SB. This is the last pair, so we offgr them for less. They’re very fine.” “les,” admitted Jenny. “Nothing sets off a dainty foot like a pair of these dainty boots,” pursued the wily clerk, with an eye for his trade. “Very few young ladies could wear so small a shoe—just your size, you see, Miss Carson.” Poor Jenny sighed, thought of the thick, warm boots she ought to have, cast a longing look at the blue beauties, recalled what Dr. Chester said, and, silly little puss, for once let her vanity run away with her reason. “I’ll take them,” she said. ‘After the boots were {laid for there was barely enough to buy her gloves and a ribbon or two. The next day, the great one, was clear and cold, with a sharp wind. Overshoes would ruin the dainty satin boots; but, luckily for Jenny, the ground was dry. But it was frozen hard, and when she reached the gaily-decorated room of the new church, her feet were like ice. ■ " .;■{ ■ Jenny presided at one of the fancy tables. She made a lovely picture in the beautiful blue-silk, her throat and next shaded with the softest lace, and the dainty blue boots fluttering in and out below the plaiting of her skirt. Bell Dorsey was already at her post, and as Jenny came up she opened her •yes wide and exclaimed: “Oh, my, you blue angel! Did you drop from the clouds?" Jenny laughed, and happening just then to catch a glance from Dr. Chester, who stood near, blushed with pleasure, while the gentle heart in her< bosom throbbed tumultuously. . ...J Jenny Had a very busy day of it. There was much buying and selling, and Jenny 1 ! tabla was very popular. But as the new church was very large and not vet finished, it was not very warm. The girls at the table were chilly all day, and by the time evening A •

came Jenny’s feet were so numb and cold that she could hardly stand. A hot supper, however, had been prepared at the hotel just across the street. Dr. Chester waited on Jenny at the table. Glad enough she was to get something and be near a fire. But Dr. Chester, though kind and polite, was not what he had beem He seemed strangely cold and distant, and Jenny felt as if her bright day was spoiled. But girls know how to hide these things, and Jenny was the gayest of the gay. She had to return to her store again immediately after supper, and oh, how sharply the cold struck her as she stepped into the night. Dr. Chester left her at the door of,'a small room designed for a vestry, but now used by the ladies as a dressing room. Jenny ran in to put off her wraps, but, while doing this, heard her name spoken in the narrow passage without. “It’s all settled. I suppose, Doctor; between and Miss Carson?” was what she heard. Poor Jenny! Fortunately, there was no one in the dressing room but herself. She flew to the farthest end .and hid her burning face on a pile of cloaks. But, after a brief struggle, she rallied It would never do to cry. It would neyer do to go to her table with red eyes. It was a very erect, firmmouthed little lady who walked to her table presently, and the heels of the pretty blue boots came down upon the floor with a sharp, resolute little click; for Miss Jenny had made up her mind to do something very odd. “I am a little fool!” she said to herself; “but I don’t quite deserve to lose a good man’s good opinion, and I won’t, either, if I can help it!” “No, Fred. I’ve seen the folly of that to-day." The tones which answered were the well known ones of Dr. Chester. “You astonish me,” replied Fred. “Idon’t mind giving you the reason, Fred,” said the doctor. “Just look at that young lady’s feet and you will have it. In spite of this cold day she wears nothing but a flimsy pair of blue silk shoes. I have, more than fancied Miss Carson; I don’t deny it But you will see at once that a girl who can so utterly sacrifice her reason to her vanity is not the wife for a poor, struggling doctor with his fortune yet to make. But enough of this. Let’s go in; it’s chilly here.” It was late before she was ready to go home. Just as she was about to start, Dr. Chester, who was her escort, handed her a pair of overshoes, saying, quietly, as if it were a matter of course: “Miss Jenny, please put these on; it is too cold a night for such thin shoes as I see you wear." Poor Jenny! Her face was scarlet with mortification. She made out to utter a confused “Thank you,” and put on the offered overshoes without another word. Then she took the doctor’s arm and they went out together. Jenny’s heart was beating so fast that it almost choked her, but she was as determined as ever. Before ten steps had been taken she said: “Dr. Chester, do you think it right to condemn a person for a single fault?” "Certainly not,” said the doctor promptly. “Then why do you condemn me?’ “I don’t understand you,” said he. “I heard every word you said to Fred Somers to-night,” said Tennie, quietly. “Miss Jenny!” he stopped, startled. “I did. I don’t blame you, doctor; I gave you reason to think me only a vain, silly girl. But hear my defense, how sorry and ashamed I am, won’t you?" And then Jenny made her penitent little confession, ending with: “T don’t know what you think of me now, but indeed ” “I think you the dearest, bravest little girl in the world, and ’tis I who am the fool,” cried the doctor, ardently. And then— > But, then, I don’t know that outsiders like you and I, reader, have any business to listen. When Jenny got home she took off the blue boots which had ,so nearly cost her a lover, and flung them under a wardrobe, saying: - • ‘ “Lie there, you blue wretches! But you’ve taught me a good lesson. I’vd done with you. I’ll buy my wedding boots before long, and they’ll not be blue ones, either.