A Pair of Baby Shoes

• Watchlist

On returning home from their individual evening's entertainment, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Darrell, an estranged couple, arrive in time to be present at the death-bed of their only child. With no mortal tie on earth, the Darrells follow to the fullest extent the vent of their own desires, clubs and wines for Richard, society and companionship of other men for Flora. The baby boots, long since thrown away as valueless, eventually find their way to a rubbish can. From the rubbish can the boots go into the bag of a rag-picker, thence into the possession of a junk man, who sells them to a second-hand shoe dealer. The tiny boots are placed in the window for display. They are bought by a couple of jolly inebriates. Mr. and Mrs. Darrell have their last quarrel and divorce proceedings are the inevitable outcome. Next door to where the child died there is a wedding in progress. Old shoes and rice are thrown after the bride and groom. The two inebriates coming upon the scene, join in the sport of shoe throwing by contributing the baby boots. Among the old shoes and boots that litter the street the old servant finds and recognizes the baby boots; the wife is off to Reno and the husband is going to Europe. They meet for the last time. By an ingenious arrangement of their dead child's shoes (the old butler puts one little shoe in each of their traveling bags) a reconciliation is brought about at the eleventh hour.