Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-27
She Buys a Pair OF Shoes.
[Erom the Detroit Free Press. ]

from the Detroit Free Press.]
She was woman. If you ever ran q
shOe.store you will know what followed
as she entered the store. She looked all
around, picked up pair of shoes off the
counter, rubbed her thumb along the
soles and timidly asked OF the smiling
clerk - -'
DO you keep ladies' shoes here?'
we do,' he promptly answered.
What style shall show you"
For more than three weeks she had
had her mind made up for q pair which
laced on the inside, and all her friends
had encouraged her idea. but it wouldn't
have been like woman to ask the clerk
for that particular style.
Let's see? Let's see?' she mused.-
i suppose you have the French heels p
%, yes he answered, and he soon had
twenty pairs before her. She closely in
spected each pair from two's up to SKIS
asked the grade of material in each. and
twice during the fifteen minutes she
seemed on the point of trying on pair.
Are you sure these are the French
heel?' she finally asked.
oh, yes; you can be sure OF that
We'll, I guess won't buy any to-day.
I did think some of looking at some but
ton shoes a.
Certainly. Here is large variety.
Do you wish kid q 1851
i presume, she answered, as she wet
her finger and rubbed the heel of shoe,
that kid will wear longer than moroc-
COP
of course. These are patent buttons,
you see.'
L r IT, ~
button shoes shall insist on the patent
button"
Didn't you want pair of these?' I
Let's see?' she unused again, faste1-
ing her eyes on the top shelf. She was
buried in the deepest thought for long
minute, and the clerk hardly drew his
breath. Then her eyes gradually drop
ped from shelf to shelf until they rested
Not to-day. Have you shoes with
lace?'
oh, yes
Those which lace in front p an
'Yes'm. Here Is something fine. I
can sell you pair of these for twenty
shillings.'
Can you? Why, shoes must have
either gone up or down! Shoes which
lace in front are stylish, aren't they ?
| oh, yes
And they wear as good as any?'
| Just as good. can recommend the
material in these shoes, as they were
made for US here in Detroit. Will you
try on pair?'
She seemed about 10 do so. She looked
over at the lounge, seized pair OF
three's, and was then halted by new
idea. She put the shoes down, let her
eyes drop to the floor, and after men
tai calculation of seventy seconds, she
suddenly inquired:-
Did you say that you had shoes that
laced on the side?'
Yes, we have. Would you like to see
| them %
She hesitated. looked up and down
the shelves as if perplexed, and finally
said she would. He emptied two boxes,
praised the style and material, and adj
vised her by all means to get those shoes
if she wanted to be in style and have a
good fit.
4 can't wear threes,' she observed as
she par ly turned away, but owing
| 'Yes'm. You do not want glove
| fitting shoe. You are very sensible on
that point. Elves are much too large,
of course, but they are better for the
feet in winter. These are fives but very
smaHones. In some stores they would
be marked threes.'
I guess I'll try them on she family
remarked as she sat down.
| 'Yes'm. I'm sure -
| No he wasn't. She had suddenly
paused again. What if there was hole
In the heel of her stocking! Suppose
her big toe had worked through. as big
toes sometimes will.
i can try them on alone she finally
said, and while the clerk was busy on
the other side of the counter she ripped
the buttons off her right shoe. pulled il
off and got her right foot into the new
one 1t was pinch Her toes felt
cramped and her heel complained.
DO they ftp asked the clerk as he
leaned over the counter.
She didn't say.
Perhaps you had better try skies
with broad sole and a high instep,' he
suggested. o7s
sWhatv she exclaimed, as her face
redeemed, why I can hardly find my
foot in these! I'll take them on account
of my chilblains, but Til only veal
them around the housed"
livery well-I'll wrap them up.'-
She paid for the shoes, took them in hel
hand, and went out with sweet smile
on her face, but she was the woman
who was heard saying to herself on the
street car -
! "Gone and made a Ounce of myself
again by getting tight shoes! l wish
I'd thrown the money into the fire'