Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-14
GOLD HEELED SHOES.


from the blueberry patch and looked
around half guilty, then drewa treasured
breath, for no one was within earshot.
soTr,ie as ! stand here she said, address
ing mingled multitude Of ferns, rocks
and berry bushes, "some day I'll do II.
And when Pm worth million minute,
I'll have gold heels to my shoes"
She shut her lips tightly, defying more
thoughts to escape: but even then the line
of her mouth was pleasant. She knelt ana
industriously stripped the low bushes,
holding her pail beneath with an expe-
rienced hand to catch the dropping berries.
She had fifteen quarts to deliver at sunset,
and the terms of her contract left no time
for monologue.
This was Abby-"Nliss" Abby to the
children, "Aunt" Abby among the sick,
simply Abby to ordinary adults. People
did not trouble themselves about her sur
name They did not even think much
about her, but accepted her as their inst
due from a friendly Providence. Children
discovered her living in little house in
the edge Of Pomfret and spoke OF Miss
Abby as an acquisition. Then some SICK
man, yearning for herb remedies, was
gratifed by her, and thereafter declared
Aunt Abby had saved his life The wise
Those
inrolling dollar-began by mistrusting her
sincerity and ended by questioning her
mental balance. They did not perceive
how one could live by works nonresultant
in a stipulated wage.
Abby moved toward a competency as
steadfastiy as did the wise, but by differ
ent path, pleasanter and as direct. There
were happy, kindly faces along her way.
And if they did not always comprehend
her. they at least nodded and smiled en-
eourapingly as she passed To such one,
Frightening some dark turn Of the path,
she would say:
"You wait till ] get my gold heeled
shoes. Then can smile for you"
Real gold. Abbyg" inquired the prac-
teal one.
Eyes. indeed. why not9 When you're
worth a million a minute, you can do that
sort of thing
At sunset she walked fatigued to the
village store and delivered the berries.
and here's your pay" said the store
keeper. Eight cents quart, fifteen
quarts, dollar twenty What you going to
do with so much money, Abby?n with an
expectant oblique glance for the benefit of
some dozen loungers
ut all goes toward those gold heeied
shoes" said Abby cheerily Then the
loungers followed the storekeeper in g
laugh.
"Abby's all right" said be, after sh'
went out. "You don't have to measure
her berries. But she's little queer. A
fellow has to laugh at her now and again.
Abby plowed her way along the dust!
July road zone twenty, one twenty,
she repeated. There's a days work TO
MI. a.. l.. II
heeled shoes They're coming, coming"
She invigorated herself, mind and body
by this alchemic formula. Gold heele'
shoes" to the storekeeper and his ilk was
vagary for their diversion. To Abby tn
words were mere cumulative signs.
The widow Barker, with her waywar
son jim, were Abby's nearest neighbory
Barker pere had served in the navy. Ate
his death small pension came regularl!
alfording the widow "a meager living
was her sole support, for Jim was a thorI
Upright mothers quoted him to childre
as warning He even pricked Abb!
until she was half minded to report h
lapses to his mother, when she would ia
in a temper and rate herself roundly
Gold shoes, indeed | don't deserN
leather As If that woman didn't hay
trouble enough without its being piled G
freel Providence has been too good TO m
there's nobody to mourn over; nobody
worry over. A little cross like this will
me good"
Abby had intended to stop for a m
ment's chat with the widow. but the hou
appeared deserted, and she passed on
ats pension day" she thought. Il kno
where she is. Up stairs crying for hi
that's gone. Blue-blue as she can
HINT Pm blessed that my past doesn't SC
row me, nor my future either There it
now Million a minutel Gold heel
shoesi Keep II upl'
Abby spoke Of wealth with rich exf
peration. Her ideal independence "
simply freedom from debt. She had q
desire that ruled her life and that-to p
sess a home. The knowledge that
landlord might, on a lapse in payne
turn her out rode her as sense of inf,
ority. Her material standing seemed
insecure as her credit But to own
ground she walked on. that was to W
gold heeled shoes. Every step left the
press of wealth 5 equality. All her effo
then, were directed to the reduction of
insufferable mortgage that threatened
home.
She iabored hard in every channel knC
to single countrywomen. she picked
sold berries. She gathered and en-
xweethag. She had a patch Of gar
with many herbs in it, and others she g
cred wild and dried in punches for
druggists and medicine makers
stitched boots when that seldom worl
fered. She knit and sewed she did
know an idle moment the year around
BY years Of patient toll Abby had
duced the amount Of the mort gage to
And one night. when she looked az
handbook and counted the days rece
she found enough 70 caf.cel the debt
was q matter Of verificatiun only. for
knew 10 a cent the state OF her finance
PardonAhiy she wept little thst
work was accomplished The goal
reached she had set. aud beyond which
had nos before looked. Now she
brought face 20 face with blank
rrarI1a- Hhrrar =