The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-11-08
A PAIR OF SUICIDES.
By Harriet Holmes Haslett.
Observation-Disclosures

DOR few minutes they stood be-
L fore the Kearney street shoe-store
window, discussing the relative mer-
it's of white satin and suede versus
patent leather, Sue, who was of
practical turn of mind, advised the
latter.
Gracious me, you little hayseed!
{ couldn't wear black slippers with
my white gown. They must be white
either satin or suede. Come, let
us go in; 1 can only tell by trying
them on"
Turning hurriedIy, they precipitated
themselves forcibly against man
who had been gazing dejectedly into
the. neighboring window at the rows
of manly boots and shoes. More es
pecialfy were his eyes directed to-
ward the dancing pumps-not that
he admired them, nor even wished to
buy them, but, nevertheless, fired by
a noble resolve, he turned to enter,
just as the two girls finished their
little dialogue, which he partially
overheard. Two pair of eyes flashed
indignantly into his. Bees brown
ones were milder than the blue ones
OF the "little hayseed'
Great, clumsy thing! Couldn't he
look where he was going?'
"Why, Sue; it was as much our fault
as hist"
Now the man was neither great nor
clumsy, however, much he hoped to
be the former in the future and had
overcome the latter in his past. Fur
thermore, the glimpse he had had of
the: brown eyes gave impetus 10 his
lay-that he would attend to it him
resolve of purchasing pair of patent
feathers for the cotillion to which he
was going, simply to please his friend,
Charlie Graham. Hence he ordered
and tried on the much-despised arti-
cies of attire, in the meantime, cast
ing furtive chances at the purchaser
of the dainty pair of white SUICIDES.
Then the two, without a backward
look. hurried away to Beatrice Har-
ioess home on the Heights, leaving
the clerk politely assuring them that
self. No sooner had they left the
store than the faithless creature
turned them over to the clerk who
was waiting on the purchaser of the
patent feathers, and he, too, hur-
ried away, for little dinner at the
restaurant with his best girl was not
tor be disturbed for any white suedes
in the. world.
Half-past eight was sounding by the
Harioes' big hall clock, and upstairs
the. two girls were arraying them
selves to ''the distraction which seeks
to- kill" Marie" called Beatrice, to
her Iong-suffering little maid, '.have
nay slippers come? Dear me! what
shall L do?"
For the fifth time. Marie descended
in quest of the vagrant slippers. and
this time returned smiling, with the
long-awaited box.
''Open them now and let RE put
them on awhile and ease them little
before CO." said Bee.
So Marie opened the box, and they
beheld pair of manly patent leath-
ers, slim and graceful, it is true, but
never intended for Beatrice's tiny
feet. The girls surveyed each other
in blank dismay, then solemnly and
forcibly there came from Sue the sim
gle. syllable, "Gee!"
what shall I do?" cried Beatrice,
distractedly. THAT wretched clerk,
after all his promises, to make such
a mistake! L can't go, that's all; 1
haven't another decent pair!"
''Not go!" exclaimed Sue, "after all
my hopes for weeks on this party!
Fly, Marie-fy and bring up some
brcatfcrumbs-stal ones. Whe' are
all your old slippers, Bee? Well
choose the best-looking ones and haye
them cleaned in the shake of avery
quickly, I meant" primly, for Susan