Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-11-15
A PAIR OF SUICIDES.
By Harriet Holmes Haslett.
Se0c00OcOOSOO0cS0

Tor few minutes they stood be-
window, discussing the relative mer-
its of white satin and suede versus
patent leather, Sue, who was of a
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; I can only tell by trying
them on"
Turning hurriedly, they precipitated
themselves forcibly against a man
who had been gazing dejectedly into
the neighboring window at the rows
of manly boots and shoes. More es-
pecially were his eyes directed to-
ward the dancing pumps-not that
he admired them, nor even wished to
buy them, but, nevertheless, fired by
q noble resolve, he turned to enter,
just as the two girls finished their
little dialogue, which q he partially
overheard. Two pair of eyes flashed
Indignantly into his. Bees brown
ones were milder than the blue ones
of the "ittle hayseed."
"Great, clumsy thing!o Couldn't he
look where he was goingF"
why, Sue; it was as much our fault
as his!"
Now the man was neither great nor
clumsy, however, much he hoped to
be tbs 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-
cles of attire, in the meantime, cast
ing furtive chances at the purchaser
of the dainty pair of white suedes.
Then the two, without a backward
look, hurried away to Beatrice Har-
loe's home on the Heights, leaving
the clerk politely assuring them that
the parcel would be sent without de-
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 a little dinner at the
restaurant with his best girl was not
to be disturbed for any white scedes
in the world.
Haf-past eight was sounding by the
Hairless big hall clock, and upstairs
the two girls were arraying them
selves to 'the distraction which seeks
to kill" MARIE" called Beatrice, to
her long-suffering little maid, shave
my slippers come? Dear mel what
shall I do?"
For the fifth time, Marie descended
in quest of the yagrant slippers. and
this time returned smiling, with the
long-awaited box.
open them now and olet me put
them on awhile and ease them a little
before co." said Bee.
So Marie opened the box, and they
beheld pair of manly patent leath.
ers, slim and graceful, tits 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 sin
gle syllable, "Gee!"
What shall I do?" cried Beatrice
distractedly. "That wretched clerk
after all his promises, Ito make such
a mistake! I can't go, that's all;
haven't smother decent pair!''
o Not gol" exclaimed Sue, "after al
my hopes for weeks on this party
Fly, Marie-fy and bring up some
fbread-crumbs-st ones. Whe-e ar
all your old slippers. Bee? Wei
choose the best-looidng ones and hays
them cleanea "A the shake Of avery
quickly, meant" primly. for SusaI