Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-03-26
E Il. AUGUSTUS SN1PER
stood in his second-fIooi'
back bedroom surveying
himself in Il small looking

himself Ill Il small looking
glass. He was arrayed for conquest
and contemplated himself with smile
Of eompaceacy.
His necktie was most correct, his
coat was marvel OF tailoring, though
somewhat aggrcssively new. as was
also the rest Of his attire down to his
crimson socks. but here the newnesS
suddenly ceased. for OH his feet We're a
pair of the most disreputable old boots
which have ever been Worn since boots
were invented.
That they had once been patent leath-
er was apparent, but OF their former
elegance. their white stitching and
pristine brilliancy. there was no sign.
They had been patched. sewn, BACKED,
mixed, scratched, battered, trodden
down at the heels and kicked out at
the toes TO such a degree that coster-
monger would have refused to convert
them into Il flower for the dinner
table even accompanied by shil-
ling when they had reached half the
state Of diIapidation i'll which Mr.. Sni-
PEI wore them.
And why did hc wear them? Among
his friends his boots We're a constant
source Of ENVY. hatred and maijce;;' -
his toes were the most pointed, his fit
the most perfect. his leather the most
lady friends talked of them. and one
Df them had even been known to re
fuse q man because Ibis boots were
not to be mentioned in the same breath
with Mr. Snipcr's, ana she had once
seen him wear one that was patched"
But then no one ever saw him in
the boots he wore in the privacy Of his
bedroom. Such toes as he showed to
an admiring world were not compati-
Die with the broad foot he unquestion.
ably possessed and the agony they
made him suffer was only to be al
layed by wearing those comfortable
old friends i'll his moments OF retire
merit from the stage OF suburban so
aety where he played no unimportani
part i'll his own estimation.
Having surveyed himself carefully
beginning at the top and only lament
Ing that the new fashion in ties pre-
Guided him from wearing breastpin
his glance ut last rested on his Grim
Sch SIN socks and the boots. AS HI
eyea the latter he gave !, chuckIe ant
iooked WITH pride toward 4 pair OF il
iepfoachahle ''patentS' which stood Ol
LIS chest Of drawers in state of i'm
maeulate brightness snd g}ass-lik'
hardness.
II wouldn't do to forget to chang
'nen, he said, with grin; ''hy Iove
"hat would the dear Katie say? Why
NY chanco would be clean gone direct
y lis only the other day I heard he
say 10 Jack Mcdonald that she though
man who did not wear patent leatl
as was not fit to be spoken to. and
pa.eh was perfectly inaGmissible in
,auS drawing groom. And if she wer
soe these. Oh, it makes me all Of
nooer to think of it, Now. must b
,OW What shall do to calm myself
Aho"' Eli read that book she ler
ue, II VIII do to open the conversatio
VIM So he sat down in his easie:
>nalf and began to read
lue book, however was very excl
.aas' and he never noticed the time ii
ha ae e'oc1 struck 4, the hour he shoul
Sa'e oeen at his adored ones hous
win an exclamation which or
souioh exactly say to Sunda.
,s Aool class without having dificu
~, WIN the superintendent. he ha
nis is glanced at himself in the glas
eo ana up his carefully brushed h.
no., s ,"olnedly left the house Fort
h. hey y his destination. the. house
mi,,s' nj, oann, was not far off, and in S
ST.. a0'eS ne was standing on the doc
,hs. waiting for the door to be 4open'
nros. ne might be ushered into II
nsI'ee nsss Of his Katie, to whom
h.s,a mat very afternoon to offer
A. n. ms heart, and-his boots.
@hn neard the welcome footsteps
ho...A Aousemaid and his heart W
loot' nigh with expectation when
yo,ta ooWnward-he saw he had fl
~ 1e' TO change his boots.
re.aNo was no time to retreat.
10 sS., 'he door was open, and, befc
hms'u,,no collect his thoughts, he fou
Osesa, IN the drawing-room in 1
othe. ts OF his divinity and sevel
ao, er Visitors of both sexes.
DR. e. g., ! am SO glad you have cor
INitn 'n'Der." said Katie, pretty 9
hs Oh. parking eyes and neat tigu
hurried to meet him at the do