Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-11-14
THE SHOE
By N. w. JENKINS


Capt. Amyas Dare, of the Fifth
United States cavalry, was east on
furlough, after three years of frontier
service. At this time he cherished a
passion for photography; he had
brought his friends innumerable pic
lures of Indians, coyotes, cliff-dwell-
ers, and gila monsters; he went about
with a kodak in his pocket and ac-
cumulated souvenirs of his holiday.
destined to adorn the walls of his
shack in the barracks, on the Arizona
border.
One fine June morning he left New
York for Washington, making himself
comfortable in a parlor car, with a
stack of books and papers beside
him. By some fatality, he was
dressed that morning in full uni
form.
Presently, looking across the pages
Of his newspaper, he became aware
Of beautiful young woman, seated at
the open window on the other side of
the car. She was tall and slender,
with blue eyes, and nut-brown hair.
that curled charmingly under the
brim of her sailor hat She was
dressed with the fine simplicity that
is more irresistible than magnificence.
Her eyes were fixed upon the pages
of a magazine; she leaned back in
her seat, in an attitude which threw
into relief the sensuous lines of her
figure, and quite exposed one of her
pretty feet.
The girl looked up from her book;
the captain, ashamed to be caught
staring, at once dropped his eyes, and
their gaze rested full upon that peer
less foot. He became completely cap
ttvated In studying its proportions
the arched instep, the fine ankle, the
delicate heel-and the dainty shoe
that encased it and the glimpse Of
the pretty stocking above-appearing
beneath the crisp binding of her
gown, which further afforded a
suggestion Of snowy lace-trimmed
drapery, furled, around the prettiest
ankle in the world.
Flesh is but grass. The captain
whipped his kodak out Of his pocket
and, under cover of his newspaper,
sighted It at the distracting object.
An instant, and all would be we'll
But in that instant the girl stirred.
Don't novel" cried Amyas, forget
ting himself Don't move your
foot!"
She sprang UP, but the kodak had
clicked shut; the impression was
taken.
Il have it," he exclaimed, in the
moment of triumph. Thank you
very much!"
You have what? A photograph of
me?"
mot altogether" he explained, in
nocently. merely a picture of your
shoe'
The young woman turned indignant
ly toward an elderly gentleman, who
had now come forward. He had brist-
ling white mustaches. and a naughty
and forbidding appearance.
"Papa!" she exclaimed, this per
son has insulted me-"
THE particulars, Daphne!" said
papa. with an ominous, steely glance
at the culprit.
A whispered conversation fol-
lowed; then Daphne subsidized into her
seat, holding her head high.
Her papa confronted the captain.
Sir" he said, you have insulted
my daughter"
Nothing" declared Amyas, with his
best bow, could have been further
from my intentions"
How, sir? Hadn't you the impu-
dence to try to take her photograph"
"Oh, but l didn't"
Don't attempt to trifle with me-
You tried to photograph her"
"Shoe. Well, did. But there was
nothing personal about that Nobody
could possibly identify 1t as hers.
regarded it merely as a beautiful OBJ
tect of-ah-art, or nature, or"