The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-10-31
NOT WHOLLY VANITY
Why Joe Purchased $40 Worth
of Agony.
BY MARTHA M'CULLocH-WIL-
LlAMS.

1Oor. You don't want TO De con-
structively guilty Of cruel and unusual
punishment-that / know" she ran
On, coming inside and moving lit
tie uncertainty toward his desk.
Latimer sprang up, set chair for
aer, and made to seat her. but she
shook her head. "Dassent-Pd never,
never have the courage to rise again"
she said. then holding out small
loot in a shoe still smaller, johnny
do believe this isn't wholly vanity
The girl who sold them was a hypno-
list"
Where were you going to need
such fine foot-feathers?' Latimer In
terrupted almost savagely.
The offending foot-feathers were
ane, indeed-the latest cry of the
mode as to shape and stuff At rest,
Joe's foot did look pretty in them
when she walked or tried to, her elias
tic instep became wooden, her pinched
toes were alternately dead or full of
savage prickings.
Sit down." Latimer ordered, and
tell me the whole story. You surely
have not been out with that Parish
gang again?"
THE shoes contradict you-that's
Just why / suffer from them" Joe
said with something betwixt a frown
and a pout. Ten dollars worth of
agony! Isn't that tough?"
Not as tough as the Parish gang"
Latimer exploded. See here, Joe,
you know I'm your big brother by
appointment-cu them out! l say
it, And / mean it-down to the
ground"
der breath, then more articulate:
JOHNNY must make you under
stand.- l promised l wouldn't-tut
you are my other self"
What's to understand Latimer
Interrupted.
Joe reached for his hand. The
truth" she said 81 don't like tough
ways. nor people-but have to make
a pretense of it-because you see, if
get the story-all my hard times
are over. Beckwith himself has
promised It,"
But what is the story?" Latimer
demanded
Joe put her lips almost upon his
ear, as she answered, What's be,
hind the Norowill divorce? Parish
knows, you see-hes S the only one
who does know, except the principals.
He-he thinks a lot of me, in his way.
If l keep letting him think so-and
more-he'll surely tell me-when he
knows what 1t will mean"
You infant!" Latimer interrupted.
surely you cant think Parish will
give away his patrons secrets, even
for your beautiful eyes? Why If he
did"
You can't think I'd sell the story
even if l knew it. unless he was will
ing?" Joe cried, trying to rise, but
falling back with a grimace.
- .LIati9eT took beth her hands.
THAT shows how fit YOU are for news
paper work You can't and won't for
get that you're a lady born-above
sneaking and sleuthing, and dirty pry-
ings generally. Give it up, child. Let
me send you home. Tell me, how are
you of? Need money? How much?'
Joe turned away her head, fumbling
for her purse. Her eyes were SO dim
she could barely see to open It, From
it she shook into her palm three cop
pers, a dime, a half dollar and d five
dollar gold piece. Behold my world
Iy wealth." she said, trying to speak
gayly. And l can't spend the gold
it's my christening money. you know,
kept for luck Buff only you'll
buy a storylet so l can get some
shoes"
Il suppose you can go hungry" Lat
liner interrupted curtly. why won't
you give up and go home? You know
you can marry Billy Mason"
Thank you'll don't want Billy Ma
son--I would rather be a free lance
in New York town with one square
meal a week than roll round in the
Mason auto all the days of my life"
she cried, rising and shutting her lips
on a groan. Uncertainty balancing
she smiled a gallant smile, saying:
Sorry we cant do business-must
hop along to some other Office"
I'VE can do business-we have got
to-" Latimer said doggedly, pulling
some bills from his pocket and trying
to thrust them upon her. Take it
Just an advance, you know-you can
bring stuff when you get round to it, 4"
he said, looking carefully over her
head.
She smiled at him, but shook heI
head, saying as she pushed away the
money: Johnny, don't you know
charity is demoralizing? Besides yoL
can't afford it-any more than | car
afford to take 1t. Don't worry--m,
rent is paid to the week-end-and In
going to dine with Parish-and {
chaperone Think II let him propos,
to me, then tell him | cant say Yes,
unless he gives me the story and 81
makes me independent
IF | thought you meant that-P,
shoot him." Latimer growled.
From the door Joe called to hin