The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-11-11
SECOND STORY

Some specially acute torment must
be reserved for the window dresser of
q great city's shops. By caravan and
boat and rail, by camel, ibex, mule
and horse come the treasures Of the
world into his cunning hands. Lofts
and factories stifle human lives with
out stint that the window dresser may
allure the throng.
1t was a particularly charming pair
Of slippers, and the identical shade Of
ribbon she desired that caught and
held Rita Deane's eyes. OF course,
purchase was out Of the question.
Since earliest remembrance her
father had drummed into her pretty
head. that personal vanity was the
deadiest of sins. And besides-MTs.
Sharpe, Reverend Deane's housekeep-
er, held tightly to her arm.
Surreptitiously, Rita fumbled the
money in her purse. Yes, she had
enough-just enough.
She lifted her eyes to another win
dow on the seventh floor of the great
Office building across the street,
where James White, her flance,
transacted the affairs of his huge es-
tate. She could see him dimly, pacing
up and down in his Office, now and
then glancing at a letter in his hand.
She had heard something Of the con-
tents Of that letter from her father
before he had dispatched it. In fact
he had read it to her, after an exceed
ingly painful scene. She had rebelled
at being obliged to listen to the harsh
dictum: you, a rich backslider in my
church, marry my daughter, Rita?
Never! How you met her puzzles me,
as l have always carefully guarded
her"
Yes, the lines of that letter had
scared themselves like letters Of fire
upon her brain.
Again she turned to the window.
Some sudden impulse of insurrection
frothed within her soul.
Look! Look" she cried, excitedly,
bointing toward the end of the line
Of blocked traffic.
Curiosity won. AS Mrs Sharpe's
iron fingers relaxed upon their grip,
Rita Deane's feet glided swiftly inside
the doors of the shop. 1t was full
five minutes before she returned, inno-
Gently assuming an air Of injury at the
housekeeper's reproaches for her dis
appearance The slippers and the rib
bon hidden beneath her little jacket
more than made up for any punish
ment that could ever be hers.
Gladly Rita submitted to the clutch
Of the dragon housekeeper. The more
quickly she reached home the sooner
would she see the enchanting trans
formation the finery made in her ap-
pearance.
Letter or no letter, dictation or no
dictatIon, she would see James again.
Once in her own room she studied
her reflection in the mirror, surprised
to find that the sins had left no mark
upon her pretty face.
Cautiously, a bit fearfully, she
loosed the masses Of her hair from
their tight braids, binding them with
the splendid ribbon, reveling in the
effect its contrast worked in her ap
pearance.
And then the slippers!
Carried away with her delight, with
this new sensation, this realization OF
her charms, her feet-those beauti
fully shod feet-began to perform
Strange capers, began to steal away
her sense of caution. They moved
in gay, spirited steps, faster, evel
faster, until the dancing girl seemed
more like a festive wood-sprite pris
oned in this house of gloom. And theI
then a hand fell upon her shoulder
A firm, iron hand it was; hant
that seemed to grip like five bands
of unbreakable steel about the very
soul of her.
The hand left her shoulder. Sh'
dared not meet the look she knew was
upon her fathers face.
She felt a little tug at her hair
Then a wild rage seized her as she
saw the precious ribbon dangling
from her fathers hand, held in th'
finger tips as though the very con
tact defiled him She lifted fierce eye
toward his own, hot protest upon he
lips, but the habit of lifelong obedi
ence is not readily downed. His trem
bling forefinger indicated the slippers
while his lips opened and closed with
out any words coming. He moistenet
his lips with the tip Of his tongue, bu
still the voice was hoarse with sup
pressed passion as he commanded he
to remove the offending slippers.
Siavishly, yet hating herself for he
obedience, she placed them in hi
hand, averting her eyes to hide th'
sullen rebellion there.
Il have fought against this trait II
you, Rita. l have prayed for victory
should not have blamed you 81
harshly. My prayers shall yet vii
victory for me, victory over the van
ity you inherited from your poor
weak mother.
"The same slippers-the same Et
bon, Rita! You were just a chill
then, that day your mother brought
doll dressed as a dancing girl. Th
doll wore slippers Just like these
Just such a ribbon was bound abou
~~~~~~~~~~c~~~ ~~N-N-NN1~UNs~~~~~~N~N