The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1916-03-08
The old SHOES
~ sENEVIEvE ULMAR.

am bOTTy 10 nave 10 ASH al III
mense favor of you. Mary" began
John Rice, in his clumsy, but straight
forward fashion.
If II is something that pleases you,
or does you any good brightly re-
sponded his patient, gentle-faced wife.
don't be sorry, John Be glad, for /
am bound to grant It..
You dear, lovable sweetheart" en-
Unused John. Il don't know now |
ever came to get you-I don't deserve
you. You have been imposed upon
ever since married you. Just to
think of it, calculated that father
had enough to care for the home brood
as long as any OF them lived. You
know how he went out to Oregon with
all his money bent on buying a big
fruit farm and moving there. You re-
member how he came home dazed,
and telling an incoherent story of be-
ing beaten in a rough mining town
out West. We could get no trace Of
the thirty thousand dollars he had
taken with him for investments 1t
was gone-lost. Father died. Mother
found barely enough left to support
her. To relieve her you consented
to take the children"
Wanted them. you mean. was
delighted to have the dear little ones
to care for"
Well. ! may as well break the final
bad news" went on John desperately.
Mothers millinery venture has failed.
She can struggle on no longer and
hold on where are you going" for
Mary was fitting away fast as she
could go.
Where am going?" she chirped
vivaciously. Why. to get the spare
room ready and comfortable fast as
can. OF course Why. sir. do YOU think
| am going TO have honored company
catch me unprepared?"
You ANGEL voiced John Rice You
have brought nothing but brightness
and blessings to anyone coming near
you'll"
Johns mother was settled in the
very best room in the house. New life
seemed to inspire her, with her chill.
dren restored to her. and Mary's con-
slant cheerful smile brought radiant
sunshine to her dropping spirit.
Things were not going well with
John. A cut in salary made him look
serious. but Mary declared It possible
to meet the grocery bill without de-
priving them OF enough to eat The
mother contributed few dollars a
month to the household frn.-> doing
some sewing. but John was -,--ried.
for IppkaI vagrta and Haru
Then came new surprise. ana SOM
plicatiou, ard burden. The brother OF
Mary was crippled in an accident at
the mills where he had worked. The
doctor said he would be an invalid
for about a year Harry Estes could
get around well enough. but he could
not do the hard work his former posi-
ton had required.
Harry was cutting away a dangling
piece of a shoe sole when old Mrs
Rice noticed the fact
Why. Harry. your shoes are pretty
well gone up. aren't they" she re-
marked.
That for some time. Harry tried
% say lightly.
Il was thinking" proceeded Mrs.
Rice refectiyely. Il have some clothes
and such up in the old trunk OF my
dead husband. Yes and / am certain
there is a pair OF shoes he wore. They
are not new. but certainly better than
those you are wearing II they fiji
you they might do Wait I'll go anu
look them up"
Mrs. Rice proceeded to the attic
She returned shortly with the pair oil
shoes she had described and handed
them to Harry.
Why. they fit Just famously." he
declared, as he tried one on. They
would do me for six months If they
were patched up a little. 1 helped the
old shoemaker on Central street carry
in some leather supplies a few days
since. He told me that made me a
free customer in the way OF repairs /
might need III go and see him now"
The shoemaker was true to his
promise. Harry sat in his stocking
feet as the artisan began work on the
shoes.
The worker had found the sole OF
the shoe quite regular and ordinary
When he came to the other, however,
it held fast and firm and he had to
dig hard to loosen two thin plates OF
steel. He drew them out. Between
them lay little package. done up in