The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-01-20
The old Shoes
BY GENEVIEVE ULMAR.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.;

II 1t 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 how l
ever came to get you-I don't deserve
you. You have been imposed upon
ever since I 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 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. l was
delighted to have the dear little ones
to care for
Well, l 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 l going?" she chirped
vivaciously. why, to get the spare
room ready and comfortable fast as 1
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
youi"
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 we'll with
I John. 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 Tie
mother contributed a few dollars a
month to the household from doing
/ some sewing, but John was worried,
4 for it looked vague and dark ahead
/ Then came a new surprise, and COM
plication, and burden. The brother of
Mary was crippled in an accident at
i the mills where he had worked. The
doctor said he would be an invalid
! for about year. Harry Estes could
get around we'll enough, but he could
I not do the hard work his former posi-
I ton had required.
Harry was cutting away a dangling
! piece of 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
to say lightly.
Il was thinking" proceeded Mrs
Rice refectively. L have some clothes
and such up in the old trunk OF my
/ dead husband. Yes, and l am certain
there is a pair of shoes he wore. They
are not new, but certainly better thar
those you are wearing. If they fl
you, they might do. Wait III 60 anC
look them up"
Mrs. Rice proceeded to the attic
She returned shortly with the pair o
them to Harry
Why, they At just famously," HI
declared, as he tried one on. The
would do me for six months if the,
were patched up a little / helped III,
old shoemaker on Central street carr,
in some leather supplies a few day
since. He told me that made me
free customer in the way Of repairs
might need. I'll go and see him now.
The shoemaker was true to hi
promise. Harry sat in his stockin,
feet as the artisan began work on TIT
shoes.
The worker had found the sole O
the shoe quite regular and ordinary
When he came to the other, however
1t held fast and firm and he had tt
dig hard to loosen two thin plates O
steel. He drew them out Betweel
them lay little package, done UP il
oilskin
Whoever wore these shoes uset
this sole for a pocketbook," observes
the cobbler, as he handed the oilskil
packet to Harry.
The latter unfolded it. Within rest
ed note! or a check No, a cert
ncate of deposit on an Oregon banl
for thirty thousand dollars
Harry knew enough OF the histor,
of the Rice family to read the oracl,
promptly. He uttered an excited yell
Then, in his stocking feet, ne made
dash for nome.
The agitated Mrs. Rice insisted Oh
going straight to the local bank to b.
assured the certificate was good
There she left it for collection-"hal