Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-11-04

stdlhtu tiou tiie must. anu bUiis
cried.
The night heightened into q week
and the week into a month. and the
month into double and treble that
number of days And time. proven
bial healer of discord and inharmony
rendered impossible a concession oil
pride from either side. Dolly's inter
est In life ceased to center about
gowns, teas and shows, and dwindled
to reading the daily news with its dis
quieting announcements.
1t was well into the fourth month
since the unfortunate attendance al
that performance, whose very moral
intended for them, failed to drive
home the lesson. Jim Reardon mOped
down the towns busy street, dark
shadows beneath listless eyes testify
ing to the gnawing canker Of heart
sickness within.
For distraction he Joined the onlook'
ers before a shop window where an
up-to-date busness-getter had sta
toned his machine to secure the pass
ing trade. Rubber heels put or
while q wait" read the legend In
brilliantly silvered letters across the
pane. The advertising psychology OF
the repairman was good. Jim glanced
at his shoes, thought Of rubber-heeled
comfort and saw the excellent work
being performed within the shop. He
entered.
Rubber heels, please" he courteous
ly said to the gum-chewing clerk as
he removed and handed him his shoes
He inserted his feet and twiddled his
stockinged toes within the spacious
confines of carpet slippers, as yacantly
he watched the minute hand of the
clock on the wall make monotonous
progress. The whirr of the electric
machinery was peculiarly soothing to
his distraught mood
A boy entered, and not receiving the
immediate attention the majesty of
his youth demanded. Topped coin
on the counter and, grabbing up a
pair of shoes made hasty exit just as
the clerk advanced.
Jim took out his watch and con
frmed the time of the wall clock He
had been there 80 minutes. He called
TO the clerk.
"Will you please see II my shoes
are ready2 I am anxious to get
away"
The gum-chewng clerk glanced over
The repaired work on hand and puz-
zled, walked over to the cobbler and
inspected the work yet to be per-
formed
Cant seem to find your shoes" was
the laconic information. "Do you think
that kid took emp"
Jim tried to look as dignified as
his carpeted feet would permit. Pray,
how will It help me to know thatT
came the acid rejoinder.
The ironic sarcasm was wasted.
"Mebbe bell come back" Jim fretted
and fumed and waited--ten minutes,
90 minutes, another half hour The
embarrassing suspense was terrible
His collar wited beneath the strain
If he could only arise and pace the
floor But one cannot pace the floor
in carpet slippers They simply will
not stay on.
And then there blew into the shop
hurricane Of tempestuous Indignation,
brandishing Jim's shoes in her hand
Dolly's hand. "What do you mean by
sending me pair Of mans shoes?"
she cried advancing like tumult Of
avengiug wrath,
And then She saw jim. With shoes
IN hard, she nyoluntarily made a step
toward him. jim shuffled to his feet.
Four months Of separation were moth
ing. They We're together now!
"rve been a brute" Jim contritely
apologlzed The clerk giggled as he
looked from Jim's feet to the shoes
dangling from the girls wrist by knot
ted shoe strings. Don't ever say II,
Dolly, don't ever say it."
But the eft" Dolly would say. Hand
ing him his property, there came In
gentle monotone, Here, dear, are your
shoes"