The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-05-22
LAURA'S HEEL
By JAMIE OSBORN
By JAMIE OSBORN

| III you had happened TO be buying
shoes on a certain May morning iT
Dawson's smart shoe shop you might
have seen prepOssessing young shoe
salesman with his foOtstOol drawn
close to bewitching young customer
and you would have thought their con
versatiOn was more heated and more
intimate than the purchase Of pair
Of shoes or so would usually warrant
II you had overheard you would
have got this:
| But | think It was extremely un-
demanded Of you," from the girl
"You told me you were learning your
fathers business In every detail and
| ! knew he was in the shoe business
but ! never dreamed that you were
actually waiting on people, selling
women's shoes.
II shouldn't think you'd want to.
And you didn't want me to know. I
am sure. or you would have told me
so right out. II I just hadn't hap
pened to walk right up to you before
I even recognized you never would
have found it out. OF course, l didn't
know that your father was really at
the head Of DawsOn's"
II had nothing to be ashamed Of"
said young Dawson. with considerable
asperity-asperity that set very well
on his well-molded. forceful features
"In my letters I did not go into de
tails because l didn't know you would
be interested. told you what |
thought would be Of most interest to
you. l told you that ! would soon
be promoted to the post Of vice presi-
dent Of the concern with quarter in
terest In the business. told you
what my income would be within a
few months. told you because !
thought it only fair for you to know
these things in considering my pro-
posal." Then followed an awkward
pause.
Poor little Doris seemed to be blush
ing with intense embarrassment and
there was nothing for her round blue
eyes to do hut to glance down at the
white buckskin pumps that young
Dawson had showed her before she
realized that he was young Dawson at
all. For Doris, in fact. had been too
preoccupied thinking Of the letter of
proposal that had come that very
morning from young Dawson to notice
the young shoe salesman who waited
on her. even though he was as oh
xy{n to
Dawson.
"Well. suppose might as well
get the shoes anyway" she said lame
ly. Eyes. think that those will do
mot If I have anything to say about
It." came from Dawson. and he was
surprised at his own temerity. Per-
haps he had a sort of caveman desire
to subject the little blue-eyed girl to
even more embarrassment than she
already felt. to punish her In part for
the opinion she had expressed con-
corning his present humble calling.
''If am going to have anything to
say about what you do and don't do,
am never going to let you wear
shoes like that guess know from
my experience here as salesman
Heels like that just ruin the shape of
women's feet. Oh. perhaps they are
all right for dances and parties, but
you want these shoes to walk in.
wouldn't talk to any ordinary custom
er that way. but I've got to talk to
you straight from the shoulder. I
never imagined women tortured their
feet the way they do. and it's some
thing that every shoe manufacturer
and retailer ought to know. That's
why I'm glad I am spending these
weeks selling Shoes"
"But I think I have a right to buy
the sort of shoes I wish. Besides you
don't know how am answering your
letter." AS matter of fact the let
ter was on its way containing an an
swer unequivocably in the affirmative.
Doris had planned to get these defect
able shoes for spring house party to
which they were both invited the next
weekend. High-heeled white buck |
skin pumps were essential to produc-
ing the picture that she contemplated. |
"Look at the shoes you've got on
now" ruthlessly went on young Daw-
son. holding up a dainty high-but-
toned boot with exaggeratedly long |
pointed vamp and the extreme Of high |
heel. THAT'S ridiculous. It'll ruin |
your health and I'll bet it's fendishly |
Doris did not relish this frankness. |
II think I've stood all I am going to |
stand from you" she said. "You are
taking very unfair advantage of me
to get down and say things about my |
shoes and my feet" She was trying
to tuck little silk-covered |
foot under an abbreviated skirt
please put my shoe back on and let
me 60"
The shoe was eventually buttoned
~ and Doris rose. Forgive me-"
whispered the shoe salesman looking
np pleadingly from his stool. ~ only
said 1t for your own good, wanted
10 show You some of the sort of shoes
| think a girl like you would like bet
ter. They're lots niftier than these