The Topeka state journal., 1920-04-08
Story
Laura's Heel.
BY JAMIE OSBORN


shoes on certain May morning in
Dawson's smart shoe shop you might
have seen a prepossessing young shoe
salesman with his footstool drawn
close to a bewitching young customer,
and you might have thought that their
conversation was more heated and
more intimate than the purchase of a
pair of shoes or so would usually war
rant.
II you had overheard you would
have got this:
But I think it was extremely un-
derhanded of you" from the girl.
you told me you were learning your
fathers business m every detail and
1 knew he was in the shoe business
but / never dreamed that you we're
actually waiting on people, selling
women's shoes.
IT shouldn't think you'd want TO.
And you didn't want me to know,
am sure,< or you would have told me
so right out. If 1 just hadn't hap
pened to walk right up to you before
1 even recognized you, Y never would
have found it out.> OF course, didn't
know that your father was really at
the head of Dawson's."
IT had nothing to be ashamed of.
said young Dawson, with considerable
asperity-asperity that set very well
on his we'll nodded, forcefm features.
I'm my letters did not go into details
because L didn't know you would be
interested. 1 told you what thought
would be of most interest to you. l
told you that 1 would soon be pro-
NOTED to the post of ice-president Of
the concern with Quarter-intereSt in
the business, 1 told you what my in
come would be within few months, L
told you because I thought it only fair
for you to know these things in con-
sidering my proposal" 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 but 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 no
tice the young shoe salesman who
waited on her. even tho he was as
obviously good to look upon as was
Dawson.
well, suppose I might as well get
the shoes anyway" she said lamely.
"Yes,lI think that these will do"
"Not if I have anything to say
about it, came from Dawson. and he
was surprised at his own temerity.
Perhaps he had a sort of caveman de-
sire 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-
cerning his present humble calling.
"If 1 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--I guess know from my ex-
perience here as salesman. Heels like
that just ruin the shape OF women
| feet. Oh, perhaps they are all right
for dances and parties, but you want
these shoes to walk in. wouldn'
talk to any ordinary customer that
straight from the shoulder. never
imagined, women tortured their feet
the way they do, and it's something
that every shoe manufacturer and re-
taller ought to know. That's why I'm
glad I am spending these weeks selling
shoes"
But I think I have right to buy
the sort of shoes I wish. Besides, you
don't know how am answering your
letter." AS matter OF fact the letter
,unequivocably in the affirmative
Doris had planned to, get these de-
iectable shoes for spring house party
to which they were both invited the
next weekend. High heeled white
buckskin pumps were essential 70 pro
duce the picture that she contem-
Look at the shoes you've got or
now" ruthlessly went>on young Daw-
son, holding up a dainty, high put-
toned boot-Tith exaggerateoiy lonS
pointed vamp and the extreme OF higf
heel. That's ridiculous. It'll ruiz
your health and I'll bet it's fiendisnlS
uncomfortable"
Doris did not relish this frankness
'.r think I've stood all / am going tS
stand from you," she said. ~ ou are
taking a very unfair advantage of mt
70 get down and sag things about m,
shoes and my feet" She was trying
desperately 10 tuck little silk coy
cred foot under an abbreviated skiI. ~
"Please put my shoe back on and lie
me go" t,,..osJ
IN and Doris rose. Forgive me,
wbisnered the shoe salesman 1ookini
, up pleadingly from his stool Il oni!
said it for your own good wanted
to show YOU some of the sort of shoe
7 think girl like you wouta nA@ +bese ee
tier. They're lots niftier than THESE
/, with YOUR little foot they'd look won
derfui. and they'd be SO much bette
But Doris was opdurate- She wa
5 miserable but she was taking
t strange youthful feminine delight II
torturing the man she knew vel
, enouah She loved to distraction. Sh
knew she would be filled with tearfu
rernorse as soon as she was home AM
had time to think of it, but now !
I rave her a strange sort of pleasure I
!. torture him. She minced her way OF
, her high heels out of the shop withou
7 even turning to bid him goodbye an
Dawson was left to gather together tn
! array of high heelcd white oucksKi
! pumps he had got out for her inspec
. ton.
About a half hour later young Daw
son was hurTying along the avenu
! bent on getting to his rooms to Sc
n whether a letter had yet arrived from
Doris and back again, within the hou
t allowed salcsmen at pawson's 70
= lunch His interview with Doris her
9 self had left him without the slightes
d appetite for that repast. II she Ia
5 actually written letter of acceptarc
I then this little difference might o
- made Up. He could hold her to he
; decision, send her five or six, tie