Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-08-06
LAURA'S HEEL
By JAMIE OSBORN

II you had happened to be buying
shoes on a certain May morning In
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
OF shoes or so would usually warrant.
II you had overheard you would
have got this:
But ! think II was extremely UNI
demanded of you" from the girl.
You told me you were learning your
| knew he was in the shoe business
but | never dreamed that you were
actually waiting on people. selling
women's shoes.
Il 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. II just hadn't hap
pened to walk right up to you before
! even recognized you never would
have found It out. OF course, didn't
know that your father was really at
the head Of Dawsons"
81 had nothing to be ashamed Of"
said young Dawson. with considerable
autobiography that set very well
on his well-molded. forceful features.
I'm my letters I did not go into de-
tails because ! didn't know you would
be interested. | told you what I
thought would be of most interest to
you. | told you that | would soon
he 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
few months. told you because
thought II 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 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 notice |
the young shoe salesman who waited
on her, even though he was as OBJ
viously good to look upon as was
Dawson
well. suppose I might as well
get the shoes anyway" she said lame
~. "Yes. think that those will do"
Not If have anything to say about
It," came from Dawson, and he was
surprised at his own temerity. Per-
haps he had 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-
rerning 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
ny experience here as salesman.
Heels like that just ruin the shape Of
feet. Oh. perhaps they are
vi right for dances and parties, but
'ou want these shoes to walk In. I
talk to any ordinary CUSTOM
n that way. but I've got to talk to
you straight from the shoulder. II
lever Imagined women tortured their
eet the way they do. and it's some
hing that every shoe manufacturer
md retailer ought to know. That's
Why I'm glad I am spending these
weeks selling Shoes"
But think ! have a right to buy
ne sort OF shoes I wish. Besides Won
lont know how I am answering your
etter. AS a matter of fact the LET
er was on its way containing an nm
wer unequivocably In the affirmative
Doris had planned to get these defect.
BILE shoes for spring house party TO
which they were both invited the next
Teek-end. High-heeled white buck.
KIN pumps were essential to produc-
ne the picture that she CONTEMPLATED
Look at the shoes you've got on
ow," ruthlessly went on young Daw.
on, holding up a dainty higb-but.
,ned boot with exaggeratedly long.
ointed vamp and the extreme OF high
eel. THAT'S ridiculous. tn ruin
our health and I'll bet it's ,endisblv
Doris did not relish this frankness
think I've stood all I am going TO +.
and from you." she said. you are
king very unfair advantage of me
get down and say things about nv
ices and my feet" She was trvInp
asperately to tuck little siIk-coyered n
'ot under an abbreviated skirt Il
Please put my shoe back on and let e
q GO" e
The shoe was eventually buttoned t,
, and Doris rose Forgive mo " II
hisnered the shoe salesman lookino II
pleadingly from his stool. 81 onlv n
Id 1t for your own good. wanted II
show you some Of the sort OF shoes a
think girl like you would like her. NJ
r. They're lots niftier than these h
18th your little foot they'd look won. m
rful. and they'd be so much better =
r you"
But Doris was Obdurate Sbo ~