The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1920-07-30
By JAMIE OSBORN

If you had happened to be buying
shoes on a certain May morning in
Dawson's smart shoe shop you might
have seen o prepossessing young shoe
salesman with his fo0tstOOl drawn
close 20 q bewItching young customer.
and you would have thought their con
versation was heated and more
Intimate than the purchase of a pair
OF shoes or so would usually warrant.
If you had overheard you would
have got this:
"But ! think It was extremely IN
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.
u shouldn't think you'd want to.
And you didn't want me to know, I
am sure. or you would have told me
80 right ont. II ! just hadn't hap
pened 10 walk right up to you before
! v e recognized you ! never would
have found II u or course, | didn't
know that your father was really al
the head Of Dawson's"
Il had nothing TO he ashamed Of"
said Young Dawson. with considerable
asperity--asperfty that set very well
on bis weli-molded. forceful features
in my letters I did not go into de-
tails hecause ! didn't know you would
he Interested. I told you what I
thought would he OF most interest 10
you. | told you that I would soon
be promoted 10 the post OF vice presI
dent Of The concern with a quarter In
terest In fhe business. told you
what my income would he within a
few months. ! told you becruse !
Thought It only fair for you 70 know
these things In considering my pro
posal." Then followed an awkward
pause.
Poor little Doris seemed TO he blush
Ing with intense embark and
there was nothing for her round blue
eyes to do hut 10 glance down at the
white bnrkskin pumps that young
Dawson had showed her before she
realized THAT he was Young Dawson ~
all, For Doris, In fact. had been ton
preoccupled thinking Of the letter VI
proposal hat had come that very
morning from Young Dawson to notice
the young shoe salesman who waited
on her, even though he was as oh
yiously good to look upon as was
Dawson.
well. ! suppose | might ms well
get the shoes anyway" she said lame
~. "Yes think that those Will DO"
mot II have anything TO say about
IT," CANT from Dawson, and he was
surprised at his W temerity. Per
haps he had q 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.
III I am going 10 have anything TO
say about what you do and don't do.
] am never going to let Won wear
shoes like that-I guess know from
my experience here as salesman
Heels like that just ruin the shane NJ
women's feet. Oh. perhaps they are
all right Tor dances and parties. bur
you want these shoes to walk In.
wouldn't talk to any ordinary custom
er that way. hut I've got 70 talk to
you straight from the shoulder.
imagined women tortured their
feet the way they do. and It's some
thing that every shoe manufactures
and retailer ought to know. That's
why TN glad | am spending these
weeks selling shoes"
"But ! think I have a right "a huy
the sort of SHOES ] wish. Besides Won
don't know how I am answering your
letter" AS a matter Of fact the iet.
ter was on ITS way containing an an
Swer unequivOcably in the affirmative.
Doris had planned to get these delect.
able shines for n spring house party to
which they were bnth 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 M a dainty hlgh-but.
toned boot with e%xaggeratedly long
pointed vnmp and the extreme Of high
heel. That's ridiculous. I'm ruin
your health and rn bet It's hendlshly
uncomfortable"
Doris did not relish This frankness.
II think I've stood all am going 10
stand from you" she snld. "YOu are
taking y very unfair advantage NJ me
10 get down and say things about NV
shoes and my feet" She was trying
desperately to tuck q little silk-covered
font under an abbreviated skirt.
please put my shoe back on and let
me 20"
The shoe was eventually buttoned
M and Doris rose. Forgive me-"
whlsnered the shoe salesman looking
up pleadlngly from his stool. II only
said Il for your own good. wanted
10 show Won some OF the sort OF shoes
! think a girl like you would like bet.
ter They're lots nittier than these.
win your little foo, they'd look won.