The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-04-06
! THE Dali Il
SHORT STORY,
Laura's Heel.
Copyright, 1920, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)
BY JAMIE OSBORN.

iENEHppdpSEE 6yuuACdLtsJ
BY JAMIE OSBORN.
vF you had happened to be buying
shoes on a certain May morning in
4 Dawson's smart shoe shop You
might have seen a prepossessing
young shoe salesman with his foot.
stool drawn close to 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 warrant.
II you had overheard you would
have got this:
'But think It was extremely un.
derhanded Of you," from the girl.
lyon told me you were learning your
fathers business in every detail and
knew he was In the shoe business
but 4 never dreamed that you were
actually waiting on people, selling wo-
mems shoes.
II 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 hadn't happened to
walk right mp to you before even re-
cognized you never would have
found It out. OF course I 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 wei!
on his well-molded, forceful features.
I'm my letters ! did not go into de.
tails because didn't know you would
be Interested. told you that would
soon be promoted to the post OF vice.
president of the concern with quar-
ter interest In the business, told you
what my income would be within few
months, told you because I thought
1t only fair for you to know these
things, in considering 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 ac
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.
Wen, suppose ] might as vel.
get the shoes anyway" she said lame.
" Yes think that those will do.
Not II 4 have anything to say abou
it. came from Dawson, and he wa,
surprised at his own temerity. Per.
haps he had a sort of cayeman desire
TO subject the little blue-eyed girl t.
even more embarrassment than SHE
Already felt, to punish her in part fol
the opinion she had expressed con-
corning his present humble calling.
am going to have anything to
say about what you do and don't do,
am never going to let your wear
shoes like that7-I 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 custo.
n1er that way, but I've got to talk to
you straight from the shoulder.
never imagined women tortured thei
feet the way they do, and it's some.
thing that every shoe manufacturer
and retailer ought to know. That
why I'm glad | am spending these
weeks selling shoes"
HpnfIoT thfnIr
the sort of shoes wish. Besides you
don,t know how / am answering you1
letter.. As a matter Of fact, the let.
ter was onsits way containing an ans.
wer unequiyocably in the affirmative.
Doris had planned to get these delec-
table shoes for spring house party
to which they were both invited thu
next week end. High heeled white
buckskin pumps were essential to pro.
ducing the picture that she contemp-
lated.
Look at the shoes you've got or
now ruth1essly vent on young Daw.
SON holding up dainty high buttoned
boot, with exaggeratedly long point.
ed vamp and the extreme of high heelt
That's ridiculous. It'll ruin you1
health and I'll bet it's fiendishly un.
comfortable
Doris did not relish this frankness
z think I've stood all 1 am going to
stand from you," she said. "You are
taking very unfair advantage OF me
TO get down and say things about nv
shoes and my feet" She was irwin
desperately to tuck little silk COW
cred foot under an abbreviated skirt.
Please put my shoe back on and le
me go.
The shoe was eventually buttoned
up ana Doris rose. Forgive me,
whispered the shoe salesman looking
up pleading1y from his stool. 'I only
said It 70. your own good. wanted
to show you some OF the sort Of shoes
think a girl like you would like bet.
Ter. They're lots niftier than these.
With your little foot they'd look won.