The Press., 1920-07-15
LAURA'S HEEL
BLAME OSBORN

e. lsao. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate,
 If you had happened to be buying shoes on a 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 would have thought their con- versation was more heated and more intimate than the purchase of pair of shoes or so would usually warrant. If you had overheard you would have got this:
 "But l think 1t was extremely un- derhanded of you." from the girl. You told me you were learning your fathers business In every detail and I knew he was In the shoe business but l never dreamed that you were actually waiting on people. selling women's shoes.
 "I shouldn't think you'd want to. And you didn't want me to know. l am sure. or you would have told me so right out. If just hadn't hap r pened to walk right up to you before I even recognized you I never would have found 1t out. Of course, didn't know that your father was really at 1 the head of Dawson's."
 "I had nothing to be ashamed of, said young Dawson. with considerable 1 asperity-asperfty that set very well | on his well-mOlded forceful features. "In my letters I did not go into de tails because I didn't know you would be interested. told you what thought would be of most interest to you. told you that would soon be promoted to the post of vice presi- dent of the concern with a quarter in- | terest in the business. told you what my income would be within a | few months I told you because thought 1t only fair for you to know these things in considering my pro- posal." Then followed an awkward pause.
 i 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 ob- viously good to look upon as was Dawson.
 "Weil, suppose I might as well get the shoes anyway" she said lame ly. "Yes. I think that those will do."
 Mot If 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 t&e 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 I am going to have anything to say about what you do and don't do I am never going to let you wear shoes like that-I guess I 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 1 you want these shoes to walk in. wouldn't talk to any ordinary custom | CT that way. but I've got to talk to you straight from the shoulder. never imagined women tortured their feet the way they do. and it's some hot fo 0t,y and retailer ought to know. That's why I'm glad 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 I am answering your letter" AS a matter of fact the let ter was on It's way containing an an swer unequivocably in the affirmative Doris had planned to get these delect. 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 contemplat ted
 Look at the shoes you've got or 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 uncomfortable"
 Doris did not relish this frankness "I think I've stood all I am going te 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 desperately to tuck little silk-covered foot under an abbreviated skirt Please put my shoe back on and lei me go."
 The shoe was eventually buttoned up and Doris rose. Forgive me- whispered the shoe salesman looking up pleadingly from his stool. ''I only said 1t for 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 derful. and they'd be so much better for you"
 But Doris was Obdurate. She was miserable but she was taking a strange youthful feminine delight in torturing the man she knew well enough she loved to distraction. She knew she would be filled with fearful remorse as soon as she was home and had time to think of 1t. but now il gave her 6 strange sort of pleasure tc l torture him. She minced her way ,l her high heels out of the shop withou even turning to bid him good-by ant Dawson was left to gather togethe the array of high heeIed white buck skin pumps he had got out for her in spectfon.
 About half hour later young Daw son was hnrryfng along the avenue Oenf on getting to his rooms to SC, whether letter had yet arrived iron | Doris and