Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-08-19
"THE COBBLER"
BY GERTRUDE eURNHAm.

of the disquiefing fact that there was
a hole in the sole of her right pump.
It really was foolish Of her to wear
that particular old pair Just because
they matched her dress. A hole in
ones shoe was calamity at any time.
but doubly so today. Why. Brock
might even carry out his mad scheme,
so often proposed.
At this point in her reflections Miss
Sylvia sighed and flushed. II was
such a pity that Daddy Alien could
and would not understand what dear
Breck was
Just then Breck himself dashed in,
tossed his overcoat on the seat beside |
Sylvia and joined the waiting line bel
fore the ticket window. He stopped a |
second to impart some information tol
her.
Everything is top hole, angel child.
We're going to remember today, and no
mistake, he chuckIed.
AS she cast about despairingly for
some speedy remedy she glimpsed a
piece Of paper lying on the floor near
Breek's coat. Further inspection
proved it to be stiff and heavy, need
ing only judicious folding to make it
ft in the slipper At any rate, it
would do temporarily.
On the train the nasterful Brock re-
vealed his startling plan.
"Now that have the contract which
really establishes the business, / want
you, too. There's a license In my
pocket which has been there quite long
enough. When we get to Harville
wen visit a certain nice old justice"
So in the course of an hour Sylvia
allowed herself to be passively guided
up a flight of dingy stairs and into
an equally dingy Office. kindly
faced, stout old gentleman came for
ward TO greet them. seeming to I'M
derstand their errand without expla-
nation. The phenomenon Of an clipping
couple no longer caused him a thrill.
Half a. second and ri have wit
ness in. He summoned an office boy
from some other region, deliberately
adjusted his spectacies and then re-
marked: "Now for the license. Wen
be sure that is o. K. first"
without the slightest hesitation
Breck confidently reached his hand In
his pocket and drew it forth-empty !
There ensued a profound silence.
broken By an irrepressible chuckle
from the Office boy Poor Sylvia.
whose courage had been rapidly eb-
bling, wished herself thousand miles
away.
Further frenzied search failed to
produce the missing document, and
The young couple was finally forced
to retreat. proffering apologies and
crimson with embarrassment The
attorney bowed them out with slight
trace of WEAKNESS.
Later i'm the afternoon Sylvia and
Breck parted. He was tremendously
disappointed and ehagrined, but Sylvia
felt thrill of wicked relief, for her
idea of a wedding was vastly different
Besides. who ever heard OF girl be
ing married with a hole In her shoef
She giggfed at the thought.
At dinner Sylvia slid into her place
dreading the keen scrutiny and ques-
tIoning of her father. He. however.
was unusually amfable this evening.
and when she ventured to mention the
fart that she had been with Brock that
afternoon did not protest acidly.
$50 you think that you would be
hammer with that young whppersnap-
Der. Breck Merrill, than you are with
vour old fatherT' he queried dryfy,
AZ never put 1t that way" retorted
Sylvia spiritedly. you know that /
think the world Of you, daddy, but
am going to marry Breck, just the
same
.'Wer," her father went on, twinkle
in his eve. II see that he has just
seenred a contract I've been trying to
get myself. He's a clever fellow, so
I guess you can have him If you find
him necessary to your happiness.
nresume YOU viii want the usual "trip
peries. so here's a check as starter
when the full import Of this
astounding announcement on the part
of her parent broke upon the slightly
dazed Sylvia. she made swift and rap
furious acknowledgment, then fed up
stairs. In the seclusiOn Of her room
she pirouetted and kicked one small
slipper high in the air
II was the one with the hole in It.
and the temporary sole fell out. Sylvia
smiled reminlseently and picked It up.
some writing on the fold attracted
her attention, and she opened the soiled
paper.
So intensely interesting did she ind
II that's sat cross-legged on the floor
and read 1t through with wrinkiedI
brows. then laughed until the tears
came. Growing somewhat calmer she
Jumped up, and still clutching the
csuse of her merriment dashed down"
stairs, skipping steps recklessly, one
shoe or.
Mr.. Allen, enjoying his cigar and
..o,- In rho library wondered