The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-23
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
DIV TaArr prrrr1r
A TILT OVER A PAIR OF
SLIPPERS.
BY JANE PHELPS
Chapter rs.

would acti But youth is impatient
Of restraint, unforgivin. cruel often.
Margaret Dalton's jealousy of her
brother was perh ps only natural.
She had been his sole care, depend
ent upon him for many, il not most
of her pleasures. When he married
she felt that she might have to be
thrust out of his life, so assumed the
defensive before she waited to find out
if it were necessary to antagonize me,
her brothers wife.
Mrs Hunter had said that I was
"prettier than Mrs. De Isle. if I only
knew how to make the most of my
SELF The last part of her remark
had impressed me. 1 knew I was
pretty-every girl who is, realizes it.
And L could look much prettier if it
were not that Margaret meddled with
what 1 should wear. chose my clothes.
1 would take even more pains with
my toilet now, but 1 could do Moth
ing about clothes-not until I could
persuade Keith to allow me to select
them myself, or he would consent to
go with me instead of sending Mar
garet.
After Mrs Hunters call 1 tried
doing my hair all sorts of ways, only
to be told by Margaret that it was
silly to change my appearance-al
ways said at table, when Keith was
there to hear, and finally he also
agreed with her and rather sternly
told me TO stop it and wear my hair
in a knot in my neck-the way Mar
garet had declared most becoming,
and which knew made me look old
fashioned and countrffied compared
to the girls of my age who wore elab-
crate coiffures.
\ All these things seem trite and of
little account They would have been
perhaps had 1 been 40, but at IS they
doomed large But had it all over,
Margaret in one thing-to quote
than she did, and a much narrower
one. The night she realized that she
could not get my slippers on I was
delighted.
She was going to a party. and had
ordered some silver ones. They failed
to come, altho she waited until nearly
time to leave the house before she
finally made up her mind that she to
be disappointed. She had dressed.
Her gown was a lovely blue and silver
thing that demanded silver slippers.
She was almost crying when Keith
suggested she wear mine. Reluctantly
1 went to fetch them. They were new
my first pair, and I had never worn
them. But L said nothing, altho 1
moved so slowly that Keith told me
sharply to hurry or Margaret would
be late.
them from their folds of black pa
per- and gave them into Keith's out
stretched hand. n
Just the thing with your dressi'~
he said, as he reached for the shoe
horn, and Margaret raised her foot
But in spite of all his efforts the
slipper would not go on her foet, and
he finally desisted.
Let me, try, Vera's foot is no
smaller than mine!" she declared pet
.tishly.
She tugged and pulled until
feared my slippers would be ruined,
but still they would not go over her
heel. She threw them aside in dis
gust.
Il know you bought them too
small! L should have been with
you" she declared as she told the
maid to bring her black satin slippers.
In a spirit of bravado 1 slipped off
my pumps and put on the slippers.
They went on quite easily as she
could see They had been one of
self, and I had been most particular
that they should fit well.
See, they are plenty large" I
said, holding my dress up bit as I
walked around the room.
Your foot looks pinched and ugly
time you wish to buy shoes. You
know nothing about shopping" Mas
garet fairly snapped at me she was so
angry.
I said nothing, realizing had been
foolish to attract her attention to my
feet in the mood she was in. After
she left 1 asked Keith if he didn't
think they fitted well and were
pretty.
Perhaps they fit. and they surely
are pretty. But after this take Mar
garet with you when you buy shoes.
Nothing spoils a foot like ill-fitting
Shoes
But she will want me to buy shoes
too large for me, just because her
foot is larger than mine!"
For heavens sake. Vera, don't OBJ
ject to everything 1 ask you to do"
I made no reply. I was hurt at his
tone, his Impotence. Now I realize
that it wasn't easy for Keith, this,
constant pickering of the two women
with whom he spent his time. His
persistent endeavors to keep peace
and have things run smoothly must
have been terribly wearing.
But at the time I never thought of
such a thing as being sorry for him
I was too busy being sorry for myself.
(Tomorrow-Vera distrusts Mrs. De
Lisle.)