The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-09
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Shoes Of Destiny
~ l.ARIseA

: l4s loilueSt VI lssgttt
~ cLARIsse lAAelslE r
~ kYMokip found the pack.
age on his table when be
went up 70 dress for the
ienmings' dancing party. He had
y thought that he would give up
ianeing, but this was 4 particular
occasion, Billy F1emming having
~ birthday, and his wife insisting
"a real. old.titne party.
SO Raymond had HE'D him to his
iayorite shoe shop and been fitted
80 dancing pumps and the oblone
hos testified 70 their arrival at the
At minute. Raymond dressed leis.
ureiy, and when he had finished
be united the oblong box and
OPENED II.
There he stopped aghast In
stead Of sending q pair Of shiny
patent leather pumps, be found
nestlink In the viii! J tissue paper
tiny pair OF hIgh.heeled slippers
tctyoious cloth OF gold TITLES that
4 listened in the light.
2 Hang II all+of course ! can't
\ wear these, lie told the world in
q complaining tone. "of all the
sbsurd stakes--Well, Mrs. Billy,
you can count one dancing man
souts sHe put the little slippers
awag In his chittonier, smiling In.
dulgently at them afs he did sp.
Some little fluffy thing might be
slghing for those very slippers, but
she could not help smiling At sight
oE his new and shining pumps when
they reached herr
Not dancing?" asked Mrs. Billy
'frowning at him.
he told her that lacking dancing
does he had ordered them and
zen disappointed in their deliy.
YOU are Ike poor Nellie war,
ren-she says she received an
(eborinous pair OF mems shoes In.
! lead of her own-she ls wearing
an Old pair and is as cross as can
4 be. GO and find Ter and dance with
hers=feiiow sufferers should con.
sole each other"
She danced away with a light
A nod ats him. Raymond skirted tho
dancers and found q place comfort
! able for iwallfloxers. He wondered
| which glrtSwould rfoye to be Mel.
Ne Warren. He rather liked her
name, simple AMI tirassuti!ng but
/ she would have been splendid In
gold slippers tt
! He tell 10 watching the dancinB
feet Of the girls. noting the dainty
,otgear until his eyes were daz.
ed with the procession Of silver
Shippers and gold slippers and
white ones aud occasionally a
dainty black pair with jeweled toes
Then he started for tripping along
In perfect time TO Billy Flemmingis
4 poldsr6us feet, were tiny pair
Of shabby gray slippers-they were
emergency shoes, he knew, for they
4 were worn with golden husd silk
hose and9a golden tissue trock.
The girl hetselt-he caught q
\ slinpss Of a dark, hew1tching face
olden:hned eyes, a flash Of rose
Itoiof n cheeks and lips and she
vas gone. She might not be his
Cinderella OF the slippers, but she
was undoubtedly q wonder.girl--
the GIRL that would come one day
!. into his life?
y aHello!p beloved Flemming's
r yolca beside him. DO take. care Of
Miss Warren Raymond, Arch
Rasm6nd-you've heard OF him,
Nellie. can't dance tonight Decause
he. hasn't any shoes. ] am called
aHsSy to the phone" he *drifted
away; into the crowd aud Raymond
sniied down at the wonder.girl
whom Fate had sent 10 him.
AREN'T you going to dance" she
!. asked as her little feet Kept time
, . fhs alluring music.
He glanced down at his feet. Il
might try-1'm a clumsy beggar at
my best, he apologized.
eSuch a pity" she said teasing
W. after while as they paused for
breath; III you only had.the stun.
ming pair Of patent leather pumps
that came to me instead OF my own
darll1g golden shoes-you couldn't
DANCE bit better-than you do"
rs that a compliment or other
vtsef.
ut Isn't otherwise!" she laughed.
Later IN the evening they had
ianced together SO often that peo-
y ple were smiling inludgently at
Arch Raymond, whose appearance
4 al 8 dance was a mark Of signal
triumph for HIS hostess, and that
he should be worshipping at the
4 shrine OF penniless Nellie Warren
! vas a social triumph for the girl.
They had supper together and
I wheng the huge birthday cake was
4 cut at was Nellie Raymond who
found q ring In he slice. i've had
4 the most delightful time" she
! sighed as they said goodnight.
"Ishall never forget Il" he said
gray6ly, land perhaps, tomorrow
, ION WIN let me come and bring
clndefella's slippers"
You had them?" she gasped.
he nodded, Mine went TO you,
md yours to me. II / had not seen
son-,, I'D. stopped, for he was Say.
lng too much for a short aequainE
sncs
Iimay GOMEZ" he asked. instead.
sot course-l am staying with
hs Flentminss."
So he went home back to his
s.,nyt I Jvhafa tha golden alfnn6fs