The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1930-08-29
Granny's s Silver
Slippers
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

RANDMOTHER RANKIN was not
~ an old-fashioned grandmother, in
deed she would resent the insinua-
tton that she was not up to the min
ute whenever she appeared outside Of
her big room on the second floor of
her handsome house. Mrs. Rankin
was small, and very alert, and her
youth, as it seemed to erase any
wrinkles and lines that dared to In
wade the rose-tinted face.
On this lovely spring morning Mrs.
Rankin was not walking in her gar
den, because her wonderful Italian
garden was In the country.
Grandmother Rankin was In shoe
shop. trying on gold and silver slippers
with tall spindly heels.
She nodded her aristocratic head.
"Those will do, Miss Smithers," indi-
eating small pair Of beautiful silver
brocade slippers. If she had any
qualms about wearing such high heels
Miss Smithers would never know it
no one would
Mrs. Rankin wore the slippers to the
Landers dinner dance, and danced In
them until In some way her ankle
gave way, and she fell In a painful
heap, with one ankle twisted under
her. Within fifteen minutes Mrs.
Rankin was reposing on her big bed,
waiting for the doctor. When he came
he went right to work and relieved
the pain and bandaged the swelling
foot. How did 1t happen, Mrs. Rank
in?' asked Doctor Clinton. "Fall down
stairs?"
"Of course not-you knew very
well that was wearing those high
heeled slippers-you'v been staring
at them for some timeW
The handsome young doctor laughed
guiltily. "Of course you shouldn't be
wearing them,' he advanced
"Why not?"
i've been treating you for vertigo
and the high heels are dangerous"
All the sparkle went out of Mrs.
Rankin's face.
"Are you In pain?' asked Doctor
Clinton.
Nothing you can mend. JAMIE"
she said sadly. "The silver slippers
stand for the one thing l can do to
forget-lose myself in the foolishness
of youth know | am making an old
idiot of myself-but, my dear, I'm
lonely-a lonely old woman"
"You ought not to be, Mrs. Rankin"
protested the doctor. Not when you
have so many grandchildren"
Mrs. Rankin pulled herself to sit
ting posture. "Who told you | had
grandchildren she asked In a queer
voice that did not try to be young.
"Why-your son told me-or at
least | know the family"
my son went against my wishes
and married one of the Braithes-
they are a poor family-I disowned
Franklin on that day."
1.-THE Braithes were never well off,
but they are nice people, and the hap
piest family In town." said the doctor
pleasantly.
How many children has my-has
Franklin got now? More than he can
properly feed, | suppose"
-Four children-two girls and two
boys. They live In Rosehurst-in the
suburbs, you know. The boys are
preparing for college--the girls don't
know-they've been away at school,
| believe"
wild bob-heads, suppose" OBJ
served Mrs Rankin, leaning back and
closing her eyes. "Do you visit my
Franklin's family?"
''On my way there now-Mr Rankin
has sent for me-some little trouble"
Again she sat up In bed, her eyes
wide and frightened "What is 1t,
doctor-is 1t serious?"
mot now, If he takes care of him.
SELF" The doctor calmly picked up
the silver slippers and put them in
his big pocket "Have you any more
high-heeled slippers?" he asked.
"a dozen pairs. Why?"
81 will take those tomorrow. If
you need me send for me-Ill come
at once. Try to go to sleep" And
then his CHEEKY presence was gone.
Mrs. Rankin celebrated her return
to activity by going to the shoe shop
and trying on some dancing slippers.
with Louis heels, Miss Smithers,"
she said defantly.
AS she was fitted to another pair
of silver slippers she watched
mother and daughter come In and sit
down behind her.
"It is Franklin's daughterw she
told herself. I'D know her anywhere
the very image-and the mother,
too. Gentle people-what a fool I've
beenl"
The girl was whispering a protest
to her mother. But, dear cannot
afford to shop In here-when father
needs medicine and everything! am
sure Doctor jamie will like me just
as well In my gray slippers"
Bring me some comfortable slip
pers, Miss Smithers-nice medium
heels. I'm a grandmother, you know.
You may at these to my granddaugh
ter here!" And Mrs Rankin dipped