Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-12-12
The Shoe Didn't Fit
By JANNIS PARKER
C Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNC Service
TT WAS a pity, friends said. that so

was that there might be shortage OF
women.
She certainly couldn't De in love with
Lindsey, whose reputation was even
less attractive than his pot-bellied, sal
low-looking self They wondered why
she'd ever married him til they remem-
bered that Doris an upstate girl, stage
struck and anxious TO try her wings,
had doubtless been fattered by the at
tentions of one of the biggest men IN
the business.
All her friends wished she'd realize
what life could hold by changing her
name TO Mrs. Dick Manning. And Dick
who logged her footsteps wished II
most.
Doris" he said one afternoon on
the tiled terrace encircling the Mund
penthouse. you're going TO Paris this
summer, aren't your
She nodded assent
Come back single" he pleaded
ION what grounds?" she smiled.
Cant accuse him of non-support,
she commended.
Cant get it on incompatibiiity, she
went on 1--WE don't see enough Of each
other TO know whether we're incom-
patible or not.
And l couldn't get it for cruelty. BE
never puts a hand on me-"
How about infdelity?- interrupted
Dick. -Or does he come home early
every night like a fond little husband
and toast his toes before the hearth?"
Doris smiled again. You could
hardly expect a man up to his eyes in
rehearsals to come home early every
night" she pointed out.
Dick felt like taking this woman he
adored and shaking some sense into
her lovely head. Did she really think
Lindsey was impeccable. or did the
Puritan strain in her rebel at divorce?
But because he knew that should he
touch her 70 shake her. he'd change his
original intention and take her in his
arms instead. he sat stiffly silent beat
ing his clenched hands together softly.
The minutes passed. Doris" said
Dick finally. loyalty TO the man whose
name you bear and whose name can't
bear because it's attached TO you. is
all very pretty. but ! want you 10 snap
out Of this foryOtten-w0man role and
LEI me prove that as far as I'm con-
cerned all other women are forgotten
Dick you're sweet" Her fingers
lightly touched his sleeve
Sweet nothing, I'm bitter, Oh.
Doris, don't you think you could love
me little If you tried?"
Her gray green eyes chung 10 his
Tell me. If whenever a mans
name is mentioned you culver all over ::
If whenever you hear his voice its as
If something lifted you up and held
you there; if whenever he looks ar you
your eyes drop lest he read your an
swering meSSag Tell me is that
love. Dick? Because If il is / don't
think could stop loving you if |
tried
Doris"
But before be could reach out to her
she had risen and walked quietly 10
the edge of the terrace where she
I spoke duly as she watched the flaming
srreamers of the sunset wrinkle into
the darkening canopy Of night.
81 happen TO be married l took him
for better. for worse"
IF you're so punctilious why LEI him
forget: = and keep myself from
all others, unto her alone'?" Dick
4 wanted 10 know But doubtless Lind
/ sey was too busy cycling the brides
+ maids 10 hear the stipulation. You're
I just a silly martyr. Doris, that Lind
/ sey uses for safety-valve. As long as
/ he's neatly married none of his soft
voiced sirens can put up a howl
You're a little harsh on him. Dick.
A man in his profession has to be on
the lookout constantly for new talent"
I'm. Doris. when are you going 10
see him as he is?'
when the shoe fits" she answered
And so Doris spent the summer in
Paris without resorring 10 its law
courts. Just before she returned Lind
sey gave up the penthouse for q much
smaller place in the same building. No
one was going TO the theater any more
he said Actually the amount saved
was fearhering another nest bur OF
course that would have TO be proved
TO Doris, Dick sighed
II was proved the night after her
return. Doris. Lindsey and Dick were
In the living room Of the new small
apartment having their after-dinnel
coffee when the doorbell rang and 6
freckled lad of about twelve handed
Doris a pair OF strange. tiny slippers
They were spike-heeled. snub-toed. and
Haunted perky bows
We've moved into your penthouse.
grinned the youngster. -and my mothel
sent me down with these shoes yoC
forgot She found them in the bed
room closet"
Dick thanked the lad and hastily
bundled him OF. Doris found herself
holding q pair OF slippers that coulC
not have been hers by three sizes.
Ar the corner rummage sale the litIi,
old woman In charge looked distressed
Didn't CT AZ all" Dick ooomet
jovially. his arm flung across the shoul
ders of q freckled youth whose eye,
-