I"
THE OLD SHOES
By Genevieve Ulmar
"I am sorry to have to ask an im
mense favor of you, Mary." began
John Rice, in hisclunisy but straight
forward fashion. '
"If it is something that pleases you
or does you any good," brightly re
sponded his patient, gentle-faced
wife, "don't be sorry, John. Be glad,
for I am bound to grant it"
"You dear, lovable sweetheart!"
enthused John. "I don't know how
I ever came to get you I don't de
serve you."
"Why, John!" cried Mary, "you are
right back to our old courting days
with sentiment and flattery.
"I've never left them!" proclaimed
John, giving his helpmeet a warm
hug. "I don't get in much lovemak
ing these busy, practical days of
ours. It's hecause I grieve to see you
tied down to a slave life "
She stopped his lips with a kiss.
"Say another word against my do
ing my duty and I'll start a suit for
divorce before you are a day older!"
she cried in mock menace and indig
nation. "I don't care!" remonstrated John,
"you're imposed upon and have been
ever since I married you. Just to
think of it! I calculated that father
had enough to care for the home
"brood as long as any of them lived.
You know how he went out to Ore
gon with all his money bent on buy-
ing a big fruit farm and moving
there. You remember how he came
home dazed and telling an incoherent
story of being beaten in a rough min
ing town out west We could get no
trace of the $30,000 he had taken
with him for investments. It was
gone lost Father died. Mother
found barely enough left to support
her. To relieve her you consented to
take the children."
"Wanted them, you mean. I was
delighted to have the dear little ones
to care for."
"Well, I may as well break the
final bad news," went on John des
perately. "Mother's millinery ven
ture has failed. She can struggle on
no longer and hold on! Where are
you going?" for Mary was flitting
away as fast as she could go.
"Where am I going?" she chirped
vivaciously. "Why, to get the spare
room ready and comfortable fast as
I can, of course. Why, sid, do you
tihnk I am going to have honored
company catch me unprepared.
"You angel!" voiced John Rice.
"You have brought nothing but
"Whoever Wore These Shoes Used
This Sole for a Pocketbook."
brightness and blessings to any one
coming near you!"
His heart was full. The tears stood
in his eyes as he replied to a letter
he had received from his mother that
morning, telling her that she was
doubly welcome to share their hum
ble home.
John's mother was settled in the
very best room in the house. New life
seemed to inspire her,, with her chil
dren restored to her, and Mary's con
stant cheerful smile brought radianj