Hannah's Dream by A.L. Jambor, Lenore Butler Read Free Book Online Page B

with green tendrils wrapping around the front of the shoe.  She looked over at her mother, who was conversing with a salesman while holding a pair of brown button shoes.  Hannah winced.  She wouldn't mind an ugly pair of shoes if she could lace them, but Marian was a bit old-fashioned and always chose a well-made button shoe.
    Hannah walked past a row of laced shoes and found a pair in red.  While not as pretty as the slippers, at least they were a color, and she picked them up and walked over to Marian and the salesman.
    "May I try these on?" she asked, holding up the shoes so Marian could see them.
    Marian narrowed her eyes and pretended to examine the shoes, but Hannah could see she had already decided on the buttoned pair.  Then Hannah had a thought.
    "I could try on both pairs."
    The salesman's eyes lit up at the thought of selling two pairs of shoes, and he began to plead Hannah's case for her.
    "Why don't we measure the young lady's foot," he said.
    Hannah sat on the hard wooden bench and took off her shoes.  The salesman held a demarcated size-stick near her foot and measured.
    "Size two," he said.
    As he walked away in search of the shoes, Marian looked down at Hannah.
    "You need sturdy shoes," she said.
    "The lace shoes are sturdy, Mama.  And I like them so much."
    "You only like them because they're red."
    "What's wrong with that?"
    Marian was unsure how to answer, and when the man returned with the shoes and placed the red-laced pair on Hannah's foot, Marian had to admit they were quite stylish and did look sturdy.
    "Do I have to try on the buttons?" Hannah asked.  "These are very comfortable."
    They were, in fact, very uncomfortable, and would be for several days until they conformed to Hannah's feet.
    "How much are they?" Marian asked.
    "Two dollars," the man said.
    "My, that's dear. Are they all so expensive?"
    "These are good quality shoes, ma'am.  You won't find a better pair of shoes in all of Red Bank.  Besides, the young miss will be wearing them for a long time.  Does she walk to school?"
    "Of course she walks to school," Marian said.
    She thought it was a foolish question.
    "Then she'll need shoes that last with good thick soles."
    Marian looked at Hannah's face.  It was obvious how much the girl wanted the shoes, and Marian was seldom able to deny Hannah what she truly wanted.
    "We'll take them.  But you won't wear them until we get home."
    Hannah grinned and jumped up.  She put her arms around Marian's neck and squeezed her tightly.
    "Oh, thank you, Mama, thank you," she cried.
    "You're welcome," Marian said.  "I just hope they last."
    "Oh, they will, they will, I promise."
    After the salesman, whose disappointment over selling only one pair of shoes was evident on his face, rang them up, they went to the carriage and Marian told Edward to take them to the Temple of Fashion.  Now it was Marian's turn to get excited as she would see the brand new building she'd read so much about.

Chapter 10
    The driver stopped in front of Hannah's house, then he helped Marian down the step to the street.  Hannah jumped out of the carriage unassisted and began to gather the art supplies her mother had bought her.  The easel was a little big, but she managed to get it out of the carriage and was trying to carry it when Edward took it out of her hands.
    "I'll take that, little lady," he said.
    Hannah smiled and let go of the easel, but she kept her eyes on Edward, making sure he got it safely into the house.  She then gathered the rest of the bags and went inside.
    "She's been here since early this afternoon," Becky said.
    She and Marian were standing in the hallway in front of the parlor door, which was closed.
    "She wouldn't tell me her business.  She just sashayed in with the boy and wouldn't budge.  She said she had business with Mrs . Dawes."
    "Well, then I'll have to speak with her.  Bring us some tea, Becky."
    "Tea for the likes of her!"
    "She's a guest in my home."
    Becky knew from Marian's