Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-08-03


bloom upon them, l thought them two
of the loveliest creatures 1 had ever
seen but, somehow, they have been
fading or changing ever since" "There
is nothing in them," said the first
speaker. "Not much" was the reply
"They dress elegantly, and have world
of sprightly gossip and small talk ; but
as to culture of the heart or intellect,
have failed to discover the signs. Twas
quite smitten with Cordelia at first
actually in love with her bright eyes
and fair face-but l got over it long
ago. Beauty is very we'll in these love
matters, but sensible man is apt to
look little way beneath the surface,
to see what kind of foundation beauty
is resting upon. Girls of this class are
well enough to dance and firt with
but for the grave purpose of matrimony
none but knaves or fools accept them. %
"There are plenty of knaves and fools
about" said the friend. "Oh, yes, %
said the other, "as witness the wretched
marriages that are constantly taking
place. There's a fellow dancing at
tendance on Cordelia now, that is just
weak enough to marry her as kind Of
show-wife. He thinks her queenly
Of course, if the event comes off, there
will be another miserable couple added
to the list. Both will find themselves
disappointed" "By the way said
the other speaker, breaking in upon his
friends homily-"what do you think Of
the plainest sister," 'Margaret?' Eyes -
''Pve ceased to call her plain,' he said.
"You would hardly call her beautiful, %
continued his friend.
II don't know" be said. 81 have
seen her when to call her beautiful
would be no error of language. The
fact is, Margaret has puzzled me at
times. I grant you that her features
are not cut after a classic model, nor is
there what we sometimes call style in
her face. She hasn't the fine complex
ion nor the large liquid eyes of her
older sisters; and yet her countenance
is to me far far more attractive-it is so
fall of mind and feeling. You forget,
as you talk with her, the material lines
of her face, in the beauty of thought
that transfgures it. Do you want a
higher style than this ?"
"And yet," continued the first speak,
er "Margaret was very homely. There
was time when I almost wondered at
her courage in attempting to brave the
comparison that must be made between
her and her sisters" eyes," said his
companion, 81 remember my first i'm
preston also; but it gradually wore of
as l came to know her. The fact is,
her beautiful soul shines through its
material veil, and you see the light and
loveliness within. In the case of her
sisters the order is reversed. They
have not, l fear, beautiful souls"
"The mantle they have so long worn
in pride," was the reply, sis dropping
away from them, and if they do not see
to it, will fall upon the shoulders Of
Margaret. If I were choosing a wife
from among these three sisters, ]
shouldn't hesitate a moment" "You
would take Margaret ?'' said his friend
eyes," was the reply. "Not regarding
mere beauty as anything when put in
contrast with excellence of character p
added the first speaker.
81 am lover of beauty" was the
reply. Whenever the beautiful is pre-.
sented, L find mysrlf constrained wor-
shipper. At first 1 saw beauty only in
form and color, and was in constant
danger of accepting gilt and bloom fol
enduring substance. Twice have been
on the eve of a marriage proposal, blind.
ed, fascinated by mere material charms
l shudder, sometimes, when | think Of
what l escaped in both instances. The
beauty lay only on the surface. Grad
ually my mind became better instructed
l was able to see the difference between
real beauty and its fading semblance
So, l am still worshipper of beauty
but L recognize its higher types. .
"Then, in taking Margaret, you would
still have regard for beauty?' eyes,
he continued, "to that beauty which
fades not, and which has power to mole
even plain face into a likeness Of
itself"
Cordelia heard no more Though
concealed from view she recognized the
speakers voices. Hopes had beer
dashed to the earth which had beer
fondly cherished She perfectly un
derstood some things which had occa
sionally puzzled her. She knew moi
why it was that certain young men, Of
high excellence, who so eagerly sought
her favor for time, gradually withdrew
themselves, and became attentive tc
what she considered less attractive girls
There was beauty of which she baG
not dreamed; beauty to which she
had not attained a beauty scarcely
recognized at first, but growing more
and more apparent, and putting forth
allurements besides which all that she
could offer was but as the glitter o.
tinsel.
"Your sister is looking well tonight. ,
Cordelia started from her painful reverit
at the voice of a matroDly friend
"Margaret, you mean 2" But for the
conversation just heard, she would no
have thought of this sister. "Yes, how
much she has improved hear it re
marked on all sides. You must TAKE
care, or she will bear off the palm"
The elder sister turned her face away
so that its expression might not be seen