Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-08-22
THE UaLIEsT WOMAN.

THE UGLIEsT WOMAN.
John Gordon lounged into my office one
morning, looking pale and bored. He
threw himself down upon the old horse
hair sofa in the corner, and stretching out
his long limbs, sighed plaintively. l
glanced up from the brief before me (my
name is Paul Newton, and the shingle on
my door informs the passcl-by that an
an Attorney and Counsellor at Law, and
Il slight sensation of surprise ran through
me.
"Why, Jack!" cried. "What in the
world is the matter? You look rs if you
had lost your best friend. What is it, old
fellow? Tell me, why is it thus? Con-
fcssion is good for the soul, so ont with it.
Have stocks declined? Or is it loss in
Yesterdays races: Or, perish the thought,
has your sweetheart Tilted you?"
Il wish to heaven she had" he burst
forth, storinily.
Tossing the brief aside, arose, and
going over to his side | adjusted my eye
glass and gazcd long and earnestly into
the face Of my friend. Jack Gordon and
/ were friends, real David and Jonathan
sort of an arrangement. We had stood
shoulder to shoulder through more than
one trial, had wcathcred more than one
storm together Financial and otherwise),
(. hof N,.ha m
which he had invested his little all were
OH the verge of serious decline, had seen
my friend in so deplorably detected
state.
"Johm," said, solemnly and impress
siyoly-l always called him John when |
wanted to be particularly impressive
"what is it,"
He raised his head slowly and rested it
upon one hand, his dark, melancholy eyes
studying atteutively the pattern OF the
wall paper.
"Pard, my boy" he said, disconsolatc-
Is, 81 feel us Artcmus Ward felt when he
expressed his Willingness to sacrifice all
his wife'S relatives dncluding his moth
er-in-lawl upon the altar of his country.
Paul, wish you were in my place just
now."
shrugged my shoulders. "Explain!'
commanded, briefly.
Jack removed his eyes from their con-
temptation Of the wallpaper and gazcd
into my face.
"To come to the poin:," he said, 'I'm
going to be married That is the proper.
way to put ito be married-for it is
matter which is not OF my vOlition. See
hero, Paul, what or earth would you do
if a woman were TO be forced upon you rs
your wife woman whom, although you
have never met her but once, you cor
daily dislike, and always which, old
boy"
laughed aloud; I could not help it, for
the expression Of his face was so lugubri-
Gus. Then opening law-book lying upon
my desk, proceeded to point out GER
tain paragraph which set forth in pithy
sentences the fact that marriage is 4 civil
contract into which no free citizen can be
coerced. He listened with 4 satirical
smile upon his lips.
"But you see, old fellow" he observed
sadly, "minc is an exceptional case. There
is no getting out of it without breach OF
honor. You have heard me speak of my
cousin-only a second cousin, by the way,
but wish there was statute prohibiting
the marriage of cousins-my cousin, Miss
Sydney Jones? Now the name is enough!
Fancy my marrying Jones"
"Well," returned soothingly, "that
will all be rcmcded when she becomes
Mrs. Gordon"
He gave me witherlng glance.
"Paul, wish you were in my place."
he repeated, "for-oh horror! the girl is
so ugly! One might reconcile ones self
TO mind drawbacks, but there is no getting
over the fact that she is uncompromis-
ingly plain. / can't bear to think OF it"'
Don't marry her them" began, but
he moved his hand to check my utterance.
"She is an orphan and poor" lie went
on, cher father died last week; he cent
for me, and on his death bed he exactcd a
promise from each of US that We would
marry within Il month. He fairly wrung
an answer ia the affirmative from me; |
could not refuse; so bound myself irrey-
ocably, and the die is cast! Commiserate
me, my boy am an object Of pity"
"But, Jack" l cried, "why should you
take it to heart? The girl may not be
plain. You say you met her
but once, and"
lie shook his head slowly.
"There is no hope" he returned. "She
is plain 10 mistake about that. Imagine
q scrawny little figure, red hair, frcckled
nose little to heaven in
clined, and grecnish eyes! Jove! l de-
clare, il nearly drives me crazy"
He arose, and slouching his hat down
over his eyes, left the Office as client en-
tered. My time was occupied after that,
and had no opportunity for reviewing
my friends case the rest of the day.
The next morning Jack entered the
Office little more energetic, imagined,
and triRe excited. He strobe to my desk
and tossed Il letter upon il.
"Read that" he cried.
picked the letter up and perused il
eagerly. This is what it said: