Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-07-19

Gus eyes, my familiar friend Rose Filbert,
as she placed distracting little brown
bonnet about her pcnciled eyebrows, and
tied it under her chin. Beside her, the
irregular contour of my face looked al
most ludicrous. For all my features had
that fetal upward tendency. The corners
OF my mouth followed my nose; and my
eyes were upturnsd IN an appealing way,
which have no doubt would have been
quite charming in larger orb, but which
in mine was only patheticaliy suggestive
of beauty.
''How / envy you chiseled-feced girlslh
exclaimed. why could not have had
regular features like you? You never
have to study effects-anything suits you.
That bonnet would he suicidal to me, but
you are perfect in it."
81 know it," assentad Rose, with charm
ing candor. 81 aN correet,and Greciau, and
all that, but don't you think / need var
iety? don't appeal TO the imagina-
Ton as you do. L wish had an upturned
nose or something to break the ccntinu-
ity."
"Thank you. Ny nose appreciates the
delicate dattery. But you would not
change. On, mol And if you did you
would soon be glad to get back to your
classic nose again, even if it does not
appeal to the Imagination.
'You see" continued Rose, thought
fully, 81 am like my face-nice, but
monotonous, faulty faultless,' you
know. But you-there is something un.
expected about you. You are full of
surprises. At least 80 Mr. Babcock
says"
"Ohl does her" answered, with some
irony of tone.
The Mr.. Babcock mentioned was per
son who caused me some annoyance ana
much serious reflection. Many women
inspire in the opposite sex either admira-
ton or antagonism. | was of that class,
and Mr.. Babcock / counted, unWlllingly,
among the latter number. He had enter
ed our quiet unpretending boarding
house in the previous autumn. Mamma
aud | had just returned to town; and
were settling into the coy apartment
which had been our home for years; a
sunny room, which did the double duty
of parlor and bedroom. That the bed
stood on its head the greater part of the
~ hours, was but a part of our domestic
economy.
Our boarding house, being one of long
standing and exceeding permanence,
rather patronized other establishments of
it's kind. We were little community of
ourselves. Year after germany of
them in respectable old families-many
of them in respectfully reduced circum-
5tances-returned to the same apart
ments; except indeed, for a floating
population of Mr.. Babcook, who, 1T must
be admitted, afforded pleasing variety
TO us. This one proved particularly so,
although he had q way of looking over
our heads which gave us sense of be-
littlement in spite of knickerbocker
blood, with pair of discriminating blue
eyes-eyes which was once humorous and
sincere; just the eyes one would like for
friends; just the eyes one would like to
feel criticised by.
But they criticised me. | saw that at
once. | even felt that he was a little Oh
trusive in showing it. He was plainly a
man who needed no aid In forming au
opinion, and having "sized me up to his
satisfaction ut first glance, knew it
would take no little effort on my part TO
convert him.
|, however, resolved to do it, for the de-
sire TO please is inherent in my nature.
devoted more thought than ever TO my at
tire, and my costumes became more con
spicuously harmonious than before.
also brought 20 bear upon him all my arts
uf conversation. For too irregularly feat
ured women silence is not becoming.
They are born TO be heard and not seen.
My efforts were useless. Ii he yielded TO
random impulse now and then, and
chatled with me for an evening, it was
only 20 withdraw his attentions almost
INN ediately and become more reserved
and distant thax ever.
How discouraged some girls would have
been with all thisl But not |. Every
failure made me more determined 20 win.
Beside ] detected chord of sympathy
uunoticed, of course, by him (which
ought TO make us friends. On the after
noon of my visit to my uncle, my cheer
less thoughts kept me absorbed longer
than was aware, and it was with less care
than usual that l dressed for dinner; don
ming one of the simplest frocks | had. II
was white flannel, bought at bargain,
and constructed with care, and it is need
less to add, for one eye alone. Its quaint
lness and simplicity were to my mind, ex-
tEeUltl1 well HusAtu W my NUE.
DO / look expensive, mamma?' l in
quired, with quiet sarcasm, after complet-
ing my toilet; "ought to pin a placard
Gu my back announcing; This stylish
costume was constructed by the wearer
with the .rihing outlay Of S5!'
After dinner we fingered in the door
way,--it was warm evening ia June
while Rose deftly rolled cigarette, which
she had given Mr.. Babcock permission to
smoke on the doorstep. He had confess
cd that without it he would be forced to
deny himself our society.
II do not ask why not deny yourself the
cigarette, said Rose demurely; for know
that man il miserable without his Alter
dinner smoke. And a man, miserable, is
poorer company even than woman who
tries to usurp a cigarette
THAT Ia very clever thrust" answered
Mr.. Babcock, laughing; "bnt the fact Is,
only one woman can usurp the place of a
cigarette with success, and that is a mans
wife. when l marry | shall, l think, give
up smoking He glanced at Rose.
With my mind stiil on the subject
which had engrossed me all day, | said
absently: "That must be because man