The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-10-15
PLAIN MISS BARSTOW.

What nonsenee il Is for me TO stand
here gazing into the glass in hope OF dis
covering one good feature in face every
one calls plairi All me! ! wish could
learn to listen without pang 10 the
many remark made on my personal ap-
pearance. I am a perfect foil to Emily,
and people notice my ugliness because
my sister Ia such q beauty. ! see her
sought after and admired, while p
Lucille Barstow stopped speaking, snd.
Cropping her head ia her hands, burst
into tears. She did not heed the length
and luxuriance Of the chestnut hair
which enveloped her like yea L. -har
opinion Emily's hair was far loreiie. ssn
her own. And s1s was unconscious Of
the symmetry of her small hands and
feet, To their beauty she attached no
Importance, and thought only 2 the
plain face on which so many Of her 40
Quaintances remarked.
She had passed the evening at bali,
and while dancing quadrille had heard
q gentlenaa in the next set say:
Isn't the lady in blue and white the
SpringersY'
The reply of his partner came distinct
ly to Lucille's ears:
(Which young lady? It was the plain
Miss Barstow we heard sing. Yes, she
| is dressed in blue and white, see. She
| is the same"
How we'll Lucille remembered every
| word! She could sing. No one ever de-
MED the sweetness and strength Of her
voice. and she had sung her best at Mrs.
| Springer's. No wonder Geoffrey Wayne
had remembered it. Few could forget
| the beauty Of that clear voice, but Lu
cille would have willingly bartered her
| voice for lovely face.
! AT last the weary girl turned of the
gas, and went to bed; but 1t YVES loag
before she could find rest In sleep.
Breakfast was nearly over when Lu-
cille appeared in the dining room the
next morning. Her grandmother and
sister were Just rising from the table.
mercy, sis!" cried Emily, show
swollen your eyes ase, and you look like
ghost! 1t doesn't improve your ap-
pearance very much to locz so woe be-
gone"
81 am not always studying my ap-
pearance," answered Lucille, taking q
seat at the table.
Lucille, Geofrey Wayne spoke to me
last night Of the excellence Of your sing
ing at Mrs. Springer's," said Mrs. Bar
stow.
eyes, heard him speak Of it," said
Lucille, with bitter smile, fer she re-
membered that she had also heard the
answer of his partner in the quadrille.
"But don't let his praise cause You to
have hopes Of fascinating him." laughed
Emily, "for have entered the lists, and
naturally you viii have no chance"
Naturally, of course" said Lucille.
emily, don't fret Lucille this morn
ing. She looks half SICK" said Mrs. Bar.
stow, with q fond look at the beauty,
whom she idohzed.
81 am wholly SICK" said Lucille, push
| ing away her coffee cup. II wish there
: was some place On this earth where
. could 60 with the certainty Of not hear
ing the changes rung on my ugliness."
''I am afraid there is no such bissfu
, spot" said Emily. "But I must be of
| to dress, for Geofrey Wayne Is to cal
this noon. This is November. I vii
wager a pair of gloves TO you, Lucille
that have chance of becoming Mrs
Wayne before January
II don't doubt it, so won't run fh'
risk of losing the gloves" said Lucille
leaving the room.
Geoffreg Wayne came at the time ap
pointed, and Emily, beautifully dressed
: fitted down into the parlor, and held "a
r one white dinpled hand In wsloene :
|, this tail, golden haired fellow who wa
80 sought after in society. Il
Where is your sister? hoped :
have the pleasure Of hearing her sing,
% Mr.. Wayne said when he at last arose
n go.
s. "She has headache. Indeed, she ie
- perfect martyr to all the petty ills
which flesh Is heir" replied Emily. "Sh
cares very little for society, and seldol
receives morning calls" she added
That night htLucillecameinto her grant
mothers room, and knelt beside the 10
chair in which the old lady sat. She di
- not speak, and her face looked worn an
:; sad.
- "What Is the matter, Lulie? Has an.
thing gone wrong?' asked Mrs. Barstov
at kissing the upturned brow of her gran
tv daughter.
!. Everything is wrong, grandma a
} | leading vain, useless life, and I 8
:. tired of it. What does it all amount
" this continual round of balls and pa
ne ties? 1t brings no peace, no joy to IN
b, and am sure bring no joy to any o.
else. I hear myself spoken of ever
where as the plain Miss Barstow.' 1t
NJ thus that am distinguished from Emil
Let me 90 somewhere else, dear gran
ma Let me try to be happy in my oy
," way"
"Where do you wish to go, Lucille
ed asked the old lady gravely.
r. "You know Amy Winter, my {
IS schoolmate, who lives in Barristow
n Let me go there for few months. S
ne and her mother live very quietly, ant
I'm know they would be quite willing
nS have me board with them. could e
to tivate my voice, and-here am I
'he happy. / am restless, unsatisfied-
am want, really need change"
t no ''My highest ambition Is to make
vs. vs. orphan children of my poor boy happ
'o. said Mrs Barstow In sad tone. 81 cs
~ not forget that he consigned them to !
care with his dying breath. You sh
do as you wish, Lucille; bat ron win
leaving a luxurious home for "
Ill plain one. Emily seems very haT
Is here; why cannot you be 50 alsoT
ci- emily and I are very different
its piled Lucille "She thrusts me into
us background always. Perhaps she d
I'VE not mean to be unkind, but the kno
ra- edge Of her great beauty and the homi
tu- it receives make her selfish and ov
tu- bearing Ishan be happier for hav.
rrh q change, even though it win be only
di- duh little Barristown.s
III Lucille wrote to her friend 1t on