The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-08-11

II WAS Just like that terrible O'Tooi.
/ 10 come out i'm his blundcrinr Mas
with; Thompson, you'd look "a rr. F.
deal better without beard. Yon l.,.
a clcar-cut face that ought not to be
hidden"
/ know perfectly well that az that
moment my friend Thompson would
have liked TO hide his face I'm sometime
still more Opaque than a dark brown
eiose-cropped beard. That is because
1 know the history of Thompson's
beard.
IL had TWO ohapters-or two volumes
that history of Thompson's beard.
The first volume is brief and devoid of
interest-the beard grew when Thomp-
son was young and had Just reached /
the age of beard-growing. HeHkcd the
idea of a beard, suppose. as most bows
DO. Later on, something - perbans
OIooles idea that his face was n clear-
cut gem and should be exhibited as n
thing of beauty-struck him. and he
grew impatient of his beard.
Now, in'the course of that earlier vol
ume Of this history, Thompson had be-
come pretty well known. Not only had
ne been photographed for the usual So
cial purposes, but, having taken
prominent part in various amateur con-
certs for prominent charities. having
acted twice as best man at much-report-
ed weddings, and having won lawn
tennis championship for amateur
singles, Thompson's face had appeared
IN the papers more often than falls TO
the lot of most plain citizens. Hence
the mischief. !
The day he had that beard removed J.
Thompson was like a boy just freed 7
from school A weight seemed to be
oil his mind. lie told me that il was u
quite worth while to grow q beard lust u
for the pleasure of getting rid Of it and
running your hand over the smooth .
surface o.
He was not the sort of q man, how u
ever, to let the eXuberance of his animal III
spirits become mingled with those that .,
neDriate. l have 10 mention this 10 ~
'uard against the impression that he "
vas in the least under the Influence
# distilled or fermented liquors when ~ ~
his thing happened that did happen. =,
Thompson went out calling that very +
vening, and 1t so happened that the On
lmily at which his call was aimed had vo
ecently moved. In that family was "a,
manda Carson, and she had taken Ve
ood care that Mr.. Thompson should be ON,
formed of their new address-Aman- ca,
had no wish to lose sight Of Mr.. q
thompson. Thompson had the address bo
his little notebook, which he carried ba,
his vest pocket Of his everyday bust pal
'ss suit. But before going out that in
ening he put on his full dress suit.
ID, looking at himself In the long mir CT,
n, reflected that in a dress suit and
looth face he looked very we'll
On reaching the street into which TIL
e Carsons had just moved. he began
wing to himself: "ghe number IS 30.
hink." '.
Then he thought ii would beas well Ike
take a look at that little notebook Of bis
!. But when he put his hand 10 tho =
zee where the notebook should have ola
IN, behold there was no notebook. aon
en- il flashed on him that his mind VIII
] been distracted SO much as 10 make gar
o forget 20 take the notebook from was
other vest. NON
Never mind" Thompson thought. ma pa.
know it's 35." Then nc thought: If ~
Isn't 80 it's 53." Then: "Now. I "eel
ldcr whether 70 Is 53or35?" eNpl
.hilc he was thinking these things grow
'mpson happened 20 glance 70 the Al
it and notice a very ncWly-dono-up- WIN
ding house. the number ON the fan ,'oh'
II Of which was very distinctly o,t,' ,
. 90" With
)f course that's il, said Thompson An
imsclf as he tripped lightly up the S'rs'
u Of stone steps. "This IS the n'f q
Be. Anybody can see that now
The top Of the steps. it so bap- u III
ID. the front door stood inritingly
!. M,
'ow'" thought Thompson. "hcrc's timid
ce 20 surprise Amanda. I'll close M,
ioor and go and SIT down quietly in vopns
reception room. II she comes In chidir
p presently she's sure -shc1l tbe p,
~-s -