Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-11-21
THE POWER OF BEAUTY.
Burglar who Preferred . Ks.. ts
Keeping the swax


II fancy" said a handsome woman
or 90 or more. that there is as much
truth as poetry In what has been sak
and Is being said about the power OF
woman's beauty or course. II Is SUD-
posed that only poets know ANYTHING
about the matter, but can bear ,es,I-
mony or a different sort. and II Is from
my own experience. when I was n
girl Of 20. was really very pretty and
l had no end OF gay gallants dancing
attendance on me all the time. which
was some sign OF the truth Of my
statement. for | was neither very rich
nor very bright-jUst un ordinary. real
pretty girl; that was all. But the DOW
er was there. though l was not con-
scious OF it's strength until after nv
experience.
Il lived In southern city OF $4,000
people. and one night attended n
oance haif dozen blocks from my
home and did not get back until 1
O'Clock In the morning. my escort being
the gentleman who is now my husband
He proposed TO me- That night. and
when | came into ;he house | fancy
must have been prcttier than ever
was before. for | never WAS SO hannv
The house WIS still. for the only Deonl.
In II. except two old servants away
back In the l.. were my father and
mother. who had gOEc TO bed hours
before Slipped mp stairs TO my room
as quietly rs mouse and turning Nh
the gas | wa confronted 10y n burelnr
who pointed pistol nj me and told me-
not 10 make any noise or be would kin
me. didn't faint. because I WIS so
happy that il insplrcI mo. I suppose
and | stood Siil looking NJ him He
looked at me. too. dressed In my bpst
gown anu SHINING with lot OF jewels
ior our famiy had some fine diamonds
and other things OF Orua mcnt that had
descended To me. and like most south.
ern girls lik,d 10 wear them even
when II was not In thc lost taste.
wouldn't hurt rs pretty n girl as
you are for the world. he said with n
bow: but I've got TO have tie sinners
SO Just take them of and haud them
over. while pick up what / can find
lying around loose
Win trembling fingers | took of
my handsome Jewels while he gathered
up all he could end on my dressing
case and put them IN his pocket. keen
Ing the pistol pointed at me. He was
not a bad looking man. and as nut out
my hand TO him with the jewelry In II
/ smiled at him. as frightened as waa
and asked him II he wouldn't 60 right
away But he did not take the jewelry
ana ne old not 90 away. He simply
stared at me In undisguised admiration
and took out OF his pockets the trinkets
he had gathered from the dressing case
III you Will excuse me. miss. for
impertinence.' he said I'll saw TO vou
that you are the prettiest girl I ever
saw In my life, and | always did ad-
mire pretty girls. hate TO rob YOU like
this. and If you will let me kiss YOU
Just on your cheek where IL Is pinkest
III leave everything else aud take only
the remembrance OF that as a reward
for this nights job
This time l did almost faint. buf
tried to be strong and succeeded SO
well that kept my wits. 1t was some
thing dreadful 10 be kissed hy bur-
glar, but he was SO respectful and raaI.
~ did admire me. and besides I was
80 ~ NuouSdlu collars worth
OF jewels, so didn't say word. but
just turned my cheek toward him. He
look on his cap. bent forward. touched
me on the cheek with his lips and stood
back with his pistol in his hand.
Now. IL | may trouble You 10 20 10
tne front door with me- be said. so
tnat II anybody should see ne coming
out 1t will not cause any remarks.
VIII relieve you OF my presence. which
assure you, would never have occur
rec had | known as much as | know
now
Il thought / never could do IL. but |
olo, and | stood in the door till he dis.
appeared around the corner: then col.
lapsed utterly. and the night watch.
man found me there 10 or 20 minutes
arterward and reused the house. BY
the time l kn", enough TO tell any.
thing the hurgl4r was far. far away.
Inc story got into the papers OF course.
and In week or two | received a note
or regret from my burglar. postmarked
Cincinnati. which was the only clew
we ever had OF him. But the kissing
part OF the story was not printed. I
kept that TO myself. and the frst per
son to whom told IL was my husband.
and he was gallant enough to say that
the burglar had got the better part OF
the bArgain."-NeW York Sun