Daily camera., 1901-09-30
An Ugly Girl
BY Margaret q. FaNvost.
(CepyTighs, lS0. 81 Anthem SynzIoaSs.)
LIE WAS competing for . prize Of.

had buried himself in Ashton becaus,
it was the first place he happened t
think of. Ashton was mildly gay il
July. In January it WAS not mucl
Ivelier than its own quiet cemetery
on the West hill. Naturally Broad
bridge did not mind the dullness. Th'
mornings he devoted to writing, thu
afternoons to long tramps down th'
main street and out into the country
II was during these tramps that h,
planned his story. His evenings wcr,
D trifie slow-at first. 1t was at thu
end of his first week in Ashton tina,
he met "the ugly girl" on one OF hi'
walks. She wore sensible shor'
skirt. sensible stout boots. q short
shanter. He noted these details with
disapproval. He was accustomed u
elegant women of the hot house va
riety, Most OF all. he objected to the
ugly girls lack Of beauty. Small eye.
Of nondescript color, though one
might stretch point and call then
blue, tip-tilted nose and wide
mouth, these things he observed with
unkind criticism on that first meet
ing. That lips and checks matched
the tam o shsnter in color might
have compensated somewhat for the
irregular features. but, alas! nose
and chin were only shade paler
Then, too, the ugly girls manner dis
pleased him She had looked hin
over with provokingly superior lit
lie air, as ii he were the green
grocer's clerk or one OF the other
young men OF the village. and Broad
bridge had always prided himself or
his air of distinction. He was angry
that evening TO find ,ha; he could no,
forget the episode c. the neeting
!. srimson tam fitted between his
eyes and the pages OF the book hs
was trying to read The next morn
ing but one he walked a.- ~ ,h.
- post Office and met her on tn.
way. Three dogs were jumping abou,
her. two great Danes and terrier
He went home and wrote steadily the
res, of the morning. Before lunch
con he read what he had writtsa and
tore il up.
She's the daughter OF the Episco
pal minister" said his hostess that
evening, in answering blunt inquiry
"She keeps house for her father
They live in that pretty little white
cottage next the church which you
think is SO picturesque"
He found the rector to be q gentle.
man and scholar whose broken
health welcomed the quiet OF Ashton
Hungering for the flesh pots Of mod
crn Egypt, DR.. Peters welcomed
Rroadbridge cordially. The two took
tramp together. and upon their re-
turn Broadbridge was invited to have
tea at the reetory. He found tina,
the ugly girl had much sef-posses-
sion for country lass and the fanci.
full name of Carr. She chatted cheer.
fully about many things with him
and her father, but Rroadbridge felt
that she hardly separated the two
and he was only 30. He had learned
that the best way to attract an intel
ligent young woman's attention was
10 say something rather rude.
II hardly expected. Miss Peters"
he observed, while slipping his coffee
in the cosy library one night after
dinner-the rector had been called
out by member OF his parish-"to
find anything suite SO new ~ your
self In sleepy Ashton" One of Broad
bridges many gifta was an expressive
voice. That adjective new" implied
many things, not all Of them Aatter.
ing.
And you don't like new women,
Said Miss Peters. frankly. "Well, we
arc quits. 1 have no great admira-
tion for the modern man. Please
smoke, If you care to. Father always
smokes here"
And what IL your definition Of the
modern MANI" queried Brosdbridgs,
with interest.
"All opinions and NO convictions" I"
retorted Miss Peters. succinctly. Are
you fond of Chopin"
The abrupt change Of subject an.
noyed Broadbridge. The ugly girl
lacked tact. he thought.
That night wild Polish melodies, a
tip-tilted nose, q mocking mouth and
fat cheek were curiousiy mixed up
in Broadbridge's dreams. The next
morning he began = new story.
After his acquaintance with the
Peters he altered his plans somewhat.
He still wrote in the mornings, he
still tramped about the country in
the afternoons. but now . red tam
o. shanter generally bobbed near his
shoulder. In the evenings he visited
DR.. Peters at the rectory. Miss Pet
ers was interested in the story.
ut will be detestably cynical" she
said, with her usual frankness. IAN
these modern stories are. stopped
reading them long ago."
"You are lacking in charity, Miss
Peters," observed Broadbridge, grave
ly. "You should have considered tho
modern writer's"
Miss Peters airily disregarded tho
sarcasm.
I'VE have smart writer's, nowadays.
We haven't any great writer's"
For new woman you are tho
most old-fashioned ever met" he
said. gazing half quizzically at the
mannish little figure. Miss Peters
had grace, if she hadn't beauty.
Il suspect only my clothes are
new" she answered. with q laugh.
"Tell me about your heroine. Is she, !"
hesitstingly, very beautiful"
ITO me she il yery beautiful" said
Broadbridge, "though. Of course,
beauty is matter Of taste. Still I
may safely say'-Miss Peters thought
he said it with unnecessary, almost
brutal, emphasis-'.that the good
reading public would also call my
heroine beautiful"
u suppose they ars more interest
ing when they are beautiful" nd
mitted liiss Peters. ''but wish
wistfully -"some one would write .
story about an ugly girl"
ut would be rather catchy title, :"