Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-01-31
when she was as gay as linnet'
And she was as fresh as lark
Never a day but some minute =.
we met betwixt daWning and dark!


II was her: latest fad, perhaps the
j most absurd-the wearing OF
glasses She had enjoyed the orle1
pleasure of many voluntary and I'M
necessary experiences. She was
Young. to be sure-preposterously
Young to wear a gown that came TO
her ankles. Her youth may be urged
in eXtenuation of her tendency TO
indulge in caprices. That is II per
functory explanation is desired. A
girl having an erect young form mold
cd in the president curves OF gracious
vomanhood. eyes the blue of ragged
robins" and hair which, like that OF
Miles Halpine's Jeanette, was
"a snken and beautiful snare"
surely needs apology no more than the
wine of which Rosalind makes mention
in her delicious epilogue needs BUSH
She begged the family dentist to IND
2 place in one of her perfect front
teeth where he might insert gold, be-
cause it Cooked so pretty" She had
taken up many new modes of dress
nerbaps because she looked we'll in
ANYTHING. She had gone through sue
cessiye stages of physical exertion So
ciallv considered-croquet, tennis ana
other mild designations. She wore her
hair La Chionois, la Pompadour and
n la the almond-eyed damsel of the
land of the cherry blossom. When 1t
was just the thing to wear JauntE
glasses. having slender gold cham
attached to the bodice, or looped back
70 merge itself securely in ones hair,
the chill of exclusion possessed her.
She couldn't wear eyeglasses. Her
sight was too ridiculously good. No
one would believe her-not even her
creGulous mother for whom her daugh-
ter's every within was fresh delight.
But it was too bad! The glasses were
distinctly becoming. Mary McCrea
WAS 90 times better looking since she
had found it advisable to affect them
They gave one literary look-at all
events a look of aloofness-an air OF
distinction. Why wasn't she far-sight-
ed. or near-sighted, or afflicted with
as,irmatism, or in any way so fash
Toned that a pair of rimless glasses ad-
ius.ed over her straight little nose
would add to- her attraction? She
| broached her difficulty to her mother.
eve put off wearing glasses as long
as we could in our young days" re-
/ turned her confdant. eve thought
do;ro 50 indicated age. My great
grandmother could thread a needle
With hair from my head when she
was TO-"
The accomplishment of this veneer
| able ancestor failed to interest Lorraine.
Apart from her fancy for fads she was
a very sensible girl. The remark of a
famous wit and playwright to GER
tain lovely lady might have referred
10 her: For such a well-dressed wom-
an you have really some sane ideas"
! She did the work of stenographer in
4 law Office where acumen and critical
Indictment were required. Her pen-and-
ink and charcoal sketches found adj
mirers and buyers. The management
of The household, while nOminally in
control of her mother, lay in her own
slender. capable hands. And even the
ne:ohbors admitted that the way she
kent her three small brothers on an
allowance remarkable chiefly for its
f.ninutive proportion, was extraor-
binary.
81 haven't been to the matinee ONCE
rince l started saving to send Bobbie
70 the Athletic club" she assured her
7ef. And as for Gloves haven't
sny! Sol think-Ill buy cheap
pair"
She meant glasses-not gloves. She
colored guiltily when the salesworhan
cfercd to test her eyes.
Haven't time," she explained, hasti'
Iy. she picked up pair at random
They were rimless, jaunty, with a slim
fanrling, golden chain. She was quite
breathlcss when she found herself or
the street with her treasure. Wher
she boarded the open car for home, SHE
adjusted the aids to vision she had pur
chased. She fancied everyone was
looking at her. AS this impression
grew her air of studied nOnchalance be
came more profound. She bought al
evening paper. She stared hard at thu
printed page. But the letters merged
in one purple blur. Even faces took OIL
g1otesque and perplexing outlines
When she reached home her youn{
brothers guye& her. Her mother onl.
was as discreetly and sympatheticall.
= silent as the widowed mother OF tn
one girl of her flock alone knows hoy
10 be. For awhile she was desperatel,
+ uncomfortable. She did not wea
9 the glasses in the Office, but the drea
possessed her that on her trip to an
from luncheon she ignored "the girls
; who likewise found vent for thel
!. youthful energy in office work lie
q reading-and she read a good deal
was done surreptitiously She, VIII
had always. walked so fearlessiy, an
: with football so assured, began to hes
= tate at a street crossing or the step
curbstone. She dreaded lest sh
= should make descent of unpremed
tated abruptness. If she had know
: anything about Dundreary she woui
IS have sympathized with him in mis- drea
lest he should sit down before he kne'
he sat down! When at night she too
I off the glasses she insisted she required
she was ashamed to confront her ow
- sweet reflection in the glass. The COZ
/, seriousness of hypocrisy weighed heay
l. " upon her, but the moment of contr