Evening journal., 1904-08-24
0eauty and
. The Man
by Kehb Gordon
....copyrisAt- 1908, BY T. c. Mcclurs..-

tine about life, the world and the men
and women therein he had more than
once confded to her that never could
ne fall in love with woman who was
not a beauty.
Il can't exactly explain how I feel
about IT, he said one day as they sat
together in an art gallery, where his
worshiping eyes returned ever and
again to a pictured face Of rare beauty
that looked down upon them from the
warm red walls. 1t isn't that | think
they are the most fascinating. Wit
and beauty are not too fond Of each
others company. Besides the most
attractive woman I've ever known was
ugly-so ugly that at first she made
you gasp. After that well, She was
your criterion of charm. When you
left her things became stale and life
less. All the color and sympathy went
from the scene You simRly hungered
for her.
He paused and turned toward his
companion with waiting, expectant
look. as II he wanted to be sure that
she understood, and she answered the
unspoken question of his glance with
slow smile that did not betray, by so
much as a flicker, the warm reproach-
ful. woman wrath I'm her heart.
She had heard practically the same
thing from him before, but today for
the first time her patience gave way
utterly. Apparently all sense Of her
womanbood had been sunk in their
comradeship. Instead OF rejoicing I'm
this state OF affairs. a feeling Of injury,
Outrage. suddenly flared up I'm her
heart.
Did he think that because her fea-
lures were irregular and her complex
ion dun she was a girl who did not
need TO be rcckoncd withg Did he
suppose she was the less a woman be-
cause she was plainf Had he no idea
OF the sting in the remarks he was for
ever making about feminine beauty
These were the questions she asked
herself hotly, but her voice-that low
vibrant voice that thrilled one with
its rich difference from other voices
betrayed in It's fun evenness no trace
Of the resentment that surged within
her.
'You are right" she agreed, with Inn
personal candor IAN women should
be beautifur-th was a slight pause,
hesitation just marked enough 70 give
force TO the conclusion Of her sentence
"just as all men should be big and
strongw
Dunham glanced at her quickly. For
one stnrtled moment he half thought
But, no; Barbara was too good a fellow
to give a man q heck on the raw like
that IL was q mere coincidence.
Dunham was but five feet six. and
though he was well knit and substan
tial. with a clean bred look that was in
itself recommendation, he was q
trne sensitive ON the score of the siS
additional inches OF height that hC
felt should have been his
"A mans appearance isn't Of much
consequence" he observed, somewhat
stinly Ellis field Is action, II is what
he is rather than how he lools.'
There was more heat in his tone
than he liked, but he wasn't able to
being made 70 feel that he was not
at all like her ideal man. even though
they were nothing but friends.
Perhaps you are right was IN,
mild reply. and the conversation drift
ed TO other and safer subjects But
there was a speculative look in Bar
bara's eyes for the rest OF the after
noon. which would have told careful
observer that she was turning soml
plan over in her mind
Her usual hour Of rest before dinner
she spent lying at full length ON IN,
divan in her room. with her hands
clasped under her head and her eyes
fixed on the open fire. thinking.
So Baird could never love any on,
but q beauty. She carefully refrainet
from asking herself why this should
pique her particularly. since her plain
ness had never interfcred with thei
friendship. and he spent far more TIM
with her than with any OF the prett.
girls Of their set. Still
"Well. don't care" she said aloul
as, glancing at the clock. she arose am
began TO roll up the masses Of ne
dark hair sticking the great she'll pin
I'm here and there with reckless indii
ference. I'm tired Of hearing hin
talk that way. He deserves TO be pun
ished. Beauty MY be the creates
thing. but II isn't greater than all oth'
things put together.
"A few weeks Of Amy will be goc
for him." she soliloqulzed as she WEI
on with her dressing Then. when 81
was ready for dinner. she sat down
her desk and wrote letter 10 a forml
schoolmate-the beauty Of her class
urging her to make her a long promise
visit.
In the course Of a week or two Il
invitation had been accepted, and Mi
Averill arrived. That she was beau
was a fact as self evident as that q
sky is blue (when II is SOL II was
fact that admitted of no difference
opinion.
Her skin was Ike n la France ros
her eyes deeply blue and her hair su
gested mingled gold and copper. II
curves Of her gracious figure swirl'
and flowed in lines so graceful, so g
Turing that even the most sluggish b
holder was kndlcd into admiration.
"She's a beauty. all right" Barba
decided as she kissed her In greetil
and conducted her 10 her room. an
though she kept up her part Of the
animated toi.. ,tour ohl times and o