Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-09-13

vested in a detective camera, and al
though / made the purchase With
many doubts as to the merits of these
wee machines, l candidly confess to-
day that it has served me well.
look at it almost with reverence; 1t |
has not won me fame, but 1t has made |
my fortune.
And this is how it came about:
was attending medical lectures,
and had a short railroad journey to
and from the city every day. MY
train down in the morning, coming
from away up north, was often late,
so sometimes took my camera with
me and amused myself while waiting
by photographing many an unsuspect-
| ing victim on the depot platform. One
week In particular, / had unusually
| good success, and ! found when l
came to develop my plates that had
three fine negatives, so after had
printed my proofs, carried them tri-
umphantly down to the parlor to show
"the girls" as the two misses, my sis
tiers, were usually called.
One of my pictures was the likeness
of young lady. l think 1t was one
of the prettiest faces ] have ever
seen; nor was l alone in my admira-
ton; all agreed that she was charm
ing, such beautiful features, such a
sweet expression, such an intelligent
face
Picture No. was the round chubby
face of little, ragged urchin, whom
occasionally saw around the depot.
Picture No. we all pronounced the
homeliest girl we had ever seen.
photographed her for that very rea-
son; because she looked SO placidly,
contentedly ugly, resigned to her fate.
We named the picture Beauty" and
THE Beast" 1t was a shame, was 1t
not, for who would not be handsome
IL 1t were possible?
My sisters loved to tease, and 1t
was long before heard the last OF
those pictures; 1t was long time be-
fore felt the last of them. / could
not get that sweet face out of my
mind / watched day after day on
the train, eagerly hoping for another
glimpse of it; but l was again and
again disappointed. Why should l
care SO much for a stranger, whom !
had never met? / was thoroughly
provoked with myself, yet l was OBJ
stinately determined that / must and
: would see her again. To Judge whether
. my likeness was true? But the boy
! or THE Beast" would have done as
: we'll for that.
, About that time a friend, Fred
Barnes, came to spend night with
me, and of course / showed him my
pictures. He merely glanced at thai
r favorite face and threw 1t aside.
>. could have shaken him. He took more
e interest in the homely one. and wheI
J. he said that he did not think she wal
J. ugly, we made all manner of fun o
!. him.
IF you call that good-looking,"
remarked, II truly pity an ugly won
= an"
g. Well, the term of lectures came t,
3 an end, examinations and the crown
f. Ing time, when I found myself doc
. tor of medicine
" All these important events, SO niue
Il to fill my head and hands, and We
they had not crowded out that oil
nagging memory. Every day l use
= to get out that picture and gaze at 4
| hate sentimental youth, and coul
have kicked myself every time di
40 1t, and yet kept right on. Was fat
is driving me? was not to begin m
cs regular professional work unit
II autumn. It was arranged that I wa
Id to spend week with my friend. Ere
IN Barnes, and then join a party goin
he to the mountains.
80 Late one afternoon reached Fred
- home. The family were assembled |
greet me, his mother, and Great
ie Well, | do not swear, but never can
tn SO near 1t in my life as / did then
ne was The Beast" his sister, If Il
lie floor had opened would have willin
he ly been swallowed up; If could hay
mt rushed out of the house, but no,
- must stay and face them all.
- felt as II l had forfeited all rig
to my friends hospitality by my oil
nu rageous talk, when he saw the pi
Ills lures. l wildly wondered whether Il
Try mother and the girl herself knew
all tried to hope that 1t were possible tn
led ness. But no, the little camera hi
been too true for that, and there
stood out there in the hall with 4
en- valise, truly a detective marking I
,w- as the criminal.
-, Well, l lived through It; one cou
hardly help living and being happy
leo- SO charming a place as that home,
Inc matter what his past misdemeanc
ust might be- And since l had to live, a
esi- had to stay, all | could do to ma
or amends was to be as polite to them
are as | could, and make myself as ayr
ing able as possible. ! did not see h,
.,,u they could be so kind to me.
not been in the house week, befC
| felt as IL had known them all j
tuv life, and was truly sorry when
- time came for us to start on {
mountain trip. There were ten of
ten a.. tha ,,arfxy q uantlaman and a In