The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-08-30

tnOuSn l maze the purchase WIN
many doubts as to the merits Of these
wee machines, candidly confess to-
day that it has served me well.
look at II almost with reverence; 1t
has not won me fame, but 1t has made
my fortune.
And this is how 1t came about:
was attending medical lectures,
and had a short railroad journey to
and from the city every day. My
train down in tho morning, coming
from away up north was often late,
SO | sometimes took my camera with
me and amused myself while waiting
by photosraphing many an unsuspect-
Ing victim on the depot platform. One
week In particular. ! had unusually
good success, and | found when
came to develop my plates that | had
three fine negatives ), SO after | had
printed my proofs, | carried them tri.
umphantly down to the parIor TO show
the girls" as the two MISSES my sis
tiers, were usually called.
One Of my pictures was the likeness
of young lady. | think 1t was one
OF the pre.tiest faces have ever
seen; nor was | alone in my almira.
ton. all agreed that she was charm
ing, such beautiful features. such
sweet expression, such an Intelligent
face
Picture No 9 was the round chubby
face Of little ragged urChin whom
I "a hn
Picture No. we all pronounced the
homeliest girl we had ever seen.
photographed her for that very rea.
son; because she looked so placid!y,
coGtentcdly ugly, resigned to her fate.
We named the picture Beauty" and
"The Beast" 1t was a shame, was It
not, for who would not be handsome
If it were possible?
My sisters loved 10 tease. and II
was long before I heard the last OF
those pictures; 1t was Il long time be.
fore ] felt the last OF them. | could
not get that sweet face ont of iny
mind. l watched day after day on
the train, eagerly hoping for another
glimpse Of IT. but / was again and
again disappointed. Why should
care so much for stranger, whom |
had never met? l was thoroughly
provoked with myself, yet | 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
well 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 that
favorite face and threw II aside.
could have shaken him lie took more
interest In the homely one, and when
he said that he did not think she was
ugly, we made all manner of fun OF
him.
III you call that good.looking," |
remarked, Il truly pity an ugly WON.
an"
Well, the term of lectures came to
an end, examinations and the crown.
ing time, wheh I found myself doc.
tor of medicine.
All these important events, so much
TO MI my head and hands, and yet
they had not crowded out that old
nagglng memory. Every day used
TO get out that picture and gaze at II.
/ hate sentimental youth. and could
have kicked myself every time | did
II, and yet | kept right on. Was fate
driving me? | was not to begin my
regular professional work until
autumn. 1t was arranged that was
to spend week with my friend, Fred
Barnes, and then join party going
to the mountains.
Late one afternoon | reached Fred 8
home. The family were assembled to
greet me, his mother, and Great!
Well, do not swear, but never came
so near II in my life as did then-it
was The Beast" his sister. If the
floor had opened would have willing
ly been swallowed up; II | could have
rushed out OF the house, but no.
must stay and face them all.
felt as If ] had forfeited all right
TO my friends hospitality by my out.
rageous talk, when he saw the pic.
lures. wildly wondered whether the
mother and the girl herself knew. /
tried to hope that 1t were possible that
even Fred had not recognized the like.
ness But no, the little camera had
been too true for that. and there It
stood out there In the hall with my
valise, truly a detective marking me
as the criminal.
Well, lived through It; one could
hardly help living and being happy in
80 charming place as that home, no
matter what his past mIsdemeanors
might be. And since had to live, and
had to stay, all / could do to make
amends was TO be as polite to them all
as could, and make myself as agree
able as possible. | did not see how
they could be so kind to me- had
not been In the house week, before
felt as II had known them all my
life, and ! was truly sorry when the
time came for us to start on our
mountain trip. There were ten Of us
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